On Monday Night, the Confetti fell in Atlanta, Georgia closing out the 2024 College Football season as Ohio State won the National Championship. The first 12 Team College Football Playoff closes out with mixed reviews but, it did make for a more entertaining season.
As the 2024 Season comes to a close everyone turns their eyes toward the 2025 College Football season as most of the Coaching moves and transfer portal activity has wrapped up. As we turn our attention toward the 2025 season, here's a look at our Way Too Early Top 25 rankings for the 2025 season.
The Miami Hurricanes lose a ton with Cam Ward and Xavier Restrepo heading off to the NFL. The Hurricanes bring in Carson Beck to lead the offense and Mario Cristobal fired his defensive coordinator which should help after Miami's defense let them down this season. If the transfers Miami brought in on defense pan out, the Canes can compete for the ACC.
In his second season at Louisville, Jeff Brohm's team technically took a step back losing an extra game but, he is proving he's building a consistent program. As Tyler Shough leaves the program Louisville brings in Miller Moss who can take the offense to another level. Caulin Lacy returns to Louisville and with what the Cardinals brought in via the transfer portal, Louisville is poised for another solid season.
As Will Howard led Ohio State to a National Title it may sting a bit that the Wildcats chose Avery Johnson over him. Avery Johnson had a rough stretch but, he showed improvement in the final few games and with a season under his belt he'll only be better in 2025. The Wildcats will be in the mix in 2025 it'll just be a matter of whether or not they can put it all together.
The Texas A&M Aggies struggled with picking a Quarterback in 2024 but, they've committed to their long term signal caller in Marcel Reed. The Aggies added him several top targets in Micah Hudson, Amari Niblack, Jonah Wilson, Kevin Concepcion, and Mario Craver. If Marcel Reed can develop in year two, the Aggies will be a force to be reckoned with in 2025.
There wasn't a team that dealt with injuries more than Oklahoma this season as they were without the vast majority of their wide receiver room for the season. The Sooners got no help either as their offensive line struggled but, the Sooners have overhauled the offense. The Sooners now bring in Ben Arbuckle as the offensive coordinator and he brings John Mateer in giving the Sooners a Heisman candidate at quarterback.
This season was an incredible year for Rhett Lashlee and the Mustangs as they made it all the way to the ACC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. The Mustangs return Kevin Jennings who will have a full year of experience under his belt along with RJ Maryland who missed most of the year, and Jordon Hudson. If Lashlee's transfer additions can pan out once again it'll be another chance at winning the ACC.
The Wolverines ended their season on an incredible high note beating Ohio State and Alabama to end the year. Now Sherrone Moore has his own team built and the offense will be much improved with the Nation's Top Recruit Bryce Underwood coming in at Quarterback and Alabama transfer Justice Haynes at running back. The defense loses several potential first round picks but, with how bad the offense was last year Michigan will take a massive jump.
This offseason, Joey McGuire and Texas Tech have gone to work building an impressive roster using the transfer portal. This season Texas Tech went 8-5 but, they add massive pieces in Quinten Joyner, Romello Height, Howard Sampson, Lee Hunter, and several other massive pieces. The Red Raiders have gone All In and they have the pieces needed to win the Big 12.
This season, Auburn was derailed by awful quarterback play after Hugh Freeze decided not to bring in a transfer quarterback. This offseason Freeze made sure not to make that mistake bringing in three transfer quarterbacks headlined by Jackson Arnold while signing highly touted Freshman Deuce Knight. Auburn is set to have an explosive offense with Arnold passing to Cam Coleman and Eric Singleton Jr while the defense returns a ton of talent.
The Florida Gators built up a ton of momentum down the stretch picking up some upset victories while DJ Lagway gave the fanbase reasons to be excited. How Florida ranks in 2025 will fully depend on how big of a step forward DJ Lagway takes. Lagway passed for 12 touchdowns but, threw 9 interceptions, Lagway will have to take care of the football but, if he does the Gators can shock plenty in 2025.
The Hoosiers went on a magical run in 2024 making it into the College Football Playoff in year one under Curt Cignetti. The second season for Cignetti may not be as magical but, the Hoosiers return a talented group. The biggest loss is Quarterback Curtis Roarke but, Indiana added Cal's Fernando Mendoza who can keep the offense at the level it was in 2024.
The Illinois Fighting Illini capped off the year in incredible fashion beating South Carolina in the Bowl Game. The Illini carried the momentum into the offseason getting Luke Altmyer, JC Davis, Xavier Scott, and Gabe Jacas back giving Illinois a strong veteran core. The Illini will be a tough out in a loaded Big Ten and could compete for the Big Ten Championship.
After coming out of nowhere to win 11 games this season, the BYU Cougars will be bake to contending for the Big 12. The Cougars return several massive pieces in quarterback Jake Retzlaf, Running Back LJ Martin, and a massive chunk of the defense. The best thing for BYU is that they won't face Arizona State or Kansas State which gives them a great path to contention.
The Alabama Crimson Tide will turn the offense over to either Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, or Five-Star Freshman Keelon Russell. Whoever the new quarterback is will have a loaded group around him returning Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard, the majority of the offensive line, and a loaded running back room. The defense returns the vast majority of a defense that allowed just 17.4 PPG and in year two in the system the group should only get better.
South Carolina was the hottest team down the stretch of the 2024 season finding themselves in the College Football Playoff discussion. While some massive pieces depart younger players such as LaNorris Sellers, Dylan Stewart, and Nyck Harbor all have experience under their belts heading into 2025. This season will be a massive year for Shane Beamer and if they can knock off one of the traditional blue bloods then the Gamecocks will make the College Football Playoff.
The Volunteers cracked the College Football Playoff for the first time under Josh Heupel this season although it was a quick exit. While the ending was disappointing, making the Playoff in the first season with Nico Iamaleava as the starting quarterback was massive. The Volunteers will need a second-year jump from Iamaleava but, Josh Heupel has a great chance to return to the College Football Playoff.
The LSU Tigers got massive news with Garrett Nussmeier announcing he'll return for 2025 and Harold Perkins Jr is coming back with him. The Tigers went all in using the transfer portal adding star receivers, defensive backs, and edge rushers to the mix. The 2025 season will be a massive year for Brian Kelly and he's loaded up with this team. The biggest question for LSU is the offensive line and the defensive backs but, if the Tigers can figure it all out they'll have one of the Nation's best offenses.
While Riley Leonard departs along with several key veterans, Notre Dame will be right back in the Playoff mix next season. The Irish will be lead by Jeremiyah Love on offense and Leonard Moore coming off of breakout seasons. All Steve Angeli or CJ Carr will need to do is manage the game like Riley Leonard was able to and the Irish will be a Top Ten team.
After rolling through the Regular Season and the Big Ten Championship game unbeaten, the Oregon Ducks ran into a buzz saw in Ohio State. The Ducks will miss the consistency of Dillon Gabriel they may have a talent upgrade with former five-star Dante Moore taking over. Dan Lanning loses a ton of talent once again but, he gets Evan Stewart back for another season and adds true difference makers in Makhi Hughes, Dillon Thieneman, and Theran Johnson among others via the transfer portal.
The Clemson Tigers won the ACC Championship and made had a chance to knock off Texas. Now the Clemson Tigers return most of their roster and for the first time Dabo Swinney is taking swings in the transfer portal. Clemson will be the front runner to repeat as ACC Champions and are poised to make a deep run in the College Football Playoff.
The Penn State Nittany Lions got the best news possible as Drew Allar decided to return to Penn State for one more season. Penn State now has one of the best quarterbacks in the Country coming back with another season under his belt which should allow him to take the next step. Penn State will lose key pieces in the trenches but, the Nittany Lions have effortlessly replaced them time and time again.
The Georgia Bulldogs lose Quarterback Carson Beck to Miami and several stars to the NFL Draft. However, no one has proven to reload better than Kirby Smart has as of late and the Bulldogs will be a tough out in 2025. The offense will be led by Gunner Stockton who gets a loaded wide receiver haul from the transfer portal after a season dealing with drops. The X-Factor in 2025 may be Nate Frazier who was incredible as a Freshman at running back as he could be a Heisman Darkhorse in 2025.
The Ohio State Buckeyes will lose a ton of talent to the NFL including transfer quarterback Will Howard, edge rushers J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, Emeka Egbuka, both starting running backs and some other key pieces. The Buckeyes will be loaded once again with potentially the two best players in College Football returning in Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs. The Buckeyes added six transfers including two at offensive tackle who should be able to protect Julian Sayin as he takes over at Quarterback. Given that Ohio State just won the National Championship, they'll get every team's best shot in 2025.
The Texas Longhorns fought until the end with Ohio State but, missed out on making the National Championship. The loss would hurt much more if the Longhorns didn't have such a loaded core coming back next season. The Longhorns will be led by Arch Manning who will get all of the headlines but, Colin Simmons may be the best defender in College Football next season after an impressive Freshman season. Ryan Wingo has the talent to develop into Texas' top wide receiver and the Longhorns shouldn't deal with the same injuries before the season at running back next year.