1 Word to Describe Every Top 25 College Football Team's 2025 Outlook
Entering the 2025 college football season, every Top 25 team is carrying an optimistic feeling with varying levels of confidence.
For each program, though, we can find a more specific description.
Anything from historical trends to last year's results, outgoing players to newcomers and often perceived schedule difficulty can shape a team's outlook. Those factors apply to all programs, but they're not weighted equally at each one.
While the descriptor and commentary are subjective, the ranking is based on the preseason AP Top 25.
25-21. Boise State, Tennessee, Texas Tech, Iowa State, Ole Miss
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25. Boise State Broncos: Sturdy
Though the reigning Mountain West champs must replace star running back Ashton Jeanty, this remains a solid roster. Five players who earned All-MWC honors are set to return, along with quarterback Maddux Madsen. Boise State is deservedly the favorite to represent the Group of Five in the College Football Playoff.
24. Tennessee Volunteers: Cautious
While the offense is rebuilding, the defense brings back a ton of experience. Plus, the schedule is reasonably kind. The path to another CFP trip is apparent, but that journey will demand stability from whichever QB—Joey Aguilar, Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre—wins the competition.
23. Texas Tech Red Raiders: Enhanced
Thanks to a well-funded collective, Texas Tech took an ultra-aggressive stance in the transfer portal this offseason. Those reinforcements, tethered with talented-but-please-stay-healthy quarterback Behren Morton, have the Red Raiders in the thick of the Big 12 title conversation.
22. Iowa State Cyclones: Routine
On one hand, it seemed Iowa State didn't command much respect over the summer. And then the Cyclones slipped into the AP Top 25 anyway. Retooling the receiving corps is a difficult task, but ISU boasts a third-year QB in Rocco Becht and an experienced roster. The schedule is tough yet manageable, as well. While no outlook is ever identical, this feels like business as usual.
21. Ole Miss Rebels: Anxious
After winning 10-plus games in three of the last four seasons, it's clear Lane Kiffin has built a solid program in Oxford. The balance, though, is Ole Miss has fallen short of SEC titles and CFP berths. Fair or not, patience may start to be tested if the Rebels narrowly miss contending for a championship again.
20-16. Indiana, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Kansas State, SMU
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20. Indiana Hoosiers: Curious
I'm not saying 2024 was a fluke. Indiana took advantage of a favorable slate as a transfer-fueled roster elevated the program to new heights. Curt Cignetti truly has won everywhere, but this is the head coach's most high-profile challenge to date. Can the Hoosiers do it again? Trips to Oregon and Penn State will be considerable tests for IU.
19. Texas A&M Aggies: Restless
Oh, the same old story. Texas A&M has good coaching, promising talent, immense resources and so on. The mantra "Shut Up and Win" applies nicely to the program, which has cracked double-digit victories just once in the last 27 years. Stealing a win or two at Notre Dame, LSU or Texas is critical to A&M reaching its upside.
18. Oklahoma Sooners: Unrelenting
The bright side is Washington State transfer John Mateer figures to elevate the offense in a hurry. The issue is OU's slate includes seven preseason Top 25 teams, plus Auburn and Missouri. Put simply, the Sooners have a razor-thin margin for error in an important season for fourth-year coach Brent Venables.
17. Kansas State Wildcats: Typical
Similar to A&M, is this finally the year for Kansas State? The program has notched eight-plus victories in the regular season for three straight years, but there's always been a bad loss along the way. Avoiding that misstep—like 2024's implosion at Houston, for example—may determine if K-State is a real CFP threat.
16. SMU Mustangs: Emboldened
In their first year as a member of the ACC, the Mustangs won 11 games, played in the conference championship and made the CFP. Confidence will not be in short supply as SMU returns quarterback Kevin Jennings, but clashes with top ACC contenders Clemson and Miami—both of which SMU avoided last regular season—loom large.
15-11. Florida, Michigan, South Carolina, Illinois, Arizona State
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15. Florida Gators: Merciless
The sizzling finish to 2024 helped, but a slow start to this campaign may signal the end of Billy Napier's tenure. Within the first six games, Florida heads to LSU and Miami, hosts Texas and plays at Texas A&M. While a 2-4 record isn't predicted at the halfway point thanks to quarterback DJ Lagway and a good defense, it's a legitimate possibility. Oh, and then Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee and rival Florida State await in the back half of the season.
14. Michigan Wolverines: Intriguing
The defense should be a massive thorn once again, and this schedule is awfully kind with Penn State, Oregon, Illinois, Indiana and Iowa all missing. Still, the Wolverines are trending toward true freshman Bryce Underwood starting under center with a receiving corps that is questionable at best. The trip to Oklahoma in Week 2 is a key expectation-setting game for U-M.
13. South Carolina Gamecocks: Ruthless
Through the end of September, the Gamecocks play Virginia Tech at a neutral site and take on SEC foes Vanderbilt, Missouri and Kentucky. No elite teams, but there are no cakewalks in that quartet. Six of South Carolina's last seven games? How about at LSU, Oklahoma, Alabama, at Ole Miss, at Texas A&M and Clemson. LaNorris Sellers is an awesome dual-threat QB, but that's an absolute gauntlet.
12. Illinois Fighting Illini: Hopeful
On the heels of a 10-win campaign, Illinois has CFP dreams that will be tested quickly. Early trips to Duke and Indiana followed by home games with USC and Ohio State will clearly show if the Illini are to be taken seriously in mid-October.
11. Arizona State Sun Devils: Steady
Ended the 2024 season as Big 12 champs, opening 2025 as the league favorite. All-conference QB Sam Leavitt and wideout Jordyn Tyson headline a roster that is littered with returning starters on both sides of the ball. If the Sun Devils stay mostly healthy, they should be around the CFP picture again.
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10-6. Miami, LSU, Alabama, Oregon, Notre Dame
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10. Miami Hurricanes: Familiar
At worst, Miami boasts a top-three ACC roster. That's consistently been true lately, and it certainly applies in 2025. The backfield and offensive line are elite, and a rebuilt secondary should be a much-improved unit. Whether the 'Canes find a few consistent pass-catchers for Carson Beck and—more importantly—can avoid a nauseating upset will determine if they finally make the CFP.
9. LSU Tigers: Greedy
Not in a bad way, either. They want it all. Brian Kelly has shoveled praise onto this LSU roster, setting up a championship-or-bust level of expectation with the pressure on returning QB Garrett Nussmeier to carry the team. But a schedule with trips to Clemson, Ole Miss, Alabama and Oklahoma is a clear obstacle.
8. Alabama Crimson Tide: Contingent
Despite a mildly disappointing debut season for Kalen DeBoer, he's a terrific coach. The defense should be one of the stingiest units in the country, and Alabama is well-built at every offensive position. The question is the quarterback. Bama's ceiling is contingent on the new starter—presumably Ty Simpson—taking the reins and guiding the Crimson Tide through a normal SEC slate. Tough, most certainly, but manageable for the best teams.
7. Oregon Ducks: Favorable
Although the Ducks have a revamped core, they remain a premier Big Ten threat after several years of excellent recruiting and transfer work. Even better, just two of their opponents landed an initial AP Top 25 ranking. Oregon has plenty to prove, but there's good reason for immense confidence.
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Balanced
Breaking in a new QB is hard work, but a seasoned offensive line and star running back Jeremiyah Love will help. Replacing some All-American defenders won't be a breeze, but Notre Dame has plenty of experience on that side. The schedule isn't light, but Miami, Texas A&M and Boise State are the only preseason Top 25 opponents. Anything less than a CFP trip would be disappointing for the Irish.
5-1. Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State, Penn State and Texas
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5. Georgia Bulldogs: Reliable
For eight consecutive years, Georgia has dropped no more than two games during the regular season. There is a good amount of transition on both sides of the ball, but there is no reason to doubt UGA's ability to handle it.
4. Clemson Tigers: Promising
Armed with the most experienced roster in the country, Clemson is fully expected to remain atop the ACC hierarchy and reach the CFP again. The primary goal for the Tigers must be picking up wins against top competition, and LSU coming to town in Week 1 will provide an immediate test. And opportunity.
3. Ohio State Buckeyes: Calm
Success will be measured on what happens in the postseason, of course, but Ryan Day's warming seat is much cooler after winning a national title. If the Buckeyes lose to Michigan for a fifth straight year, the sky might pretend to fall in Columbus. The reality is the program is incredibly stable and built for long-term excellence.
2. Penn State Nittany Lions: Determined
Penn State, meanwhile, followed the Ohio State blueprint this offseason and threw many millions at quarterback Drew Allar and other veterans to lead a championship pursuit. The school even swiped star defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from OSU in hopes of taking a title-worthy leap in 2025. Now, we'll see if that investment pays off at PSU like it did for the Buckeyes.
1. Texas Longhorns: Hyped
The defense has an All-American defender potentially at every level, and this new QB named Arch Manning has attracted quite a few headlines over the summer. For the first time in program history—which feels fake, but somehow is true—Texas is the AP preseason No. 1 team. It's ring-chasing time in Austin.
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