7 Hot Takes for the 2025 College Football Season
Let's cut to the chase. The following piece of college football content will not be for those in search of the obvious. These are hot takes for a reason.
As the regular season crashes closer, one thing is clear: Not all expectations will be met. Surprises, like always, will appear. The season will not go as the offseason content expects it to, because it never does.
College football will do college football things, and we're here for it. In fact, let's embrace the weird.
Here are some freshly baked hot takes for the upcoming season.
Cade Klubnik Will Win the Heisman Trophy
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Let's get right to it. No need to bury one of the main attractions.
While the betting odds don't necessarily see this as a major upset—Cade Klubnik is currently the third option at +950—many will likely struggle to embrace this take.
Given everything we've seen from Klubnik over the past three seasons, this is somewhat understandable. Thrown into action as a freshman, the Clemson QB struggled over his freshman and sophomore seasons. Then, as a junior, his production exploded. In short, it clicked.
Last season, the 21-year-old accounted for 43 touchdowns and threw just six interceptions. And in his final two games against ranked teams, SMU and Texas, he accounted for seven touchdowns and just one interception.
The schedule isn't easy, although it's plenty favorable given the state of the SEC. A strong showing against LSU in the opener will help get the train going, and it won't stop there.
Klubnik has an abundance of talent around him on both sides of the ball, and it will all come together in spectacular fashion.
Arch Manning Will Start Slow, and Texas Will Still Thrive
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On the topic of the Heisman, enter Arch Manning. The nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning has shown flashes in his first two years with Texas—so much so that he's the favorite to win the Heisman before the season begins.
While this will be his first year as a starter, the 21-year-old did see the field plenty last year as Quinn Ewers battled injuries and Steve Sarkisian looked for a change of pace. Even still, Manning enters his junior season without a ton of experience, and we're likely to see the results of that.
In fact, it would not shock to see Manning's legs—which have been the better part of his game early on—become his most potent weapon for a while. That doesn't mean the pieces won't come together eventually; they will.
But at the start, when Texas plays at Ohio State in Week 1, it will be an elite defense that carries this championship hopeful forward. And those hopes are real. The Texas defense is elite, and exceptional recruiting over a prolonged stretch will keep the title hopes alive and well.
Manning will do his part, at some point. But don’t expect him to dominate out of the gate.
Alabama Will Start to Look Like the Alabama of Old
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So, the first year post-Nick Saban didn't go as planned.
Alabama struggled, at least at times, in all facets. And Kalen DeBoer, knowing exactly what he was getting into, was dealt a quick dose of reality in Tuscaloosa.
The pieces and general vibe were off, but don't expect that to continue much longer. This Alabama team is loaded, and one of the greatest sports dynasties in recent memory seems to be somehow flying under the radar.
Does that mean new starting QB Ty Simpson will be an instant star? Maybe. But he doesn't have to be for this team to thrive. Offensively, the Crimson Tide have exceptional talents with wideout Ryan Williams and offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor. The rest of the offensive line should be solid as well.
Defensively, this team has the chance to be one of the best in college football. And when you think about Alabama football, you start on this side of the ball.
We'll find out plenty against Florida State in the opener, but we'll find out more when Alabama plays Georgia in late September. The schedule isn't easy, and it never is. But don't be shocked when Alabama looks the part yet again.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Kansas Will Be This Season’s Arizona State, Pushing for a Big 12 Championship
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The Jayhawks began last season at 1-5; they closed as one of the hottest teams in college football.
When you play in close games and lose many of them, the end record can look somewhat wayward. This season, things should look mighty different.
Jalon Daniels is back for one last ride at quarterback, which is massive news. If he can stay healthy, the Kansas offense should thrive. The defense, which played much better in the second half of the season, has to be better.
But as Arizona State showed last year, a consistent offense and strong QB play can solve more than one problem. KU is hoping to follow that blueprint in more than one way.
Difficult games against Kansas State and Utah will be played at home. Tough road trips include Texas Tech and Iowa State. Once again, a few swing games will dictate the Kansas season, but there's reason for hope this time around.
While the Sun Devils are the favorite heading into this year, the conference is still wide open. Look for Kansas to be a factor the moment the season begins.
LaNorris Sellers Will Emerge as the Must-See Player in College Football
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One could argue this take isn't hot enough by stating the obvious.
Perhaps, even now, LaNorris Sellers is already there.
At the very least, South Carolina's starting quarterback has emerged as one of the more unique players in the sport—a player with tremendous physical tools, raw traits and a knack for delivering big moments.
The statistics last season were fine: 25 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 2,534 passing yards and 674 rushing yards. But summarizing his contributions with numbers fails to grasp the sheer excellence of his abilities.
At 6'3" and 240 pounds, he is a tank that has been outfitted with a jet engine. And when the opportunity to extend plays or run wild came, he showcased rare moments as a redshirt freshman that could translate into much more this year.
What it means in terms of yards or wins feels almost inconsequential to the excitement. Come late November, there will be no player delivering more excitement play-to-play than Sellers.
Don't miss a single moment.
The Group of Five Playoff Spot Will Go To… Not Boise State
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Even with the loss of superhuman running back Ashton Jeanty, Boise State is widely considered the favorite to secure the Group of Five's spot in the College Football Playoff.
Given the rest of the returning talent, the sentiment is understood. Although, staying true to the theme, we're going elsewhere.
James Madison will have its hands full when it plays at Louisville in early September, although the Dukes have a chance to win pretty much every game beyond that.
While the program stumbled a few times down the stretch in 2024, it was still another strong season in the first year after Curt Cignetti's departure. Head coach Bob Chesney is back, and JMU should again find itself in the spotlight.
Matthew Sluka, formerly of UNLV and the much-discussed NIL dispute, could run wild for this offense if given a chance. The defense returns a ton of snaps, and it should pay immediate dividends.
Regardless of how the quarterback situation plays out, JMU is in a position to challenge for a conference championship and take it one step further. If Boise State stumbles at all—and the Broncos could have two losses by Week 5—this team will be in prime position to take advantage.
Clemson Will Win the National Championship
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Of all the takes that will be served, this one will likely be the hottest.
Indeed, Clemson is not exactly the most respected college football brand across the land despite conquering the college football world multiple times in the past decade or so.
Whether it's Dabo Swinney or the ACC, it doesn't really matter. Reputation and results don't always align—just ask Ryan Day and Jim Harbaugh.
As for this specific team, well, you know how we feel about its starting QB. Although this roster is far more than that. In fact, some of the players on defense, headlined by future top 10 pick T.J. Parker, are likely to go down as some of the best this program has seen.
The offensive line largely starts intact, the skill positions are better than they have been in some time and the pieces are all in place.
Yes, the Tigers benefit from playing in the ACC, which lacks dominant programs. But they start with LSU, end with South Carolina and should get the proper seasoning in between.
The quarterback should thrive, the team is talented and the pieces are in place. Clemson has what it takes to return to CFB's mountain top once more.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
