College Football's Top Teams: Who's Ready to Shine in 2025?

The excitement is building as college football fans eagerly await the start of the 2025 season, set to kick off on August 23rd with a thrilling matchup between Kansas State and Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland.

ESPN's Final Preseason SP+ Rankings

ESPN has released its final preseason SP+ rankings, which use a unique formula considering tempo and opponent strength rather than just past performance.

Top 5 Teams

1. Ohio State

   • Top Offensive Threat: Sophomore WR Jeremiah Smith
   • Potential Star: Junior Safety Caleb Downs
   • Key Challenge: Finding a reliable quarterback and filling other gaps

2. Alabama

   • Projection: Strong offense and defense
   • Key Returning Players: Multiple defensive stalwarts

3. Georgia

   • Reigning SEC Champions
   • Top-Ranked Special Teams Unit
   • Key Challenge: Adapting to a new quarterback and new offensive weapons

4. Penn State

   • Projected Win Total: 10.0
   • Top-Ranked Backfield: Senior QB Drew Allar and RB tandem Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton

5. Texas

   • Consensus No. 1 Team (AP and USA Today)
   • Key Challenge: Proving themselves on offense with new QB1 Arch Manning

Notable Mentions

• Notre Dame: Defending national runner-ups, strong defense and offense, new quarterback
• Oregon: Undefeated in inaugural Big Ten season, strong offense and special teams
• Michigan: Expected to bounce back with a strong defense under new head coach Sherrone Moore
• Ole Miss: Strong offense and defense, narrowly missed last year's College Football Playoff
• Clemson: Reigning ACC champion, loaded roster, strong offense, potential defense concerns

The Rest of the Top 25

The remainder of the Top 25 features a mix of familiar faces and underdogs, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Teams like LSU and Iowa will be fighting for a chance to prove themselves on the national stage.