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2025 College Football Preview: Sandman’s Top 25 Analysis
Get ready for the 2025 College Football Top 25 Rankings! Check out our predictions, featuring Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns’ playoff potential.
We’ve taken a look at every college conference in the lead up to the 2025 season, and now that’s through, we’re going to take a look at the overall college landscape and how all the college teams stack up in a vacuum.
The following list is the AP Top 25 College Football Poll (as of August 11th), so don’t come for us if you disagree with the current rankings! We’re gonna look at each team, where they’re ranked, whether we we think they’re too high, too low, or in the right area, and how their season could unfold. Without further ado, let’s break it down:
Texas Longhorns (SEC)
Top Players: QB Arch Manning, LB Anthony Hill Jr., DE Colin Simmons
If you were wondering whether the hype was as big as people were saying, this number one ranking should tell you everything you need to know.
The Texas Longhorns step into the season at the top of the AP poll. It is easy to understand why, with one of the top two defensive players in the country in Anthony Hill Jr. and a roster stacked with Top 100 recruits. The defense has the ability to shut teams down and create game changing turnovers, sacks, and negative plays. Even if the offense falters, this group will make life miserable for opponents.
But if things go according to plan, this will not be a one-sided team. Arch Manning, the third-generation quarterback, gets his first opening day college start this year, taking over for Quinn Ewers. His film shows sharp mechanics and a natural arm, and his football royalty status has everyone believing he is destined to be the next great thing. No quarterback is perfect, but if Manning can live up to even most of the hype, Texas will be in great shape.
If he settles in quickly, this team has the potential to be the best in the nation. There are no obvious holes in the starting lineup, the depth is solid, and another budding star in wide receiver Ryan Wingo gives them yet another weapon. Texas could be on the verge of a short-term dynasty, but first comes Year One of the Manning era.
Verdict: In the right area
Penn State Nittany Lions (Big Ten)
Top Players: RB Nicholas Singleton, QB Drew Allar, DE Dani Dennis-Sutton
This team could easily be ranked number one and you would not get much pushback. Their running game is the most punishing in the country, maybe even scarier than Notre Dame’s. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen form the best duo in college football, and they will wear down defenses all season long.
Defensively, Penn State is every bit as good as Texas. They have playmakers at all three levels, with Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant anchoring a defensive line that can wreck any run-first offense. This is a complete unit, tough and disciplined across the board.
The only question mark is under center. Drew Allar has the talent, but he has not consistently delivered in big moments. For Penn State to win it all, he must be more than steady. There will be one or two games where his arm is the difference between a win and a loss. If he rises to the occasion, the Nittany Lions absolutely have the pieces to bring home a national title.
Verdict: In the right area
Ohio State Buckeyes (Big Ten)
Top Players: WR Jeremiah Smith, S Caleb Downs, WR Carnell Tate
The hype for Year 1 Arch Manning is crazy, but how about Year 2 Jeremiah Smith?
Smith, now a true sophomore, is already being talked about as the best player in college football. His freshman numbers were off the charts, and nobody knows where his ceiling actually is. The only thing that could slow him down is quarterback Julian Sayin, making his first opening-day start. Sayin has Smith plus Carnell Tate, another Top-100 playmaker, so the passing game should cook. But if Ohio State wants to go back-to-back, Sayin has to be more than just a distributor.
Like Texas, the Buckeyes also boast one of the country’s best defenders in Caleb Downs, who anchors an elite unit. So why aren’t they in the Top 2? It comes back to Sayin. Manning has the pedigree, Penn State has the proven backfield, and Sayin is the ultimate wild card. If he shines, Ohio State could easily repeat. If he wobbles, even in wins, voters may slide them down a notch.
Verdict: In the right area
Clemson Tigers (ACC)
Top Players: QB Cade Klubnik, DE TJ Parker, DT Peter Woods
The Clemson Tigers have my favorite defensive player in the country, and while that may not be the reason most people rank them number four, it is why they are the top ACC team in 2025.
Most of the attention, of course, is on Cade Klubnik, the current favorite to win the Heisman. Klubnik is without question a top three quarterback in college football, but his value is at least somewhat manufactured by the system around him. He will be competing with Garrett Nussmeier, Jeremiah Smith, and Jeremiyah Love for the trophy, and if Clemson’s offense is as pass-heavy as expected, he will stay in that race all year.
The bigger question is whether Clemson’s defense can rise to the level of its offense. Peter Woods is an absolute force, especially with his ability to generate pressure from the interior against both the run and the pass, and yet he is not talked about nearly enough. With new defensive coordinator Tom Allen bringing experience and strong schemes, the Tigers are betting their defense can complement Klubnik’s fireworks.
Clemson is ranked number four because Klubnik alone is not enough to carry this team to a national championship. He is bound to have a big year, but the Tigers need balance if they are going to be the last team standing in 2025.
Verdict: In the right area
Georgia Bulldogs (SEC)
Top Players: LB CJ Allen, DL Christen Miller, S KJ Bolden
There is a bit of mystique surrounding this year’s Georgia Bulldogs. Lineup turnover is expected for a program that regularly sends players to the NFL, but this offseason felt different as starting quarterback Carson Beck transferred out.
His replacement, Gunner Stockton, has flashed plenty of raw talent in limited action. Whether he develops into a quick star or settles in as more of a steady game manager will depend on how he processes the game once defenses have more film on him. He and running back Nate Frazier form a very young backfield that will be tested early.
Fortunately for Georgia, the defense remains elite. The Bulldogs boast a loaded secondary and a front seven that should keep them in control while Stockton and Frazier get their footing. If the new backfield can play up to expectations, Georgia is absolutely capable of contending for another national championship. For now, though, it makes sense to have them ranked fifth until the offense proves it can keep pace with the defense.
Verdict: In the right area
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Independent)
Top Players: RB Jeremiyah Love, CB Leonard Moore, DB Christian Gray
The last independent powerhouse in college football, Notre Dame’s season will run through superstar running back Jeremiyah Love. Like Penn State, they have a devastating tandem backfield, pairing Love with Jadarian Price to pound defenses and control games. Few teams are built to withstand that combination for four quarters.
This is a grind-you-down program, one that may not score at the same clip as the nation’s flashier offenses but will dominate time of possession and win the field position battle. Their style will suffocate opponents as the season goes on.
The one concern is the passing game, which remains average at best. If the Irish fall behind by multiple scores, there are questions about whether they have the explosiveness to rally. That is the closest thing to an Achilles heel for an otherwise balanced roster.
Verdict: In the right area
Oregon Ducks (Big Ten)
Top Players: DE Matayo Uiagalelei, RB Makhi Hughes, S Dillon Theineman
Oregon has to be a little frustrated. They enter the season ranked number seven in the nation, but are still seen universally as the third-best team in their own conference. And honestly, that feels accurate.
Transfer running back Makhi Hughes is a star in the making and was a huge pickup for the Ducks. He is a great fit and immediately becomes the focal point of the offense. Part of the reason for that is the uncertainty at quarterback. Dante Moore is new as a starter, and the entire offense feels fresh and unproven. The question is whether this group can perform at a level that moves Oregon into the top five.
Realistically, that may depend more on other teams faltering than Oregon breaking through. There is a ceiling difference between the Ducks and teams like Ohio State and Penn State. The Buckeyes, even with a young quarterback, have the best player in college football in Jeremiah Smith. Penn State is built around a devastating tandem run game that is almost unfair. Oregon feels a little more one dimensional by comparison.
The Ducks are good enough to win plenty of games, but if they are going to make a true run at the title, they will need to overachieve in 2025. For now, this ranking makes sense and they may need to build toward next season.
Verdict: In the right area
Alabama Crimson Tide (SEC)
Top Players: WR Ryan Williams, OT Kadyn Proctor, LB Deontae Lawson
I doubt many people expected Alabama to be our first “too high” team, but this is more of a “just a little too high” situation than anything else. The main reason for labeling them this way is simple: quarterback Ty Simpson does not inspire the level of confidence you want in a team that will likely lean heavily on its passing game.
Ryan Williams has huge production potential in the receiver room, and if Simpson develops strong chemistry with him, this critique could be proven wrong. But Simpson and former QB Jalen Milroe feel like two variations of the same player, and that may not be enough to justify Alabama being ranked ahead of LSU and Garrett Nussmeier.
Defensively, Alabama will be stout as always. Lawson anchors the linebacker unit, and Proctor already carries first-round draft hype at tackle. The roster is talented, but Simpson’s limitations at quarterback may hold this team back from being a top-three SEC contender or a legitimate playoff favorite.
Verdict: Too high
LSU Tigers (SEC)
Top Players: QB Garrett Nussmeier, LB Harold Perkins Jr., LB Whit Weeks
Our first “too low” team comes down to preference, since ranking LSU behind Alabama feels debatable. Realistically, the Tigers are talented enough to be a top-five squad. They feature several Top 100 players, including Heisman-caliber quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, and their defense is as imposing as ever.
Still, it makes sense why voters might hesitate. As we mentioned in our SEC preview, LSU has a frustrating habit of dropping games they should win and faltering in crunch time. Brian Kelly is not on the hot seat yet, but his track record of fully maximizing this kind of roster remains questionable.
That said, QB Garrett Nussmeier gives LSU a big-play engine at quarterback, and the linebacker tandem of Harold Perkins and Whit Weeks is arguably the most terrifying duo in the nation. The talent is undeniable. Until they prove they can handle the “should win” games consistently, skepticism is fair. But at minimum, LSU is the third-best team in the SEC, and I would not be surprised if they climb even higher.
Verdict: Too low
Miami Hurricanes (ACC)
Top Players: QB Carson Beck, OG Francis Mauigao, DE Reuben Bain Jr.
For now, Miami feels ranked in the right spot, though there is definite volatility here. The Hurricanes lose last year’s star quarterback Cam Ward to the NFL, but they did about as well as possible in replacing him with Carson Beck. Beck is not perfect. His interception issues and an elbow injury are concerns that cannot be ignored, but he has proven production and plenty of experience.
It is worth remembering that Ward was not flawless either, and Mario Cristobal built an offense around him that maximized his best traits. If Cristobal can do the same for Beck, Miami will absolutely fight for a Top-10 spot.
The defense remains the bigger question. Reuben Bain Jr. is one of the top defensive players in the country, but the unit as a whole struggled last season. The arrival of new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman is a promising move, with the expectation that he can overhaul schemes and get more consistency. A fresh start, combined with Bain’s presence, makes this defense more dangerous than it appears on paper.
Verdict: In the right area
Verdict: In the right area
Arizona State Sun Devils (Big 12)
Top Players: QB Sam Leavitt, WR Jordyn Tyson, DB Xavian Alford
Arizona State sitting at 11 is all about belief in Sam Leavitt. With Cam Skattebo gone and few proven weapons beyond Jordyn Tyson, the expectation is that Leavitt can elevate this offense by himself. He has breakout potential now that he is the clear focal point, but the supporting cast feels thin. He can carry them for stretches, but is he the type of game-changer who can propel a team into the playoff picture?
The defense is actually a strength and will keep ASU in plenty of games, but there has been significant turnover across the offensive depth chart. There are other contenders in the Big 12 I like better, thus ASU is going to need to prove it first. Leavitt has talent, for sure, but this ranking feels inflated.
Verdict: Too high
Illinois Fighting Illini (Big Ten)
Top Players: LB Gabe Jacas, S Xavier Scott, QB Luke Altmyer
I was surprised to see Illinois ranked this high, but it is a pleasant surprise and ultimately feels like an accurate spot rolling into the season.
The Illini are not the flashiest or most entertaining team, but they are steady and strong. Quarterback Luke Altmyer is underrated and often viewed as a game manager, but he has the ability to take over when he is in rhythm. With so much roster continuity, this team feels like a safe Top-15, as there are very few glaring weaknesses across the depth chart.
What they lack is star power. Illinois does not have the type of elite playmakers that vault programs into the Top 10, but they make up for it with cohesion, veteran leadership, and discipline. They have the tools to grind out one-score games, and if things break their way, they could climb even higher.
This is the opposite of teams like South Carolina and Florida, who have flash but questionable depth. Illinois is built on balance, efficiency, and avoiding mistakes. A solid defense paired with a turnover- and penalty-light offense makes them a team worth respecting, especially when looking at over/under win totals.
Verdict: In the right area
South Carolina Gamecocks (SEC)
Top Players: QB LaNorris Sellers, CB Jalen Kilgore, RB Rahsul Faison
This ranking feels inflated, and honestly more like a case of rose-colored glasses than reality.
LaNorris Sellers is an exciting quarterback prospect. He has speed, arm strength, and the kind of raw athleticism that forces defenses to adjust their game plans. But he is still unpolished, and his tendency to make mental mistakes keeps him from being the finished product some people are already projecting.
Sellers’ talent would be enough to justify this ranking if the rest of the roster were more solid. It is not. Rahsul Faison is a capable transfer at running back, but South Carolina’s offensive line is a major liability that could drag down the entire offense no matter how much talent is behind it. On top of that, the defense is full of holes and lacks proven playmakers.
Instead of a team poised to dominate, this feels more like a roster where Sellers will be asked to put up highlights just to keep games close. At best, this is a bubble playoff team. At worst, it is a team that sputters once the SEC grind hits.
Verdict: Too high
Michigan Wolverines (Big Ten)
Top Players: LB Derrick Moore, RB Justice Haynes, LB Ernest Hausmann
I have not been sold on this team all offseason, and even with the sign stealing saga finally behind them, they could struggle, mainly because of a three game suspension for head coach Sherrone Moore. On the brighter side, Bryce Underwood has officially been named the starting quarterback. He is a potential generational talent, and Michigan fans have every reason to be excited, but relying on a true freshman under center is always risky.
The defense also lost its two biggest stars, Mason Graham and Will Johnson, to the draft, which leaves some uncertainty on that side of the ball. There is talent here, but this is a transition year in a lot of ways, and Underwood is stepping into enormous expectations.
If he lives up to even most of the hype, Michigan will stay in the mix nationally. But if he shows freshman growing pains or the defense takes too long to gel, this team could slide back a notch from the standard the Wolverines have set in recent years.
Verdict: Too high
Florida Gators (SEC)
Top Players: QB DJ Lagway, DE Caleb Banks, DE Tyreak Sapp
Like South Carolina, I am just not seeing it with the Gators. DJ Lagway’s potential is throwing blinders on people it seems, keeping them from evaluating some key talent gaps, especially on defense.
Lagway will no doubt be fighting to pull this Gators team through the gauntlet that is the SEC, and whichever teams come out of that conference in the top three spots will no doubt make the playoffs and sit high in the Top 25 standings. The issue is while Lagway can make this offense fly, if he falters at all, this defense is not built to keep them in the game.
There are better SEC teams ranked lower right now, and with a three week stretch of games against LSU, Miami, and Texas, this team could be looking at a losing record by Week 5. Barring a Heisman season from Lagway, the Gators will suffer a huge fall in the rankings before midseason, and will miss the playoffs.
Verdict: Too high
SMU Mustangs (ACC)
Top Players: QB Kevin Jennings, CB Deuce Harmon, WR Yamir Knight
We were pretty open in our analysis about SMU’s current roster and the hurdles they are facing. Kevin Jennings is a quarterback who is not the easiest to love, though he is more than serviceable, and the Mustangs saw a lot of turnover across their skill positions.
But coaching is more important at the college level than almost anywhere, and Rhett Lashlee is inarguably one of the best in the business right now. The Mustangs have a lot of learning to do in a short period of time if they are going to have an offense worthy of a Top 15 ranking, but Lashlee has the ability to make that happen. If he can harness Jennings in the right way, and lean on the strengths of this team such as the offensive line and defense, they will easily rise above this 16 slot ranking.
Verdict: Too low
Kansas State Wildcats (Big 12)
Top Players: QB Avery Johnson, RB Dylan Edwards, S VJ Payne
Kansas State entered the season as the Big 12 favorite, banking on Avery Johnson’s growth at quarterback. The dual-threat sparkplug has all the tools, and he tried his best to bring the Wildcats back in their Week Zero loss against Iowa State. But in the end, they came up short, and that loss already puts them behind the eight ball in the conference race.
Johnson is talented and dangerous, and this team still has the potential to make noise, but the defense continues to be a question mark. At the top of the Big 12, there is not much room for error, and dropping one early makes the path much tougher. There is still time to turn things around, but it feels like Kansas State was slotted a bit too high out of the gate.
Verdict: Too high (with an asterisk since we already saw Week Zero)
Oklahoma Sooners (SEC)
Top Players: QB John Mateer, RB Jadyn Ott, DE R Mason Thomas
I can’t fathom how Oklahoma is this high in the rankings. Their 2024 season was a mess, and while they’ve made a few high-level moves to retool the offense, the amount of faith being put into an unproven product feels misplaced.
John Mateer is impressive and deserves credit. His 2024 at Washington State showed polished, consistent play, and he is capable of steadying an offense. But the roster around him is the real concern. The offensive line is shaky, the skill positions are thin, and too much of the expectation rests on Mateer alone. If he cannot get time to throw, the quarterback change will not matter much.
This feels like a classic case of over-ranking based on brand name rather than current roster strength.
Verdict: Too high
Texas A&M Aggies (SEC)
Top Players: LB Taurean York, RB Le’Veon Moss, DE TJ Searcy
The SEC has been the most volatile conference to judge this offseason, and Texas A&M sitting at 19 is proof of that. We have the Aggies ahead of Oklahoma, Florida, and South Carolina, who somehow landed all the way at 13.
So what are we seeing that the AP pollsters are not? For one, Marcel Reed. He was dynamite as a freshman starter, but because he doesn’t have the starpower name value of guys like DJ Lagway or LaNorris Sellers, he seems to be flying under the radar. Add in a steady veteran back in Le’Veon Moss and a roster full of underrated talent, and this looks like one of the most balanced teams in the SEC.
The Aggies are a legitimate dark horse. If Reed takes another step forward, this team will climb the rankings fast, and sitting at 19 right now feels too low.
Verdict: Too low
Indiana Hoosiers (Big Ten)
Top Players: DE Mikail Kamara, LB Aiden Fisher, CB D’Angelo Ponds
We have Indiana as the fifth best team in the Big Ten, so being ranked 20th feels about right. Their defense looks stifling on paper, perfectly suited for Big Ten play and likely to produce plenty of tight, low scoring games.
The offense, however, is a complete rebuild. Transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza takes over as the starter, and with new faces at receiver and along the offensive line, the Hoosiers’ success will depend on how quickly they find chemistry. Mendoza is a classic jack of all trades, versatile and steady, but it is hard to know how effective this unit will be early in the year.
Verdict: In the right area
Ole Miss Rebels (SEC)
Top Players: LB Suntarine Perkins, QB Austin Simmons, WR Cayden Lee
The Rebels are a strong team but are being viewed as an unknown commodity because of Austin Simmons. The young quarterback fits the system well, but whether he can deliver immediate success as a starter is still uncertain.
Add in the significant roster turnover and the concern makes sense. This team needs room to grow, and while a low end Top 15 finish is possible, the 20 to 25 range feels more realistic. Expect a volatile season as Lane Kiffin works to acclimate his new roster and build toward the future.
Verdict: In the right area
Iowa State Cyclones (Big 12)
Top Players: QB Rocco Becht, LB Caleb Bacon, WR Chase Sowell
Iowa State’s spot in the Top 25 looked questionable at first glance, with concerns about whether Rocco Becht could consistently elevate the offense and how the defense would respond after transfer losses. On paper, this team seemed like a candidate to slide.
But Week Zero told a different story. The Cyclones looked sharp in their win over Kansas State, one of the preseason Big 12 frontrunners. That heads up victory immediately gives them credibility and suggests they may be better than most projected. Becht played with confidence, the defense held firm, and suddenly Iowa State looks like a potential surprise contender in the Big 12.
Verdict: Too low (with a Week Zero asterisk)
Texas Tech Red Raiders (Big 12)
Top Players: DL David Bailey, LB Jacob Rodriguez, QB Behren Morton
Texas Tech belongs in the back half of the Top 25 for now, but they could easily end up being better than several teams ranked above them, namely Arizona State and Kansas State.
This offense has the potential to generate consistent big plays, and the roster has been boosted with legitimate transfer talent. Pair that with an already underrated defense, and the Red Raiders look dangerous. Keep an eye on RB Quintin Joyner, who could emerge as the spark that takes this attack to the next level.
Verdict: Too low
Tennessee Volunteers (SEC)
Top Players: CB Jermod McCoy, QB Joey Aguilar, LB Arion Carter
The SEC rankings in this AP Top 25 are some of the most puzzling, and Tennessee being this low is a prime example. The Vols are sitting behind teams like Oklahoma and Texas A&M, which likely reflects more faith in those programs’ quarterback situations and offensive upside than a true top-to-bottom roster comparison.
Tennessee is arguably a top-5 team in the SEC, or at worst just outside of it. The defense is absolutely stacked, with playmakers at every level who will keep them in any game. The big question is at quarterback. Joey Aguilar has talent, but he still needs to prove he can handle the grind of the SEC.
If Aguilar can even be steady, this team has the balance and firepower to shoot up the rankings fast.
Verdict: Too low
Boise State Broncos (Mountain West)
Top Players: DE Jayden Virgin-Morgan, S Ty Benefield, S Zion Washington
As the only team in the AP Top 25 not playing in one of the Power Four Conferences (aside from independent Notre Dame), Boise State enters the year as the clear Group of 5 favorite.
The Broncos have the balance and defense to get there, but the bigger question is what happens if they do. Matching up with the elite programs on that stage is a different challenge altogether. Still, their roster is strong enough to keep them relevant all season and to make life uncomfortable for whoever draws them in a New Year’s Six or playoff game.
Verdict: In the right area
The next 5 teams (in our opinion):
26. TCU Horned Frogs (Big 12)
27. Louisville Cardinals (ACC)
28. Nebraska Cornhuskers (Big Ten)
29. Iowa Hawkeyes (Big Ten)
30. UNLV Rebels (Mountain West)
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