In the fourth year, there were four surprising and prominent earthquake changes in college football, nothing sacred.
Even the top 25 unalienated polls, except for the points of debate in the sport of debate.
College Football is currently the top 12 or 12 teams that make up the college football playoffs. At least in 2025, before the inevitable 14-team format began with the emergence of a new CFP contract in 2026.
This is the 2025 CFP field in the 2025 seed order and ranks in the current format of the best four conference champions receiving their first round Byes. Bookmark or download and save for future discussion.
Anyway, that’s what this glorious sport is all about.
1. Pennsylvania
Good thing: experience being there. You can talk about the talent that comes back to both sides of the ball, new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, and how the Pennsylvania roster matches anyone in college football.
But there is inherent value to being there. Of course, Pennsylvania hadn’t made it in the playoffs before last season. Think of Michigan under Jim Harbaugh.
What’s not: Pennsylvania’s history in a big game under the direction of James Franklin. The ugly tendencies need to be changed. The Nittany Lions won two games in the playoffs (SMU, Boise State), but all on all lines, but they were not heavyweight. Oregon (September 527) and Ohio (November 1) are season-defining games.
2. Georgia
Good thing: Director Kirby Smart saw the problem and worked on it. It’s more than anything, his 10th season in Athens, a major growth step. The Georgia receiver dropped more than 30 passes last season, so Smart signed a major addition from the transfer portal: Noah Thomas (Texas A&M) and the Zakaria Branch (South California). Smart says that the staff (and the locker room) believe in QB Gunner Stockton and Georgia can win a big game with him.
What’s not: Return to 2024. There is empirical evidence everywhere. From most sacks given up by the Georgia Smart Team to a run game that finished 15th in the SEC to defenses that gave up the biggest points per game (20.6) since Smart’s first season in 2016. The field has begun taking their tolls, or was it an outlier last year?
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Upcoming View: College Football Top 25 Thanks to Our Pretty in 2025
3. Clemson
The good thing: Coach Dabo Swinney made sure it didn’t go completely where it couldn’t be recovered. QB Cade Kurvnik then convinced him to return to another run with CFP. Bonus for 2025: Swinney has finally been added through the portal to pick up Impact Edge Willhold (Purdue) and WR Tristan Smith (Southeast Missouri).
What’s not: It took two seasons for offensive coordinator Garrett Riley to fix the offense. New defensive coordinator Tom Allen doesn’t take much time. There are elite pieces that build around (De TJ Parker, DT Peter Woods, LB Wade Woodaz), but there were too many collective units out of position, or took a bad angle or missed tackles.
4. Kansas
Good thing: QB Avery Johnson. In 2024, the ride on the White Knuckle will be evenly distributed in 2025. When he’s there, he’s as dangerous as any quarterback in college football. Talent Johnny Manziel type. He must be more consistent and K-State must be better protected.
What’s not: When does this team understand how to win the game? Don’t lose to Houston a week after beating rival Kansas and not be blown away by Arizona at home in the first half. Problem: It’s a pattern (Iowa, 2023, 2021; Tulane, 2022; Texas, 2021), the victory of Overshadows and Big 12 Championship and Breakthrough under Chris Klieman. It derails CFP’s wishes.
Top and bottom: Winners and losers from the date of college football signing
5. Ohio
What’s good: I finally won everything. There is no point in the possibility that many past possibilities have been missed. Nowadays, talented teams play loosely, free and confidently. A dangerous combination considering the young talents of the entire roster.
What’s not: a quarterback’s first year starter. Former five-star newcomer, redshirt freshman Julian Sayain, is next in line. When the former five-star recruit was the last first year starter, Kyle McCord ran out of town after the 2023 season after losing to Michigan State.
6. Texas
Good thing: build-out from director Steve Sarkisian. Or a better way to say that: Texas is really back. This is plug and play with the Elite Tricroute class (and a bit of help from the portal), and the hope of winning it is totally combined with the talented QB Archmanning taking over.
What’s not: Start or chase points in big games. Regular season losses to Georgia in 2024, playoff losses to Washington (2023) and Ohio State (2024) and defeat to Oklahoma (2023).
7. LSU
The good thing: Coach Brian Kelly has found he can’t win a big SEC victory without a dominant line of defence. Adding major defensive lines from the portal – Patrick Payton (Fla.), Jack Paiburn (Fla.), Sidyl Mitchell (Texas) – quickly change things and help the defense get off the field. The opponent converted 41% of third downs in 2024.
What’s not: a start tackle that left early for the NFL. Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr. were strong backstops for QB Garrett Nasmeier. The Tigers have four (and possibly five) new starters on the offensive line in 2025.
8. Oregon
The good: ducks are crushing high school recruitment and player development. Manager Dan Lanning’s fourth year begins with a new quarterback (former five-star Recruit Dante Moore), and has plenty of offensive talent for one of the game’s most offensive coordinators (Wilstein).
What’s not: a new starter for a key role in defense. Lanning built his resume in Georgia as a defensive coordinator who rotated the young players along the front 7. These Oregon rotation players will move into key roles this fall and play alongside Star Pass Rush Matayou Agarerei.
9. Oklahoma
Good thing: John Mater, the difference between his ugly first season with the SEC and the 2025 CFP run. The forwarding quarterback from Washington State is the number one player on the forwarding portal and is a dynamic dual threat (44 TDS in total). The Sooners were unable to get their first down in 2024. They score in a bundle with Mateer and forward wideout Isaya Stegna (Arkansas) and massive championship subdivision forwarding receivers Keontez Lewis and Javonnie Gibson.
What’s not: The schedule is brutal. Using the 2024 model, it will be extremely difficult for a non-powered 4 conference champion to reach CFP with three losses. The Sooners will win Mississippi and LSU in Norman, but will have road trips to Texas games in Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and Dallas. Oklahoma also plays Michigan in Norman.
10. Brigham Young
Good thing: Quietly and confidently, Director Kalani Shitake built a program with sustainability. The Cougars returned most of the group that won 11 games, losing two with a total of nine points. He won one of these One Potsession Losses (Arizona, Kansas) and won a CFP spot to move BYU to the Big 12 Championship Game.
What’s not: turnover. BYU won four prizes with two losses, including three interceptions from QB Jake Retzlaff. Its TD/INT ratio was the TD/INT ratio for the game against the big 12 teams (13/9). We need to fix that the lucky schedule for 2025 is not included in Kansas and Arizona.
11. Illinois
The good thing: After trying to get back the planning and process back in Wisconsin, Illini coach Brett Bierema is as close as he has in Arkansas and Illinois as he was in about nine years. Illini runs in power, and all five starters return to the offensive line. QB Luke Altmyer protects the ball and highlights defense with his ambitious toughness in the quarterback run game. Defenses are also loaded.
What’s not: Take the next step. Illinois won 10 games last season, but have not won a consecutive double-digit victory season in the program’s history. Illini has not had a back-to-back victory season since 2010-11. Needless to say, you need 10 wins to reach CFP.
12. Boise County
Good things: Culture. Star running back Ashton Janti was a one-time program player, but was part of the most consistent group of five programs in college football. Coach Spencer Danielson’s quick rebuild will be carried through 2025, with QB Maddox Madsen returning with four starting offensive linemen, including Kage Casey, the 2026 first-round NFL draft pick. Ta.
What not: The same thing every season: one loss at the underrated Mountain West Conference, and the path to CFP will be very tough. There is no room for wiggling in one automatic qualifying spot. Boise also plays for Notre Dame.
Matt Hayes is a senior national college football writer for the USA Today Sports Network. Follow him with X at @matthayescfb.