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Way-Too-Early Top 25 college football ranking for 2025: Can Arch Manning take Texas to the top?

Andy Staples head shotby:Andy Staples•about 8 hours•

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way-too-early 2025 top 25 AFI

One game remains to be played in the 2024 season, but everyone outside of Ohio State and Notre Dame has turned the page to 2025. So it’s time to start arguing about next season. Ari Wasserman and I each made our own top 25 and averaged them together (hence the also receiving votes category), but we’re open to suggestions such as this one that came the first time we tried to predict a way-too-early top 10 for the 2025 season.

1. Texas

Andy Staples: Are we putting too much on Arch Manning when Texas will be losing four starting offensive linemen and several skill position playmakers? Maybe. But Steve Sarkisian has shown in his time in Austin that he understands how to build and replenish a roster. Under Sark, the Texas future NFL player factory has chugged back to life following a long dormant period. Time for that assembly line to keep humming.

2. Ohio State

Ari Wasserman: The Buckeyes are losing a large portion of their roster to the NFL after this season. Staying, though, are arguably the two best players in the country in receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs. Even after a quarterback transition, Ohio State will be loaded. 

3. Oregon

Andy: We’re going to find out if quarterback Dante Moore made the correct choice when he decided to transfer from UCLA to Oregon so he could learn behind Dillon Gabriel. We’re also going to see the results of recruiting classes that have ranked between No. 3 and No. 7 the past three cycles. And Dan Lanning is still happy to plug a hole with a sought-after portal player. The left side of the offensive line may be aptly named Nevada transfer Isaiah World at tackle and Wyoming/USC transfer Emmanuel Pregnon at guard.

4. Penn State

Ari: Say what you want about Drew Allar’s performance in the College Football Playoff semifinals, it’s still a huge deal for Penn State that he’s returning next season. The Nittany Lions are bringing back a large chunk of their roster, which also includes running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Penn State will be talented and old next year.

5. Notre Dame

Andy: The Fighting Irish offensive line is going to be excellent, and that’s a great place to start. Anthony Knapp replaced injured Charles Jagusah at left tackle in 2024, and both should come into the 2025 season healthy. All of Notre Dame’s 2024 starters have eligibility remaining, and star 2024 recruit Guerby Lambert is waiting in the wings along with 2025 signee Will Black, who is On3’s No. 2 overall player in the class of 2025. Some stars depart on defense, but young players like cornerback Leonard Moore already look capable of becoming the next stars.

6. Georgia

Ari: Our first look at quarterback Gunner Stockton was an encouraging view of Georgia’s history, even if it came in a loss to Notre Dame. Georgia recruits monster classes and are returning offensive starters like running back Nate Frazier, receiver Dillon Bell and tight end Oscar Delp. We know Georgia’s defense is going to be nasty, too. 

7. Illinois

Andy: Bielema was right. We messed up by leaving Illinois off when we made our Way, Way, Way Too Early 2025 Top 10, but in our defense we didn’t yet know how many key players planned to put off the NFL for a year to return to Champaign. With QB Luke Altmyer, offensive lineman J.C. Davis, DB Xavier Scott and linebacker Gabe Jacas back, the Illini have an incredible veteran core leading the way.

8. South Carolina

Ari: Is there a more exciting quarterback in the sport headed into the offseason than LaNorris Sellers? South Carolina tasted success this year, but if Sellers is more dynamic next year — alongside important pieces like left tackle Josiah Thompson and defensive end Dylan Stewart — the Gamecocks will be very good again. 

9. Florida

Andy: There might be one QB as exciting as Sellers. Rising Gators sophomore D.J. Lagway finished second in the nation in yards per attempt last year and should improve his accuracy with a full offseason as QB1. Meanwhile, the offensive and defensive lines that finished the season mauling potential playoff contenders will return intact. 

10. Clemson

Ari: Clemson’s season was solid given it ended with a trip to the ACC Championship Game, but the Tigers haven’t been what we became accustomed to expecting from Dabo Swinney. That could be changing. The Tigers being back quarterback Cade Klubnik, defensive linemen T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. and linebacker Sammy Brown. Oh, and Swinney is using the portal now? Clemson may be on its way back. 

11. Auburn

Andy: The Tigers had an awful 2024, but they were in just about every game and critical turnovers from the QB position turned most of the losses. The offensive line was solid and should be better, and a QB competition between Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold, Stanford transfer Ashton Daniels and freshman Deuce Knight should produce a capable starter who will be made more capable by a receiving corps that features rising sophomore Cam Coleman and Georgia Tech transfer Eric Singleton Jr.

12. Michigan

Ari: Sherrone Moore didn’t shoot out of a cannon this year, but Michigan’s culture was strong enough to beat Ohio State and Alabama to close out its season. The Wolverines signed five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood and brought in running back Justice Haynes to go along with Jordan Marshall. Michigan loses important pieces like Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, but the Wolverines should be better next year. 

13. Tennessee

Andy: The Volunteers lose a lot of talent from their defensive line, but they were absurdly deep. Joshua Josephs (nine tackles for loss in 2024) takes over for James Pearce Jr. at the LEO edge rusher position. Tackle Jaxson Moi was supposed to redshirt 2024, but the Vols couldn’t keep him off the field. As the Ohio State loss highlighted, QB Nico Iamaleava needs some dynamic targets to emerge. Can sophomore Mike Matthews be that guy? 

14. Alabama

Ari: Kalen DeBoer went 9-4 in his first year as Alabama’s coach. That isn’t good enough. That said, he brought in a ton of talent in the latest recruiting cycle. Alabama will have a quarterback battle between Ty Simpson, Austin Mack and incoming five-star Keelon Russell, but it has important pieces back like receivers Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard, offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor. The defense will be experienced, too, so Alabama should be in the mix. 

15. LSU

Andy: Having QB Garrett Nussmeier back is huge, but just as important was a concerted effort to improve the talent on defense through the transfer portal. The additions of cornerback Mansoor Delane (Virginia Tech), safety Tamarcus Cooley (N.C. State), defensive tackle Sydir Mitchell (Texas) and edges Jimari Butler (Nebraska), Patrick Payton (Florida State) and Jack Pyburn (Florida) should give coordinator Blake Baker more options. Plus, Baker gets to work with five-star plus cornerback signee D.J. Pickett. Nussmeier gets to throw to transfers Nic Anderson (Oklahoma) and Barion Brown (Kentucky), who should allow the offense to stretch the field.

16. BYU

Ari: BYU came out of nowhere this season to get an 11-win season and contend for the Big 12 title. Next year, the Cougars may make the conference championship game, especially because they don’t play Kansas State or Arizona State next season. They return a large portion of their roster, including quarterback Jake Retzlaff, running back LJ Martin and all of its linebackers from a defense that was very good against the run. 

17. Arizona State

Andy: Cam Skattebo is gone, but QB Sam Leavitt is back. He’s joined by top receiver Jordyn Tyson, who missed the Big 12 title game and the Peach Bowl after breaking his collarbone. Defensive tackle C.J. Fite, linebacker Keyshaun Elliott and DB Xavion Alford are back as well to provide leadership on the other side of the ball. We also now get to see how Sun Devils coach Kenny Dillingham handles roster build mode instead of roster rebuild mode.

18. Oklahoma

Ari: There is no team that had more bad luck with injuries than Oklahoma in 2024, which unquestionably contributed to the Sooners down season. Oklahoma brought in new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and star transfer quarterback John Mateer from Washington State. The Sooners offensive line should be improved next year and the quarterback will be a star. 

19. Texas A&M

Andy: The Aggies enter the offseason knowing they’re building the offense around QB Marcel Reed, which should help. Transfers Kevin Concepcion (N.C. State) and Mario Craver (Mississippi State) should create more explosive plays. Edge Cashius Howell showed in the bowl game that he’s ready to replace Shemar Stewart, but the Aggies probably need one of transfers Samuel M’Pemba (Georgia) or T.J. Searcy (Florida) to hit as well.

20. Kansas State

Ari: There was a ton of hype around quarterback Avery Johnson coming into this year. Though he was good, there is another step he can take, which should happen next year as he returns to lead these Wildcats. Kansas State is losing key players on defense, but it if replenishes talent on both lines, it should be a Big 12 contender next year. 

21. Miami

Andy: Assuming QB Carson Beck (elbow) is healthy in time for the season, the Hurricanes should be contenders for the ACC title again. The offensive line should be very good, which should give Beck time and provide a reliable run game. New defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman needs to improve a group that cost Miami a playoff berth last season. The hope is transfers such as safety Zechariah Poyser (Jacksonville State) and cornerback Charles Brantley (Michigan State) can make the defense better quickly.

22. SMU

Ari: The Mustangs were one of the cooler stories of the 2024 season, cracking the CFP in their first year in the ACC. Next year, SMU has to play Clemson, Miami and Louisville — so the schedule is getting harder — but the Mustangs bring back quarterback Kevin Jennings. Helping the star quarterback take another step forward will be crucial to SMU’s goal of sustaining last year’s success. 

23. Indiana

Andy: We’re probably doubting Curt Cignetti too much here. Maybe our Googling needs to improve. But the schedule does get harder, and Indiana loses some key contributors from 2024. Still, the addition of QB Fernando Mendoza (Cal) suggests Cignetti may work his magic again. With much of the front seven back on defense and All-Big Ten cornerback D’Angelo Ponds returning, the defense should remain stout.

24. Georgia Tech

Ari: Believe it or not, Georgia Tech is returning Haynes King, who has seemingly been in college since 1994. All jokes aside, he is a very productive player when healthy. The team lost Eric Singleton in the portal, but brought in transfers Eric Rivers and Dean Patterson from FIU to assist in keeping its passing game on point. Georgia Tech is a strong, physical team and should be a fun watch again in 2025. 

25. Nebraska

Andy: Coach Matt Rhule went into the portal to get some help for rising sophomore QB Dylan Raiola. The hope is that former Kentucky receiver Dane Key can do for Nebraska what Nebraska transfer Wan’Dale Robinson did for Kentucky in 2021. Also, former Alabama offensive tackle Elijah Pritchett should help immediately. The Cornhuskers lost a lot off a very good defense to the NFL and to the portal, but the hope is replacements such as former five-star recruit Williams Nwaneri (a Missouri transfer) and former Oklahoma linebacker Dasan McCullough can blossom in Lincoln.

Also receiving votes: Texas Tech, Iowa State, Missouri, Duke, Washington