The biggest spring questions for college football’s Way-Too-Early Top 25
Last week, we touched on key players who did not enter the transfer portal from each Way-Too-Early Top 25 team. This week, we take a look at the biggest questions that loom for each team that made the list ahead of next season. Will the portal pick-ups for these teams pay off? How will big-name recruits play out in the spotlight? Will offseason changes hold back certain teams?
Here are our writers discuss the biggest spring questions for each team.
Who will earn the starting quarterback position?
Quarterback Will Howard exceeded all expectations when he transferred from Kansas State for his final season. In the College Football Playoff, Howard posted a QBR of 97.2 while completing 75.2% of his passes, as Ohio State won its first national championship in a decade. Freshman Julian Sayin enters the spring as the favorite to replace Howard. Sayin, who transferred to Ohio State from Alabama after coach Nick Saban’s retirement, was a top 10 overall recruit last year. He has the talent — and star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith to throw to — to keep the Ohio State offense rolling. But Sayin will have to fend off another talented passer, true freshman Tavien St. Clair, who was a top 10 overall recruit in this class, to ultimately win the job. — Jake Trotter
Will the new defensive tackles be able to fill the shoes of former players at the position?
For the past two years, Texas has had a luxury at defensive tackle, a rarity in the portal era. In the 2024 NFL draft, Byron Murphy II went No. 16 to the Seattle Seahawks and T’Vondre Sweat was picked No. 38 by the Tennessee Titans while Vernon Broughton (6-foot-4, 305 pounds) and Alfred Collins (6-5, 320 pounds) slid right into their places. But those two are gone, along with four other defensive linemen who departed via the portal. The Longhorns backfilled by adding 6-3, 333-pound Cole Brevard from Purdue, 6-5, 330-pound Travis Shaw from North Carolina and Ohio State transfer Hero Kanu, at 6-5, 305 pounds. They’ve also added one of the nation’s best recruits in Justus Terry, the No. 2 defensive tackle in the 2025 ESPN 300 and No. 8 overall prospect. Texas has veteran edge rushers in breakout star Colin Simmons, Trey Moore and Ethan Burke, but the big D-tackles have made Texas one of the toughest teams to run against, and has allowed linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. to roam free as a playmaker. A restocked middle of the line will keep the Longhorns dangerous up front. — Dave Wilson
How will new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles fare in his first season at Penn State?
Penn State’s defense has had good coordinator transitions under coach James Franklin, most recently from Brent Pry to Manny Diaz to Tom Allen. The switch from Allen to Jim Knowles, whom Penn State swiped from Big Ten rival and reigning national champion Ohio State, is expected to be just as smooth but remains a notable question entering the spring. Knowles showed at Ohio State that he could not only craft strong schemes, but can maximize the talents of elite players. He must do the same for a Penn State defense losing Abdul Carter, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and other standouts such as safety Jaylen Reed. But Penn State returns Dani Dennis-Sutton, linebacker Dominic DeLuca, safety Zakee Wheatley and others. If Knowles can maintain or elevate the defense’s trajectory, Penn State should be a legitimate national title contender. — Adam Rittenberg
Who will start at quarterback for the Fighting Irish?
In each of the past two seasons, Notre Dame has gone into the portal for a veteran QB. So far, the Irish look more than happy to ride with the players they have returning, which makes for a particularly intriguing storyline this spring. Steve Angeli is the veteran, with 80 pass attempts and one start under his belt, but he’s hardly the clear-cut favorite. In fact, the name getting the most buzz is redshirt freshman CJ Carr, who has a world of talent and is seen as the option with the most upside. Then there’s third-year QB Kenny Minchey and true freshman Blake Hebert, who’ll at least get a shot to make an impression. In the past decade, Notre Dame has had a handful of seasons in which multiple QBs had playing time (2015, 2018) but 2022 was the last true spring QB competition without an incumbent on the roster. Perhaps not coincidentally, it was also the only year since 2017 in which the Irish didn’t win 10 games. — David Hale
Can the new Bulldogs’ pass catchers solve their dropped passes issue?
From struggling to run the ball to games with multiple interceptions to failing on third-down conversions, Georgia’s offense had myriad problems in 2024. But no issue received as much attention as dropped passes — the Bulldogs had more than any other team in a Power 4 conference. It put Georgia behind the chains too many times and killed promising drives. The Bulldogs addressed the problem by adding two proven receivers from the transfer portal: USC‘s Zachariah Branch and Texas A&M’s Noah Thomas. Thomas, 6-6 and 210 pounds, gives Georgia a red-zone target. Colbie Young, another big target, is expected to be available after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct on Jan. 29 to resolve a domestic violence case. The Bulldogs also need Dillon Bell to reach his full potential, and Nitro Tuggle and Sacovie White to continue to develop as reliable pass catchers. Freshman C.J. Wiley, a Georgia native, has also turned heads in his first couple of months on campus after enrolling in January. — Mark Schlabach
Can Dante Moore begin to live up to the success of the Ducks’ previous two quarterbacks?
Under Dan Lanning, Oregon has found success in becoming a final stop for transfer quarterbacks and turning them into Heisman contenders. First, it was Bo Nix, then it was Dillon Gabriel; now it’s hoping it can do the same with Moore. But his case is a little different. Moore is younger and has spent only one season at a different program (freshman year at UCLA) while also spending last year under the tutelage of Gabriel and offensive coordinator Will Stein. With Gabriel gone, it’s now Moore’s time to shine. With the Bruins, the former five-star recruit struggled but showed enough flashes to prove his talent could translate to the next level. A year spent watching Gabriel and learning the Ducks’ offense should have done wonders for his development and Stein has been adamant that his offensive philosophy is malleable depending on the kind of quarterback he has. On paper, Moore should have a breakout season, but just how the Ducks utilize and build the unit around him to maximize success remains to be seen. — Paolo Uggetti
How does running back shape up?
Clemson might rank No. 1 in the country in returning offensive production with Cade Klubnik and all of his top receivers coming back, but running back is a key area that needs some answers this spring. Starter Phil Mafah and his 1,115 yards are gone to the NFL. His backup Jay Haynes remains out indefinitely after injuring his knee in the ACC championship game. That leaves Keith Adams Jr — with 30 carries for 122 yards last season — as the most productive running back returning. To address this, Clemson is trying out 6-2, 225-pound receiver Adam Randall at running back this spring after he contributed there in the College Football Playoff loss to Texas. Clemson also has true freshman Gideon Davidson, the player of the year in Virginia who enrolled early and is practicing, and will continue to take a look at Jarvis Green and David Eziomume. — Andrea Adelson
What changes will be made to LSU’s offensive line?
The Tigers are faced with replacing four of their five starters on the offensive line, including tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr., who won’t have to wait long to hear their names called in the NFL draft next month. DJ Chester returns at center, but he’s likely to end up shifting to another position up front, probably guard. In other words, the spring will be a time for LSU to look at a couple of different combinations in what will be a retooled offensive line in 2025. Tyree Adams earned some key experience in the bowl game after stepping in at left tackle when Campbell opted out, and an integral part of the Tigers’ talented transfer portal class were the additions of Northwestern’s Josh Thompson, who can play tackle or guard, and Virginia Tech’s Braelin Moore, who can play guard or center. It’s also a big spring for sophomore tackle Weston Davis, who was a five-star recruit a year ago but played only 20 snaps. He’s probably the favorite to earn the starting right tackle spot. — Chris Low
Where is the depth?
With several key players back from a team that went 11-2 in 2024, BYU finds itself in an enviable spot this spring. It has quarterback Jake Retzlaff coming back with one of the best defenses in the country and a solid group of skill players on offense. The Cougars will head into 2025 with some of their highest expectations in years. The key now is development. If they can elevate some roles or reserve players from last year to be key contributors, then there is every reason to believe this is a team that will compete for a playoff spot. — Kyle Bonagura
Can LaNorris Sellers hit another level and lift the Gamecocks to true SEC and playoff contention?
Sellers earned the nickname “Superman” while he emerged as one of college football’s breakout stars last fall, charging South Carolina to only its sixth nine-win season since 1984 and vaulting the Gamecocks within spitting distance of the 12-team CFP field. He closed his first season as a starter with 3,208 total yards and 25 touchdowns, and Sellers played his best football when the Gamecocks did in 2024, shining across a six-game win streak to close the regular season. South Carolina will look for Sellers to improve his downfield accuracy and cut down on turnovers as a second-year starter. And the next steps in his development might also hinge on the players around him, too, as the Gamecocks work to replace running back Rocket Sanders with a handful of new starters on the offensive line. But if Sellers returns as a more refined version of the player he was in 2024, South Carolina will enter the fall with a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender and a quarterback capable of potentially carrying the program to its first playoff appearance. — Eli Lederman
How can the Cyclones replace Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel?
We’re talking about a pair of receivers that both had at least 80 catches and went for over 1,100 yards last season. They brought in Chase Sowell (East Carolina) and Xavier Townsend (UCF) to help shore up production, but it’s probably unrealistic to expect receiver play to be at the level it was with Higgins and Noel paired up last season. Still, this is a team that has had a winning record in seven of coach Matt Campbell’s eight seasons. He has shown he can turn over a roster and continue to win games. — Bonagura
Who can step up at running back next season?
Alabama finished sixth in the SEC in rushing offense last season, but quarterback Jalen Milroe was easily the most dynamic component of the Crimson Tide’s running game. With Milroe off to the NFL and Justice Haynes transferring to Michigan, one of the priorities will be figuring out the pecking order at running back and identifying at least two or three backs new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb can be comfortable with in returning the position to a more traditional role. Jam Miller is Alabama’s leading returning rusher and perhaps this is his season to break out, but it was tough sledding for him down the stretch a year ago. He averaged just 3.5 yards per carry and didn’t rush for any touchdowns in his final five games. Behind him, there is very little SEC experience. This will be Richard Young‘s third year on campus. He was hampered by injuries last season. Louisiana transfer Dre’lyn Washington is another player to watch, along with 6-foot, 205-pound freshman Akylin Dear, ranked by ESPN as the nation’s No. 2 running back prospect in the 2025 class. — Low
Who will be quarterback Luke Altmyer‘s primary passing targets this fall?
The exciting thing for Illinois is that its roster and coaching staff don’t change dramatically after a season that resulted in 10 wins and a No. 16 AP poll finish. As coach Bret Bielema told me, “The best thing for us is our best players are back.” But one position Illinois must replenish is wide receiver, as All-Big Ten standout Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin both depart after combining for 1,636 receiving yards and 109 receptions in 2024. Illinois returns Hank Beatty and Collin Dixon, who finished third and fourth on the team in receptions last fall, and also added transfers Hudson Clement (West Virginia) and Justin Bowick (Ball State). Illinois’ overall offensive numbers last fall weren’t eye-popping, but Altmyer’s return under coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. could lead to a spike. — Rittenberg
Without Cam Skattebo, where does the offensive production come from?
It’s hard to overstate how important Skattebo was to the Sun Devils during their surprising run to the College Football Playoff. The guy did it all. He ran for over 1,700 yards with another 605 receiving. There isn’t a like-for-like replacement who can make up for his loss. So, this spring, ASU will set out to make up for his departure. Quarterback Sam Leavitt‘s return gives ASU an established winner at quarterback and running back Kyson Brown showed flashes last season that he can be a dangerous player. — Bonagura
Who will be Kevin Jennings primary passing target next season?
Perhaps SMU fans would like a little reassurance on Jennings at quarterback after a disastrous playoff performance (and five turnovers in his final two games), but the Mustangs still have one of the best QBs in the conference, regardless of how 2024 ended. The bigger question is just who Jennings will be distributing the ball to in 2025. Gone are three of his top four wide receivers, his most productive tight end and star tailback Brashard Smith. But that doesn’t mean there’s a lack of talent. Tight end RJ Maryland returns from injury, along with blue-chip recruits Daylon Singleton and Jalen Cooper at receiver, and a handful of last year’s backups — former Texas A&M back LJ Johnson Jr., former Miami wide receiver Romello Brinson — who’ll have a chance to make a bigger impact. It took SMU a few games last season to really find its stride offensively, but identifying the foundation of the upcoming season’s unit needs to be a priority coming out of spring. — Hale
How can the offensive line keep steady following a lot of change?
Kansas State’s consistency is enviable in the topsy-turvy Big 12 and a big part of that has been because of its offensive line. Last season, the Wildcats lost four of their five starters and still gave up the 10th-fewest sacks nationally at one per game, while ranking 11th nationally in rushing offense at 215.5 yards per game. But the Wildcats lost offensive line coach Conor Riley to the Dallas Cowboys, and lost both tackles to graduation and the portal. They added one of the best tackles in the portal, Ohio State’s George Fitzpatrick, along with Brandon Sneh of Wagner and guard Amos Talalele of USC. The Wildcats’ offensive machine doesn’t lack star power with Avery Johnson at QB and Dylan Edwards, who was last seen running for a school bowl record 196 yards and two TDs in a win against Rutgers, in his first game as the featured back. But it’ll need the big guys up front to keep it humming. — Wilson
How can Indiana improve its line-of-scrimmage play?
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza‘s arrival from Cal to replace NFL-bound Kurtis Rourke will generate attention, but the performance change there doesn’t figure to be dramatic one way or the other. Indiana’s line-of-scrimmage play propelled the team to a 10-0 start and a historic 2024 season, but it also showed cracks in losses to Ohio State and Notre Dame. Both the offensive and defensive lines will be replacing key players such as Mike Katic and CJ West, but both groups also return key players, including All-Big Ten defensive lineman Mikail Kamara and left tackle Carter Smith. The offensive line also added notable transfers Pat Coogan, who started for Notre Dame during its CFP run, as well as Zen Michalski (Ohio State) and Kahlil Benson (Colorado). Indiana’s staying power as a good to very good program under coach Curt Cignetti hinges on avoiding line drop-offs. The new-look offensive line, in particular, must come together this spring. — Rittenberg
Can Florida convert its late-season surge into contention among the upper half of the SEC in 2025?
The Gators reshaped the arch of Billy Napier’s third season — and his broader tenure in Gainesville — with four consecutive victories to close 2024, including ranked wins over LSU and Ole Miss. The Gators’ win streak coincided with the emergence of former five-star passer DJ Lagway, who returns in 2025 as one of the nation’s most promising young quarterbacks. Lagway will operate this fall alongside 2024 breakout running back Jadan Baugh and behind an experienced offensive line, while Florida’s talented and young defense is tasked with replacing leading tacklers Shemar James, Trikweze Bridges and Jack Pyburn under the new leadership of co-coordinators Ron Roberts and Vinnie Sunseri. The departures of top pass catchers Chimere Dike and Elijah Badger leave the Gators also searching for new production at wide receiver in 2025. Whether Florida can get similar output from Eugene Wilson III (returning from hip surgery) or freshmen Vernell Brown III, Dallas Wilson and Naeshuan Montgomery, stands as one of the central questions as the Gators attempt to build on last season’s finish as it faces the nation’s second-toughest schedule in 2025, per ESPN’s Bill Connelly. — Lederman
What does Nico Iamaleava and the Vols’ wide receivers need to work on ahead of the fall?
There will be a lot of eyes on Iamaleava at quarterback as he enters his third year on campus, in particular whether he can put up more impressive numbers in the passing game. In Tennessee’s three losses last season, Iamaleava never threw for more than 170 yards and was held without a touchdown pass. In the final two losses of the season to Ohio State and Georgia, he didn’t have a completion longer than 21 yards. But it’s not all on Iamaleava. He’s going to need more help in 2025 from his receivers, and four of his top five pass catchers from last season are gone. Former five-star signee Mike Matthews, after initially entering the transfer portal in the winter, is back and a popular choice to be one of college football’s top breakout players next season. The Vols will need him to be after he caught only seven passes as a freshman. Chris Brazzell II, who transferred last year from Tulane, is the only returning wide receiver on the roster who had more than 100 receiving yards last season. Braylon Staley, now in his second year on campus, will get a big opportunity to move up the depth chart this spring along with Alabama transfer Amari Jefferson and incoming freshmen Radarius Jackson and Travis Smith Jr. — Low
What’s the status of the secondary?
Too often last year, Louisville’s talented defensive backs got burned. This year, the unit will feature a plethora of new faces, with three-quarters of last year’s starters out the door (along with top backups at corner). Louisville went heavy in the portal, identifying what the Cardinals hope are diamonds from lower levels, including Jacksonville State’s Jabari Mack, Florida International‘s JoJo Evans, Louisiana’s Justin Agu and Southern’s Rodney Johnson Jr. Are those additions ready for the step up in class? A spring against an explosive offense led by Miller Moss, Caullin Lacy & Co. ought to be a good first test. — Hale
Will Bryce Underwood be ready to start right away?
Underwood is the most hyped incoming freshman in the country following his high-profile (and high-dollar) commitment flip from LSU to Michigan. The No. 1 overall recruit of the 2024 class, Underwood gives the Wolverines a tantalizing talent at quarterback a year after Michigan cycled through three quarterbacks (Davis Warren, Alex Orji and Jack Tuttle), who posted a combined QBR (48.5) that ranked 15th in the Big Ten. Underwood will have every opportunity to win the starting job. But the Wolverines also added Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene, who has thrown for 8,245 yards and 65 touchdowns in his career, to bridge the gap if Underwood isn’t ready yet. — Trotter
What exactly will Collin Klein’s offense look like?
In his first season in College Station, Klein navigated an offensive line that had struggled previously but improved. Conner Weigman returned from injury, then struggled, was benched and transferred to Houston as Marcel Reed took over at quarterback, and running back Le’Veon Moss was leading the SEC in rushing yards before he sustained a season-ending injury, with Rueben Owens missing all but two games last season. They both return along with Amari Daniels. But Noah Thomas, the Aggies’ leading receiver with 39 catches for 574 yards, departed for Georgia, a blow to a passing attack that ranked 87th last season nationally. The Aggies brought in transfers Kevin “KC” Concepcion (NC State), Micah Hudson (Texas Tech), Mario Craver (Mississippi State) and Jonah Wilson (Houston) for a makeover at the position, and also added tight end transfers Amari Niblack (Texas), Micah Riley (Auburn) and Nate Boerkircher (Nebraska). — Wilson
How will the revamped defense look?
It is no secret the Miami defense let the team down after a stellar season from quarterback Cam Ward. Look no further than the regular-season finale against Syracuse, in which Miami gave up 42 points and lost its chance to play for an ACC championship. Coach Mario Cristobal fired defensive coordinator Lance Guidry and hired Corey Hetherman from Minnesota to lead the defense. The Hurricanes also hit the transfer portal hard to help their beleaguered secondary, adding three highly rated players in Charles Brantley (Michigan State), Zechariah Poyser (Jacksonville State) and Ethan O’Connor (Washington State). The three combined for 12 interceptions last season. Brantley was a three-year starter and will be counted on to lead. Miami also signed Emmanuel Karnley (Arizona) to help add depth. — Adelson
How will Boise State begin to replace Ashton Jeanty‘s production?
There is no easy or simple way to plug and play any one running back to replace Jeanty and the historic season he had last season. Jambres Dubar and Sire Gaines probably will share the load at running back, but the Broncos’ offense might need to rely more on returning quarterback Maddux Madsen. With Jeanty as the focal point of the offense, Madsen game-managed his way through the season well and showed flashes of his potential toward the back end of Boise’s dream season. He finished with over 3,000 passing yards and 23 touchdowns, but now that Jeanty’s gone, it’s likely that Madsen will need to make an even bigger leap and become the offensive leader for the Broncos, whose new offensive coordinator, Matt Miller, was also previously the team’s passing game coordinator. Spring ball will be the first tell on whether Boise starts to shift more to a pass-first offense. — Uggetti
Will Lane Kiffin’s portal pick-ups pay off?
Kiffin has brandished his reputation as college football’s “Portal King,” and his ability to build through the transfer portal will be put to the test again. Ole Miss furnished a 2024 playoff contender with 25 transfers, led by eventual first-team All-SEC defenders Walter Nolen, Princely Umanmielen and Trey Amos. All three are gone, but Ole Miss still holds the foundation of a dominant defensive line between returners Suntarine Perkins and Zxavian Harris. Alongside them, the Rebels turned to the portal again to reinforce their defense, bringing in edge rushers Princewill Umanmielen (Nebraska) and Da’Shawn Womack (LSU), linebacker Jaden Yates (Marshall) and a collection of defensive backs in Antonio Kite (Auburn), Sage Ryan (LSU), Jaylon Braxton (Arkansas) and Kapena Gushiken (Washington State). Wide receivers Harrison Wallace III (Penn State) and De’Zhaun Stribling (Oklahoma State) and tight end Luke Hasz (Arkansas) lead a cast of seven new pass catchers around quarterback Austin Simmons, a redshirt sophomore who is set to fill the shoes of three-year starter Jaxson Dart. Transfer offensive linemen Patrick Kutas (Arkansas) and Delano Townsend (UAB) should both slot into starting roles for Ole Miss, where offseason transfer turnover has become the norm. — Lederman
For every college football team, the season often can swing on one person, position group or situation. If this one thing comes together as planned — or even better than expected — the season could be a big success. If it doesn’t go well, the team’s season could go south.
Though the quarterback position often fills that role, especially when there’s a new player at the helm, other concerns can be shoring up a weakness from last year, incorporating a key transfer or having an important player return from injury.
For the teams in our post-spring Power Rankings, the stakes are particularly high. Spots in the College Football Playoff are on the line, and failure could put coaches on the hot seat.
We asked our college football reporters to provide the biggest X factor — the one thing that could make or break the season — for each of our Top 25 teams.
X factor: QB Drew Allar‘s big-game performances
Penn State enters what appears to be an all-in season, and Allar has the ingredients to be the top NFL quarterback prospect for the 2026 draft. But his play under the brightest of lights has left something to be desired. He hasn’t beaten Ohio State or Michigan, he delivered some good moments in a Big Ten championship game loss to Oregon but was still intercepted twice, and threw the crucial interception in a CFP semifinal loss to Notre Dame. Penn State has made the necessary investments around Allar, who will share a backfield with probably the nation’s top running back tandem. The time has come for the senior to be at his best in the biggest moments. If he delivers, Penn State will have a real chance at its first national title since 1986. — Adam Rittenberg
X factor: Run defense
Though the Tigers have had standout players across their front seven over the past few years, that group has fallen short in one particular area — rush defense — and it became glaring last season. The truth is, its decline began when Wes Goodwin took over as defensive coordinator. In each of his three seasons, the rush defense has gotten worse, culminating in what became a major issue in 2024. Clemson gave up 160.6 yards on the ground, and there isn’t much more proof needed as to how poorly the Tigers attempted to stop the run than their playoff loss to Texas, when the Longhorns rushed for 292 yards. Clemson tackled poorly and often took bad angles. This season Tom Allen takes over after leading one of the best rushing defenses in the country at Penn State. Expect this area to be vastly improved, returning to the standard Clemson set under Brent Venables. — Andrea Adelson
X factor: Middle of the defensive line
Texas has been loaded the past two seasons, but one of the reasons it made back-to-back CFP semifinal trips were the big men in the middle of the defensive line. Giant, athletic space-eaters such as T’Vondre Sweat, Vernon Broughton, Byron Murphy II and Alfred Collins made it tough to push the Longhorns around and freed up others to make plays when they weren’t. But this offseason, Texas had to go searching for big men, landing Syracuse freshman All-American Maraad Watson (6-foot-3, 313 pounds), Cole Brevard (6-3, 333) from Purdue, North Carolina’s Travis Shaw (6-5, 342), and 6-5, 299-pound German Hero Kanu, who arrives from Ohio State. Five-star freshman Justus Terry (6-5, 268) is already on campus and will look to be in the mix along with sophomore Alex January (6-5, 308), who appeared in 11 games last season. The Longhorns have star edge rushers in Colin Simmons, Trey Moore, and do-everything linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. to bring pressure. But opening against Ohio State, then hitting an SEC schedule with so many new faces up front will be a key area for Texas. — Dave Wilson
X factor: WR Colbie Young
Georgia hopes it upgraded its receiver corps by adding Zachariah Branch (USC) and Noah Thomas (Texas A&M), and heralded freshman C.J. Wiley. The return of Young, a senior, might end up being equally important. Young played sparingly last season and was suspended while facing criminal charges involving an alleged domestic violence incident. He reached a plea deal with prosecutors and returned to the team. He’s an outside threat that excels at making contested catches. “Yeah, he gives you problems outside,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “You’re going out there and there’s not a lot of defense you can have for a guy that gets the ball at the highest point and goes up.” — Mark Schlabach
X factor: TE Max Klare
The Buckeyes landed the top tight end in the transfer portal in Klare, who arrived in Columbus from Purdue. Klare caught 51 passes for 685 years and four touchdowns during his sophomore season, easily leading the Boilermakers in those three categories. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Klare figures to give the Buckeyes a dynamic target over the middle of the field, nicely complementing receiver Carnell Tate and All-American wideout Jeremiah Smith. Klare’s presence should also give Ohio State’s new starting quarterback — whether it’s Julian Sayin or Lincoln Kienholz — a playmaking security blanket early in the season. With Smith set to command attention on the outside, Klare should find plenty of favorable matchups operating inside. — Jake Trotter
X factor: QB Garrett Nussmeier
Quite simply, Nussmeier will determine how far LSU goes in 2025. Recent years have been good to the returning LSU starter — Jayden Daniels being the latest example — and Nussmeier’s stats from last season compare to those of Daniels from 2022 before he won the Heisman Trophy the following year. Brian Kelly did a fantastic job in the transfer portal bolstering the roster, including getting Nussmeier plenty of weapons and added protection. If there were a situation in which a good player becomes great in 2025, it feels as if it’s in Baton Rouge with Nussmeier helping Kelly achieve what he came to LSU to do. — Harry Lyles Jr.
X factor: QB CJ Carr
Carr hasn’t attempted a pass in a game yet at Notre Dame, but the quarterback is facing lofty expectations heading into the 2025 season. Carr, the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, is still locked in a battle with Kenny Minchey for the starting job. Last year’s backup, Steve Angeli, transferred to Syracuse. After redshirting last year because of an elbow injury in his throwing arm, Carr performed well in spring practice. He appears to be the player to beat. The Saline, Michigan, native was ranked the No. 2 pocket passer in the Class of 2024, according to ESPN. With running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price returning, along with a good offensive line, the Irish might not need much from Carr. But he’ll have to avoid turnovers and make good decisions while running the offense. — Mark Schlabach
X factor: QB Dante Moore
Dan Lanning’s team is so deep and well rounded that it’s hard to say the Ducks’ success this season will hinge entirely on Moore. And yet, since the Ducks’ lineage of quarterbacks (Justin Herbert, Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel) has buoyed Oregon’s offense in recent years, Moore has some big shoes to fill. The 20-year-old sophomore spent a year learning under Gabriel and offensive coordinator Will Stein after getting thrown into the fire as a true freshman starter during his lone season at UCLA. This time, the stage will be much bigger and the pressure much higher. — Paolo Uggetti
X factor: QB Ty Simpson
Simpson has waited his turn and had chances to win the quarterback job at Alabama, and now it’s his time unless he takes a step back during preseason camp, which is something nobody at Alabama expects to happen. In his fourth year in the program, Simpson will be starting anew with first-year offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, but he has the multidimensional skills Grubb likes in his quarterback. Getting off to a good start will be critical for Simpson and the Tide. — Chris Low
X factor: LB Siale Esera
After playing in only five games in each of the past two seasons, Esera’s career hasn’t gotten off to the start many were expecting from the Provo native. But now that he is fully healthy, that should change. Esera emerged from spring ball as a starting linebacker and has drawn rave reviews from both head coach Kalani Sitake and defensive coordinator Jay Hill. At 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, he has both the size and athleticism to become a difference-maker in the Big 12 — and that’s the expectation. — Kyle Bonagura
X factor: OLB Gabe Jacas
Jacas might not be a national name just yet, but he has the skill set to propel Illinois and contend for the sport’s biggest defensive honors. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Jacas led Illinois in sacks (8), tackles for loss (13), forced fumbles (3) and quarterback hurries (10) last fall, and bypassed the NFL for another chance with an Illini squad that returns most of its core players from a 10-win team. Illinois probably needs to develop more pass-rush punch around Jacas, who was the team’s only consistent threat off the edge last season. The Illini also struggled a bit against good passing offenses. But if Jacas can defeat double-teams, or free up others to pressure quarterbacks, Illinois should have a chance at its first CFP appearance. — Rittenberg
X factor: Wide receivers beyond Jordyn Tyson
Despite sitting out the last two games of the season, Tyson caught 75 passes in 2024. All other Arizona State wide receivers combined for 61 receptions. It was certainly impressive that the Sun Devils managed two great performances at the end of the season without Tyson, but the limitations of the ASU receiving corps ramped up the degree of difficulty for quarterback Sam Leavitt and do-everything running back Cam Skattebo. With Skattebo now in the NFL, some combination of receivers Malik McClain and Derek Eusebio, and incoming transfers Jalen Moss (Fresno State), Noble Johnson (Clemson) and Jaren Hamilton (Alabama) will need to come up big to make sure Leavitt and Tyson have the help they need. — Bill Connelly
X factor: WR Nyck Harbor
No player on South Carolina’s roster looks the part quite like Harbor. He’s 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, built like DK Metcalf and is an absolute rocket. But that speed has been a bit of his downfall through two seasons in Columbia, where he has spent spring as part of the Gamecocks’ track team. Call it a distraction — that’s debatable — but his development on the football field hasn’t been quite as fast as the Gamecocks might have hoped. Harbor has started 13 games over two seasons but caught only 38 passes and three touchdowns. This spring, he focused solely on football, and he says he’s poised for a breakthrough. “Going through a whole year totally committed to football, I’ve never had that before,” Harbor said. “It’s done wonders in my ability to understand the game and build off last year. I’m going to be a whole different player by the time fall rolls around.” — David Hale
X factor: WR Chase Sowell
Sowell steps into a wide receiver room that lost its top two players — Jayden Higgins (second-round pick by the Houston Texans) and Jaylin Noel (third-round pick by the Texans) — leaving a massive production gap on the outside. Sowell was a reliable option at East Carolina the past two seasons — 34 catches, 678 yards in 2024; 47 catches, 622 yards in 2023 — and is expected to offer the Cyclones a much-needed big-play threat. Sowell should benefit from the experience of quarterback Rocco Becht, who will be starting for a third straight season in Ames. — Bonagura
X factor: TE RJ Maryland
For sheer NFL potential, there might not be a better prospect at SMU than Maryland. The tight end has racked up 17 touchdown catches over his first three seasons, but last year was cut short after he was injured in a win over Stanford, sitting out the rest of the season. Maryland should be back to 100% by the start of the 2025 season, and his return comes at a critical time for SMU’s passing game, as six of the other seven Mustangs to reel in at least 200 receiving yards last season are gone. A healthy Maryland creates a clear-cut mismatch and forces defenses to adjust each week. He could be in line for a breakthrough season — and if that happens, the Mustangs’ offense should follow suit. — Hale
X factor: Defensive coordinator Shiel Wood
It really can’t be overstated that this defense has to be better. Texas Tech has been one of the biggest storylines of the college football offseason when it comes to roster building, largely because of the Red Raiders’ willingness to spend money. Wood comes in after tenures as defensive coordinator at Tulane in 2023 and Houston in 2024. On paper, this is a much more talented group. Statistically, it can’t be much worse. But we won’t know until the opening kickoff. — Lyles
X factor: QB Fernando Mendoza
Can Mendoza, a transfer from Cal, take another jump in 2025? Among all the variables that could potentially lift — or let down — the Hoosiers’ in Year 2 under coach Curt Cignetti, none feel more important than this. Mendoza became a beacon of a spirited (if ultimately underwhelming) 6-7 campaign for the Bears last fall, when he completed 68.7% of his passes (12th best nationally among QBs with at least 100 passing attempts) in his first full season as a starter. Mendoza has big shoes to fill after Kurtis Rourke motored Indiana’s record-setting offense to the nation’s second-best points per game tally (41.3) in 2024. But Mendoza should be playing behind a sturdier offensive line in 2025, and there are plenty of playmakers within an intriguing Hoosiers skill position group led by veteran receiver Elijah Sarratt. If Mendoza can find another gear operating a more favorable situation this fall, it could go a long way toward pulling Indiana back into playoff contention. — Eli Lederman
X factor: QB Avery Johnson
The K-State program is obviously in sturdy shape, having won between eight and 10 games for four straight years under Chris Klieman. But when you sign a big-time, blue-chip quarterback such as Johnson (ESPN’s No. 3 dual-threat QB in the 2023 class), you’re giving yourself a shot at a higher ceiling than usual. Johnson’s first season as a starter in 2024 was all over the map — the good was very good, the bad was awfully worrisome — which is how these things usually go. But now he’s entering his junior season, and he has a super explosive skill corps with weapons such as running back Dylan Edwards, receiver Jayce Brown and transfers Caleb Medford (New Mexico) and Antonio Martin Jr. (Southeastern Louisiana). If Johnson is ready to live up to his hype, Kansas State fans could really enjoy 2025. — Connelly
X factor: Health of QB DJ Lagway
Quarterback play at any level of football is more valuable than it has ever been, and a big reason expectations are growing in Gainesville is because of No. 2 for the Gators. Lagway had some shoulder soreness in the offseason that carried over from last year, so he was limited in spring practice and played only five snaps in the spring game. He resumed throwing in late April, and it seems Florida has been cautious in hopes of having him ready to go this fall for a healthy season. — Lyles
X factor: QB Bryce Underwood
Underwood’s high-profile commitment flip from LSU to Michigan was among the biggest recruiting coups yet in the NIL era. The Wolverines also brought in Mikey Keene through the transfer portal. Keene has thrown for 8,245 career yards and 65 touchdowns during stints at Fresno State and UCF. But Underwood has the talent that could turn Michigan into a playoff contender. That’s a lot to ask of a true freshman. But Underwood isn’t an ordinary freshman. The top-rated pocket passer in the 2025 class, Underwood won two state titles in Michigan and went 50-4 as the starter at Belleville High School, with 38 straight victories from Week 4 of his freshman season to the state title game of his junior year. The Wolverines struggled to throw the ball last year. Underwood could immediately change that in 2025 — if he wins the job. — Trotter
X factor: Defensive secondary
Headed into last season, the X factor for Miami was a thin secondary, and that unit ended up having a role in costing the Hurricanes a spot in the ACC championship game. Now, that group should be considered a strength — and the X factor again. If this unit plays the way it is projected to, the Hurricanes will have fixed the biggest issue on their team from a year ago. Miami brought in highly touted transfers Charles Brantley (Michigan State), Xavier Lucas (Wisconsin) and Zechariah Poyser (Jacksonville State), returns FWAA freshman All-American OJ Frederique Jr., and signed several freshmen and others through the portal to build depth. Without question, Miami is far more talented at this position, and that could be the difference between playing for a championship. — Adelson
X factor: Running game
There might not be a better one-two punch at tailback in the country than Louisville’s duo of Isaac Brown and Duke Watson. Among Power 4 backs with at least 60 carries last season, Watson led the nation by averaging 8.9 yards per rush. Brown was fourth at 7.11. Over Louisville’s final eight games of the season, the duo combined for 1,264 rushing yards, 121 receiving yards and 16 scrimmage touchdowns while forcing 43 missed tackles. Plus, the Cards’ O-line should be among the ACC’s best, creating a blueprint for one of the most explosive ground attacks in the country. — Hale
X factor: Running game
The Aggies’ offense will go as far as their running backs take it. Last season, Le’Veon Moss broke out, averaging 6.3 yards a carry with 10 touchdowns, and had been responsible for about a quarter of the offense’s entire production when he was lost for the season because of a knee injury against South Carolina in November. The Aggies, 7-1 going into that game, lost that one, then finished 8-5 without Moss, losing to Auburn, Texas and USC by a combined 16 points to limp to the finish. Freshman Rueben Owens, a star recruit, also missed most of last season because of a foot injury. With Moss and Owens back, along with Amari Daniels, who added 700 yards and eight TDs last year, suddenly A&M has an embarrassment of riches at the position. With the Aggies returning a strong offensive line, offensive coordinator Collin Klein will be able to take some pressure off quarterback Marcel Reed‘s development along with a new group of wide receivers. — Wilson
X factor: WR Cayden Lee
Ole Miss enters the 2025 season with a first-year starter at quarterback in Austin Simmons. Much has been made about the transfers Lane Kiffin brought in at receiver, specifically with De’Zhaun Stribling and Harrison Wallace III. But Lee comes in off of a solid sophomore season, with 874 yards and two touchdowns on 57 receptions. Adding talent in the portal is good, no doubt, but there is value in guys who have (literally) been there and done that. — Lyles
X factor: QB John Mateer
The Sooners swung big in the transfer portal and brought in Mateer (along with his offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle) from Washington State to bring some life to an offense that finished 97th nationally in scoring offense (24 points per game) and 113th in total offense (313 yards per game) last season. Mateer can beat defenses with his arm and legs. He was the only FBS quarterback last season to pass for more than 3,000 yards (3,139) and rush for more than 800 yards (826), and he accounted for 44 touchdowns (29 passing and 15 rushing). If he plays at a similar level in Norman, the Sooners should be one of the most improved teams in the SEC. — Low
You know it as soon as the college football schedule drops. The game that’s circled, the player you love to hate, the rival coach who seems to especially delight in destroying your team’s season.
We’re getting into the dog days of summer, with the only relief being the crisp autumn days of the college football season are rapidly approaching. But that means the enemies are lining up at the gates.
Today, we’re doing recon on where each post-spring top 25 team stands and who stands in their way. These are each teams’ potential future villains, the coaches, players and teams that have the chance to make the whole season go south. — Dave Wilson
1. Penn State: Ryan Day
Penn State coach James Franklin and the Nittany Lions have been unable to get over the hump against Ohio State, especially since Day took over in Columbus. The Nittany Lions have dropped six straight to Day, culminating with last year’s defeat, as fourth-ranked Ohio State rallied to topple the third-ranked Nittany Lions in State College 20-13. This season, Day will have a new starting quarterback and inexperience on both sides of the ball coming off last year’s national championship. Penn State will counter with one of the most experienced teams in the country, headlined by veteran quarterback Drew Allar and running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Franklin even hired away Day’s defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles. The Nittany Lions travel to Columbus on Nov. 1 in a showdown that figures to carry major playoff implications. — Jake Trotter
Clemson’s arch enemy for this season is obvious: Sellers. The Tigers watched the South Carolina quarterback dodge defenders, break tackles and keep one play after another alive last season in a stunning Gamecocks win that nearly derailed Clemson’s season. Clemson will be looking for revenge, of course, but new defensive coordinator Tom Allen will be more focused on finding answers for the elusive Sellers. There are lofty expectations at Clemson this season, and the Tigers don’t necessarily need a win over South Carolina to achieve them, but nobody will sleep soundly in the state if the 2025 defense coughs up another win to its biggest rival. — David Hale
3. Texas: Oklahoma
In Week 1, the Longhorns get a rubber match against an Ohio State team that eliminated Texas from the playoff last season, but the results of this game leave a lot of runway for either team to get back into this year’s postseason. Yet, there is no bigger test every year for Texas than Oklahoma in Dallas. This one’s a bit of a mystery, with the Sooners bringing in new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer, who played high school football in the Dallas area, from Washington State. The new-look Sooners could either be a launching point or a big speed bump in the SEC schedule for a Longhorns team with national championship aspirations. — Dave Wilson
4. Georgia: Alabama
The last coach Georgia fans ever wanted to see on the other sideline is doing television. Nick Saban was 5-1 against Kirby Smart, but even with Saban in his first year of retirement last season, Alabama still beat Georgia in a wild 41-34 game in Tuscaloosa the final weekend of September. Georgia has lost nine of the past 10 games in the series and hasn’t beaten Alabama in the regular season since 2007, Saban’s first season in Tuscaloosa, when the Mark Richt-coached Bulldogs won 26-23 in overtime. Georgia has vaulted to elite status under Smart, but a second straight loss to DeBoer — especially with this year’s game being played in Athens — wouldn’t sit well with anybody in Athens. — Chris Low
5. Ohio State: Sherrone Moore
Michigan coach Sherrone Moore has become a problem for the Buckeyes. He might not wear the villain outfit quite as well as predecessor Jim Harbaugh did, but Moore’s rise in coaching — as Wolverines offensive line coach, offensive coordinator and now head coach — has coincided with Ohio State’s longest losing streak (four games) to its archrival since 1991. Moore served as acting head coach during Harbaugh’s Big Ten-imposed suspension in 2023, as Michigan punched its ticket to the Big Ten championship game. He then earned the permanent role and pulled off one of the more stunning upsets in the history of The Game in November in Columbus. The story of Moore’s coaching career at Michigan is really just beginning, but he has already demonstrated his ability to win the biggest games. — Adam Rittenberg
6. LSU: Daytime home games
LSU fans have been known to curse day games, especially in the sweltering September heat. It’s at night when Tiger Stadium (and typically LSU’s football team) shines. In 2025, the only SEC home game that LSU will definitely play at night is the league opener against Florida on Sept. 13. Home games against South Carolina and Texas A&M fall into the “flex” window, meaning they could start as early as 3:30 p.m. ET or as late as 8 p.m. ET. Since 2000, LSU is 112-15 in Saturday night home games at Tiger Stadium. Brian Kelly has faced just two nationally ranked SEC opponents in day games at Tiger Stadium and is 1-1. — Low
7. Notre Dame: Miami
No Notre Dame players were alive for the 1988 clash with Miami, and Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman was only 2 years old. But longtime Domers will always view the U as a true villain, and new Miami quarterback Carson Beck, the transfer from Georgia, sparks a range of reactions. Notre Dame scored a signature win in the CFP semifinal at the Sugar Bowl against a Georgia squad that had lost Beck to injury. When healthy, Beck is talented enough to villainize a Notre Dame defense replacing standouts Xavier Watts, Jack Kiser, Rylie Mills and others and appearing in its first game under new coordinator Chris Ash. Early season games are one of the only knocks against Freeman, who has dropped at least one September game in each of his three seasons as Irish coach. Notre Dame needs a strong start with its two most talented opponents — Miami and Texas A&M — leading off the schedule. — Rittenberg
8. Oregon: Ohio State
Is it too simple to say Ohio State? Maybe just Jeremiah Smith after he caught seven passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns in the Rose Bowl drubbing that the Buckeyes put on the Ducks to end their undefeated season? The good news for Dan Lanning & Co. (or bad depending on how you look at it) is that Oregon will not face Ohio State in the regular season this season and a rematch could only occur in the Big Ten title game or in the College Football Playoff. Penn State enters the fray this season as a much-hyped conference contender that the Ducks will have to face and yet it feels like Oregon and Ohio State are still the cream of the crop for the conference and are likely to continue seeing each other on the sport’s biggest stages. — Paolo Uggetti
9. Alabama: Vanderbilt
Remember when Saban won 100 straight games against unranked opponents, the longest such streak in the AP poll era? Now, all of a sudden, the Crimson Tide are 2-3 against their past five unranked foes, a stretch that started with a stunning 40-35 loss at Vanderbilt last season, which came only a week after DeBoer beat No. 2-ranked Georgia in his SEC opener as Alabama’s head coach. It was the first time Alabama had lost to Vanderbilt since 1984. Alabama will get its shot at payback this season on Oct. 4 when Vanderbilt visits Bryant-Denny Stadium. The loss to Vanderbilt a year ago ignited what was the first three-loss regular season for Alabama since 2010. Judging by some of the comments from Alabama players this offseason, nobody will need to remind the Tide when the Commodores are coming to town. — Low
10. BYU: Utah
It’s always Utah. The “Holy War” frequently manages to surprise us. A year ago, BYU was coming off a 5-7 season and Utah was considered the Big 12 favorite. This time, we have a full reversal: The Utes are the ones coming off a disappointing 5-7 campaign and the Cougars are ranked the highest of any Big 12 team on this list. (Granted, this ranking doesn’t account for the sudden uncertainty BYU is dealing with at the QB position.) We’ll already have a decent idea of BYU’s capabilities by the time Utah visits Provo in Week 8, but the Holy War could serve as a Big 12 title elimination game, and it will definitely impact the tenor of the season for both teams. It always does. — Connelly
Purdue didn’t generate many highlights in 2024, but it gave Illinois a major scare at Memorial Stadium, erasing a 24-3 deficit to force overtime before falling 50-49. Among the Boilermakers’ stars that day was tight end Max Klare, who recorded his first 100-yard receiving performance, finishing with 133 yards on six catches. Klare, like most of Purdue’s best players, transferred following the team’s coaching change. He landed at Ohio State, which will visit Memorial Stadium on Oct. 11. Illinois certainly will be aware of Klare but also must contain Heisman Trophy contender Jeremiah Smith and several other standout wide receivers, if it wants any chance at knocking off the defending national champions. — Rittenberg
12. Arizona State: Regression
Arizona State had one of the hottest teams in the country at the end of 2024 and returns far more of last year’s production than most. The Sun Devils appear primed for a run at a repeat Big 12 title. The problem: No one repeats in the Big 12. ASU’s biggest archrival could simply be regression to the mean. Among current members, the past six teams to reach the Big 12 championship before 2024 — 2020 Iowa State, 2021 Baylor, 2021 Oklahoma State, 2022 Kansas State, 2022 TCU and 2023 Oklahoma State — went a combined 28-9 in one-score finishes during their title runs. The following seasons, they went a combined 9-22 in such games. ASU went 6-2 in one-score finishes last season. It’s really hard to do that twice in a row, and in the Big 12 it appears impossible. — Connelly
13. South Carolina: LSU
South Carolina has its share of hated rivals — Georgia, Clemson, anyone else who plays “Sandstorm” during timeouts — but as the Gamecocks look to make a playoff run in 2025, enemy No. 1 might well be LSU. The Bayou Bengals have dominated South Carolina over the years, holding an 18-2 all-time record and winning eight straight matchups dating to 1995. More recently, LSU escaped Columbia with a 36-33 win last season in which the Gamecocks blew a four-point lead with less than 2 minutes to play. That loss ultimately cost South Carolina a playoff bid, but the Gamecocks feel certain they’re a far better team than they were then. If they can exact some revenge this time, it’ll be a big step toward reaching those lofty goals. — Hale
14. Iowa State: Kansas State
There’s no such thing as a Week 0 elimination game, but we get the closest thing to it in Dublin to start the 2025 season. The annual (for now) Farmageddon battle between ISU and Kansas State will take place in particularly green pastures this time, and it will pit two preseason top 20 teams with major Big 12 title hopes. Last year, the Cyclones’ defense played a perfect fourth quarter against the Wildcats, allowing just one yard in 12 snaps to win 29-21 and advance to the conference title game. This time, someone will be 0-1 in conference play before Week 1 even arrives. This is about as big a season opener as you could hope for. — Connelly
15. SMU: TCU
SMU was 3-17 against TCU coaches in the Dennis Franchione/Gary Patterson era, then Sonny Dykes won two straight against the Frogs in Dallas. Once he defected for the purple pastures of Fort Worth, he then won his first two against the Mustangs. Last year, however, SMU got its revenge in a 66-42 pummeling of TCU in a game in which Dykes was ejected. This year, the two teams, which have met 103 times, are scheduled for their last Iron Skillet game for the foreseeable future. This one will have some heat. — Wilson
16. Texas Tech: Baylor
Red Raiders coach Joey McGuire got his start in college coaching at Baylor under Matt Rhule and was promoted under Dave Aranda. He left in midseason in 2021 when he got the Tech job. While trying to right the ship in Lubbock, he’s gone 1-2 against Aranda, including a 59-35 home loss last season. Since Mike Leach was fired, the Red Raiders are 5-10 against the Bears, a team they’ll need to eclipse with their big ambitions to sit atop the Big 12. — Wilson
17. Indiana: UCLA
Coach Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers did a great job of retaining players and coaches from a 2024 team that won a school-record 11 games and reached the CFP. But two who got away — a coach and a player — landed with UCLA, which visits Indiana on Oct. 25. New Bruins offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri coached Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke last year and had spent the previous three seasons on Cignetti’s staff at James Madison. He might know the secrets to attacking Indiana’s defense. Defensive back Jamier Johnson transferred from Indiana to UCLA after recording 35 tackles and an interception last fall for the Hoosiers. Johnson, who began his college career at Texas, will be part of a reshaped UCLA secondary. — Rittenberg
18. Kansas State: Iowa State
As mentioned above, it’s all about the season opener against Iowa State. It will be the first opportunity for quarterback Avery Johnson and K-State to prove that last year’s all-or-nothing offense has matured a bit. The Wildcats averaged 37.6 points in wins and only 15.8 in losses. They scored TDs on 75% of red zone drives in wins and 42% in losses. They committed more turnovers in the four losses (nine) than in the nine wins (seven). You could almost say that this means K-State’s biggest archrival is K-State. Regardless, Week 0 is enormous. Turnovers and later-down failures cost it dearly against Iowa State last season, and it gets an immediate opportunity to right one of 2024’s wrongs. — Connelly
19. Florida: Georgia
Florida has plenty of teams it considers rivals, but only one on the schedule this season has beaten the Gators four years in a row. That would be Georgia, which has absolutely dominated them since Kirby Smart took over the program in 2016. Smart is 7-2 against Florida, and just like that record, has finished ahead of Florida in the SEC standings seven times. We all know the Gators closed last season strong with big wins over LSU and Ole Miss, but the true litmus test for where this program is — and whether it can return to elite status under coach Billy Napier — is the Georgia game. — Adelson
20. Michigan: Ohio State
Even though the Wolverines have won four straight in the series, Ohio State remains Michigan’s archvillain for obvious reasons. The Buckeyes rattled off eight straight wins before Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh turned the tide in 2021 with the first of the four straight victories. Coach Sherrone Moore salvaged an up-and-down, first full season with a stunning 13-10 victory over Ohio State in Columbus last year. Much of that Ohio State national championship team has moved on to the NFL. But the postgame flag-plant fracas at the Horseshoe last year reinforced why this bitter rivalry has never carried more vitriol for either side. The last thing the Wolverines want this season is to watch Ohio State return the favor by planting its flag on the Block M at the Big House. — Trotter
21. Miami: Syracuse
Georgia Tech is not on the schedule this year or that would be the slam dunk choice. We could go with the obvious “traditional arch nemesis” Notre Dame, which is visiting South Florida for the first time since 2017. But there is another team that gets to wear the villain hat, if only for this season: Syracuse. That’s right, the team that beat Miami 42-38 in the 2024 regular-season finale to keep the Hurricanes out of the ACC championship game visits Hard Rock Stadium on Nov. 8. While both rosters have turned over since that game, the head coaches remain the same and there might be some added fuel to the fire. — Adelson
22. Louisville: Kentucky
In 2022, Louisville was 10-1 and favored against rival Kentucky. The Cardinals lost. In 2021, they were 7-4 and lost. It was an all-too-familiar story. Since 2016, Louisville has lost as a favorite against its rival three times — often sullying otherwise impressive seasons. Last year, the Cardinals had no such worries as they beat up on the Wildcats, who were slogging through a down season, but Jeff Brohm & Co. know the history too well to assume that will be the start of a trend. There are tougher and bigger games on Louisville’s schedule this season, but none that will mean more than beating those hated Cats. — Hale
23. Texas A&M: Steve Sarkisian
Sarkisian has done a masterful job reloading Texas to meet its potential. Last year, he took the Longhorns into Kyle Field and spoiled the Aggies’ chances of getting into the SEC championship game, and this year, A&M visits Austin for the first time since 2010 where Arch Manning hysteria dominates the headlines and the Longhorns will be seeking a coronation for a playoff run. Sarkisian, an avowed fan of college rivalries and traditions, will look to push all the right buttons to ignite his team. — Wilson
24. Ole Miss: Mississippi State
Don’t get anybody in Oxford started on those “dreaded” cowbells clanging away from fans of the “school down south.” That school being bitter rival Mississippi State, whose former coach, Dan Mullen, used to refer to Ole Miss as the “school up north.” Either way, nobody in the SEC is particularly fond of the Mississippi State cowbells, in no way a banned artificial noisemaker. Yes, that’s a joke. But to Ole Miss fans, they would rather hear nails scratching on a chalkboard. The good news for the Rebels is that they’ve lost only once in the past five games between the schools but will get a heavy dose of the cowbells this Nov. 28 in Starkville. — Low
25. Oklahoma: Texas
In the Wishbone era, and then once again after Bob Stoops took over then ceded way to Lincoln Riley, the Oklahoma quarterback position made college football kings. In recent years, Landry Jones, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts, Caleb Williams and Dillon Gabriel all put up huge numbers. But the Sooners have fallen back a little and Texas is rolling into the Cotton Bowl with its own football royalty in Arch Manning. Oklahoma needs to right the ship, and all eyes will be on Dallas and where the program stands in the SEC era. — Wilson
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