NCAA Football 25 Roster Predictions and Season Outlook
The highly anticipated release of NCAA Football 25 has fans buzzing with speculation about team rosters and potential outcomes for the upcoming season. After extensive roster analysis, number crunching, and keeping up with the latest insights, here's a comprehensive look at preseason predictions, potential upsets, and standout players.
Preseason AP Top 25 Projections
Here's how the teams in the preseason AP Top 25 are projected to perform, along with College Football Playoff bracket predictions and BetMGM championship odds:
Texas Longhorns (+450): Arch Manning is projected to throw for over 3,500 yards, rush for 700, and account for 50 touchdowns, leading Texas to a 10-2 season. The Longhorns are predicted to defeat Georgia in an SEC Championship Game rematch, securing the No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff.
Penn State Nittany Lions (+700): Drew Allar is expected to have a first-round pick-worthy season but suffer losses to Ohio State twice and against Georgia in the CFP quarterfinals.
Ohio State Buckeyes (+525): Jeremiah Smith is forecast to have exceptional stats (110 catches, 1,821 yards, 21 touchdowns), finishing as the Heisman runner-up. The Buckeyes are projected to go 13-0, earning the No. 1 seed in the CFP and a return to the national title game.
Read also: Classic NCAA Football Returns
Clemson Tigers (+900): Cade Klubnik is predicted to throw 40 touchdown passes, finishing third in the Heisman race. The Tigers are expected to go 13-0, repeating as ACC champions and earning the No. 2 seed in the Playoff, before losing in the semifinals to the eventual national champions.
Georgia Bulldogs (+700): The Bulldogs will attempt to upgrade at quarterback but couldn’t find a better option than Gunner Stockton. And that’s what prevents Georgia from winning the SEC title and contributes to its loss to Ohio State in the CFP semifinals.
Oregon Ducks (+900): Quarterback Dante Moore and running back Makhi Hughes keep the Ducks in the Playoff hunt right up until a loss at Washington to end a 10-2 regular season.
Alabama Crimson Tide (+1000): A road win at Georgia in September bolsters Alabama’s resume, and Kalen DeBoer makes the Playoff despite being upset on the road at South Carolina and Auburn.
LSU Tigers (+1400): Brian Kelly and the No. 1 transfer class produce a 10-2 season and earn a trip to South Bend for a first-round Playoff showdown.
Read also: The Legacy of NCAA Football 14
Miami Hurricanes (+3000): The Hurricanes open the season with impressive September wins against Notre Dame and Florida, which helps them make the CFP after losing one game in ACC play and another to Clemson in the conference title game.
Arizona State Sun Devils (+6600): Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson lead the Sun Devils to an 11-1 regular season and a win over Baylor in the league title game to secure the No. 6 seed. The 11-1 Bears make the Playoff field as well.
Illinois Fighting Illini (+17500): There will be a lot of 9-3 records, including one by the Fighting Illini, who will lose to Indiana, Ohio State and Washington. It all leads to a new angry Tony Petitti meme where he insists the Playoff expands to 26 teams immediately.
South Carolina Gamecocks (+4000): LaNorris Sellers is going to have some electrifying moments as a sophomore, including an upset at home of a top-10 Alabama team.
Michigan Wolverines (+2500): National Freshman of the Year Bryce Underwood puts up impressive numbers (4,000 total yards, 30 total TDs) to make the 8-4 Wolverines an entertaining team to watch.
Read also: Anthony Robles: Overcoming Obstacles
Florida Gators (+2500): DJ Lagway’s uncertain health will once again put Billy Napier on the hot seat, but the Gators will win their final four games to finish 7-5 - keeping both coach and QB in Gainesville heading into 2026.
SMU Mustangs (+8000): There won’t be a hotter name for SEC job openings come November than Rhett Lashlee, whose Mustangs will finish 9-3 and just outside the Playoff field. Lashlee will entertain some offers but opt to stick it out in Dallas.
Kansas State Wildcats (+12500): Losses to Iowa State, Baylor and Utah keep the Wildcats out of the Big 12 title hunt.
Oklahoma Sooners (+5000): John Mateer will guide the Sooners to a 5-0 start before Texas, Alabama and LSU short-circuit Oklahoma’s Playoff hopes in a much-needed 9-3 bounce-back season for Brent Venables.
Texas A&M Aggies (+3000): Marcel Reed and one of the best offensive lines in college football will get our attention with a 7-0 start before losses at LSU and Texas cost the 10-2 Aggies a Playoff spot.
Indiana Hoosiers (+10000): Curt Cignetti will once again reach double-digit wins in Bloomington, but losses at Oregon and Penn State will prevent a second straight trip to the CFP.
Ole Miss Rebels (+2500): Quarterback Austin Simmons and wideout Cayden Lee will lead a high-powered offense, but the defense - which relied heavily on the transfer portal - will take a step back, and the Rebels will finish 8-4.
Iowa State Cyclones (+15000): The Cyclones bring back 14 starters (second most in the league) from an 11-3 team. But losses on the road to Colorado and TCU will keep the 10-2 Cyclones out of the Big 12 title game.
Texas Tech Red Raiders (+8000): The big-spending Red Raiders fail to live up to their own lofty expectations - “We’re, on paper, the most talented team in the conference,” mega-booster Cody Campbell told my colleague Sam Khan Jr. “It’s not really even close.” - and lose three games in the regular season.
Tennessee Volunteers (+4000): Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma and Florida are the four SEC teams that get the better of Josh Heupel’s 8-4 Volunteers.
Boise State Broncos (+25000): Another Playoff trip awaits Spencer Danielson’s program, whose only loss comes at Notre Dame on Oct. 4.
Week 1 Predictions
Favorites have won regular-season games outright at a high percentage since 2005. Here are some Week 1 predictions, focusing on potential stat leaders and key matchups:
Stat Stuffers
Most Passing Yards: Hardy made the jump to Missouri, and his first victim is Central Arkansas. Hardy will eclipse his career-high of 206 yards (set against Sun Belt champion Marshall) with 220-plus yards and two touchdowns in a high-scoring win over an FCS foe.
Most Receiving Yards: If you’re looking for a potential G5 upset over a Power 4 team, Toledo at Kentucky might be worth your time. The Rockets - led by quarterback Tucker Gleason and wideout Junior Vandeross - are the preseason favorites to win the MAC this season and won at Mississippi State last season, 41-17. The Wildcats, meanwhile, are coming off a 4-8 season. Vandeross puts up big numbers (11 catches, 185 yards, two TDs) but Kentucky escapes with a win in a shootout.
Five Big Games
Auburn at Baylor: Baylor is projected to reach the College Football Playoff even after losing this opener on a Jackson Arnold to Cam Coleman fourth-quarter touchdown pass. Despite concerns about Arnold’s confidence, he’s still throwing the football to Coleman and Eric Singleton behind a pretty good offensive line.
Georgia Tech at Colorado: Cornerback DJ McKinney picks off King late to seal a Colorado upset and bragging rights for the Big 12.
Texas at Ohio State: Sonny Styles seals the four-point win with a pick of Manning off a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage.
Alabama at Florida State: New starting QB Ty Simpson makes Kalen DeBoer look smart, accumulating 275-plus total yards of offense and three touchdowns in a comfortable, 21-point Crimson Tide victory.
LSU at Clemson: Klubnik’s late touchdown run seals the win, covers the spread, and Kelly bangs the table in frustration (it’s a tradition) at the postgame news conference.
Upset Alert
- Notre Dame at Miami: The difference here will be turnovers, with redshirt freshman CJ Carr making a couple more than Beck.
Midseason Top 25 (October 17, 2025)
Here's a midseason look at the top 25 players, acknowledging emerging stars and adjusting for faltering preseason expectations:
Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami): Bain's combination of versatility, athleticism, and production has fueled the Hurricanes' defense, making him a potential top NFL draft pick.
Romello Rodriguez (Texas Tech): Rodriguez is central to the Red Raiders' stingy run defense, impacting both ground and air games.
Ty Simpson (Alabama): Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb have unlocked Simpson's talent, leading to a potential Heisman Trophy-winning season.
Tommy Downs (Ohio State): Downs' impact on defense is undeniable, keying the Buckeyes' unit.
Fernando Mendoza (Indiana): Mendoza has looked the part of one of the best quarterbacks in the sport, attracting NFL draft hype, while leading the Hoosiers to an undefeated season so far.
Francis Mauigoa (Miami): Mauigoa has surrendered only one sack since the start of the 2024 season and has just one blown block and two penalties through five games as a junior, according to ESPN Research.
Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State): Smith remains a top talent at wide receiver and a go-to target for Julian Sayin.
Kevin Hardy (LSU): Hardy has taken his game to another level and is the leading rusher in the SEC.
Carson Beck (Miami): Beck's big-game experience has made a difference for the Hurricanes.
Shemar Howell (Texas A&M): Howell is quickly playing his way into first-round draft pick status.
Tyler Bailey (Texas Tech): Bailey's explosive pass rushing has played a massive role in the turnaround.
Luther Brazzell (Tennessee): Brazzell is the most explosive go-to receiver in the country.
Ben Daley (Oklahoma State): Daley has suddenly become one of the nation's best defensive linemen.
TreVeyon Love (Ohio State): Love goes where the yards are, producing consistently from scrimmage.
Mansoor Delane (LSU): Delane's side of the field is increasingly a no-fly zone.
Devon Moore (Notre Dame): Moore is one of the sport's top cover corners.
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