My College Football 2025 Way Too Early, Top 10 Rankings.

The sparse spring football games are over.

The spring transfer portal is closed.

The college football calendar has a brief lull in it, as graduation ceremonies start taking place, and summer break coming up.

So, I figured now is the time to get my 1st “rankings” article out.

There is NO “clear cut” number 1 team out there this upcoming season. They all have weaknesses, they’ve lost a lot of starters, they got a new quarterback, got to rebuild the offensive line, etc, etc.

So, here we go….

#1 Penn State Nittany Lions.

WE ARE PENN STATE!!!

The Nittany Lions have my #2 ranked returning QB returning in Drew Allar. They have my #1 returning backfield in HBs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton. They always have a guy that can rush the quarterback.

They got 2 EXCELLENT transfer WRs in Trebor Pena (84 catches, for 941 yards and 9 TDs at Syracuse), and Devonte Ross (76 catches, for 1,043 yards, and 11 TDs from Troy).

They get the Oregon Ducks at home on September 27th. They have back-to-back road games against Iowa on October 18th, then get 13 days off before going into Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes on November 1st.

#2 Texas Longhorns.

The “Arch Manning Era” has officially begun.

He did well, when he had to start for the injured Quinn Ewers, going 61 of 90, for 939 yards, with 9 TDs and 2 INTs, PLUS, don’t forget about his running ability. 25 carries, for 108 yards and 4 TDs. Can he stand up to a full season of college football? We’ll see.

They brought in 4 defensive linemen from the transfer portal (Maraad Watson, Travis Shaw, Cole Brevard, and Lavon Johnson). They’re going to rely on 2 freshmen at WR in Ryan Wingo and transfer Emmett Mosley V, to come in and keep the recent trend of strong play, going at that position.

They open the season at Ohio State on August 30th. That will be a HUGE game for both teams. Of course, you have the Red Rivalry against Oklahoma on September 11th, but their 2nd hardest game isn’t until November 11th at Georgia.

#3 Ohio State Buckeyes.

The Buckeyes have the #1 offensive player in the country in WR Jeremiah Smith AND the #1 defensive player in the country in S Caleb Downs.

YES, they have to replace 14 players that were drafted into the NFL in April, but they always have one of the top recruiting classes every year, so the cupboard is never bare, let alone dearth. Transfer TE Max Klare (51 catches, for 685 yards and 4 TDs) from Purdue will add a different dimension to the passing game over the middle. DE Beau Atkinson (35 tackles, and 7.5 sacks) the transfer from North Carolina will look to ease the loss of Sawyer and JTT.

The biggest question is….Who is the starting QB?

My source in Columbus has told me that Julian Sayin has already wrapped it up, the coaching staff is just keeping it to themselves.

Ohio State gets Texas at home in the season opener. That game will say a lot about where this team is with all the new players and new staff. Of course, the biggest game in ALL of college sports is Ohio State vs Michigan on November 29th.

#4 Georgia Bulldogs.

HC Kirby Smart is always going to put a tough defense on the field. He went out and got LB Elo Modozie (34 tackles and 6.5 sacks) from Army, to add to returning LBs CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson.

Transfer HB Josh McCray (117 carries, for 609 yards and 10 TDs) from Illinois will add some old-school between the tackles toughness, to compliment the speed of returning HB Nate Fraizer. They’re hoping that transfer WRs Noah Thomas (Texas A&M) and Zachariah Branch (USC) add some much needed production outside.

They do get Alabama (9/27) and Texas (11/15) at home this season. They have no real “road test” in 2025. They play Florida in their rivalry game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.

#5 Clemson Tigers.

The Tigers have my #1 ranked QB in all of college football in Cade Klubnik. He has returning playmakers at WR in Antonio Williams and Bryant Westco, and an experienced offensive line in front of him.

They have no running game to speak of, as Phil Mafah went to the NFL and Jay Haynes is still recovering from a torn ACL. Freshman HB Gideon Davidson COULD start from day one. He was the #3 ranked HB in the 2025 recruiting class.

They open the season against LSU at home on August 30th. That’ll be a tough game. The ACC isn’t what it once was. Their toughest conference games are home against SMU (10/18) and at Louisville (11/14).

#6 LSU Tigers.

My #3 ranked QB Garrett Nussmeimer threw for over 4,000 yards and 29 TDs last season. He got help at WR in the transfer portal with Nic Anderson (Oklahoma) and Barion Brown (Kentucky) coming in.

They did lose 4 starters on the offensive line, so that is a problem. HC Brian Kelly is hoping that transfers C Braelin Moore (Virginia Tech) and G Josh Thompson (Northwestern) will step in and sure up that weakness.

The defense is hoping that LB Harold Perkins Jr is able to get back to his freshman and sophomore numbers, after only playing in 4 games last season, due to injury.

The Tigers play the afore mentioned Clemson Tigers on the road to start the season. They play Alabama (11/8) on the road, but they do get Florida (9/13), South Carolina (10/11), and Texas A&M (10/25) at home this season.

#7 Oregon Ducks.

There is a tight QB battle between former 5-star recruit Dante Moore and Austin Novosad. Whoever wins that race just needs to not do anything stupid. This is a young team on offense, that will probably really on the running game. Big time transfer HB Makhi Hughes comes in from Tulane, where he had 265 carries, for 1,401 yards, and 15 TDs.

HC Dan Lanning always has a good defense on the field, and this season is no exception, as LBs Devon Jackson, Teitum Tuioti, Matayo Uiagalelei, and leading tackler Bryce Boettcher return.

They get Oklahoma State at home September 6th, which is a sleeper great game. Conference games at Penn State (9/27) and at Iowa (11/8) are their toughest in conference opponents.

#8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The Fighting Irish have arguably the #1 ranked HB in the country Jeremiyah Love back. Junior HB Jadarian Price isn’t a slouch as a backup either (120A-746Y-7TDs).

They got some much needed help at WR in the portal with Malachi Fields (Virginia) and Will Pauling (Wisconsin).

They lost 3 contributors along the offensive line, so that vaunlted depth that ND usually has is gone this season.

They have a QB battle between freshman CJ Carr and sophomore Kenny Minchey. According to reports, Carr had the edge coming out of spring practice.

Notre Dame has a tough 2 games to open the season. They play at Miami(FL) on (8/31), then they have Texas A&M at home on (9/13).

#9 Alabama Crimson Tide.

Yes, HC Kalen DeBoer had a rough first season as the HC, but there is too much talent on this team to fall completely off the map.

WR Ryan Williams is back after his breakout freshman season. He added 6’5″ transfer WR Isaiah Horton from Miami (FL) to add some size. The offensive line returns 3 starters, including LT Kadyn Proctor.

Experienced LBs Justin Jefferson and Deontae Lawson return. CB Domani Jackson and S Keon Sabb are back in the secondary.

Alabama plays Georgia in Athens on (9/27) but gets LSU at home on (11/8). The Iron Bowl against in-state rival Auburn, is in Auburn on (11/29).

#10 Illinois Fighting Illini.

That’s right I said it!!!

The Fighting Illini won 10 games last season, and are returning their starting QB Luke Altmyer, all 5 starting offensive linemen, their entire starting secondary, and their best LB Gabe Jacas.

They got WR Hudson Clement (West Virginia) in the portal, along with DL James Thompson Jr (Wisconsin), Curt Neal (Wisconsin), and Tomiwa Durojaiye (Florida State).

They should be undefeated heading into their home game against USC (9/27). They get Ohio State at home on (10/11). They have to face Wisconsin (11/22) in Madison, and I know that Luke is angry about losing starters to Bielema.

This team could absolutely sneak into the Big Ten title game and maybe the College Football Playoffs.

Question – Who is your surprise team for the upcoming college football season?

– by Sean McKenzie

Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN and NCAA.

Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapersafari and on3.