I know, I know... I'm shocked as well. But the more I think on it, the more I think QB Drew Allar will ball out in year 2 of OC Andy Kotelnicki's system. He'll have the top RB room in CFB with Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen running behind an OL that returns all five starters to take the load off. WR is the question, and portals Trebor Pena (Syracuse), Devonte Ross (Troy) and Kyron Hudson (USC) should be the answer. New DC Jim Knowles will command a veteran defense lead by DE Dani Dennis-Sutton, LB Tony Rojas and S Zakee Wheatley. In a year that lacks a looming death star in Ohio State or Oregon (and in the SEC for that matter), there's simply too much for HC James Franklin to work with to not be the early favorite to win it all. The Nittany Lions are preseason favored in 11 of 12, with the one being the all important trip to Columbus vs Ohio St on November 1st.

The Arch Manning era is upon us, and the Longhorns are coming off of two straight final four appearances. The truth is HC Steve Sarkisian and staff have built a powerhouse that is going to be an early favorite more times than not. This year the defense will once again be nasty with guys like DE Colin Simmons, LB Anthony Hill, CB Malik Muhammad and S Michael Taaffe, as long as the DT depth + portals hits. They should have a loaded backfield with Quintrevion Wisner, Jerrick Gibson and CJ Baxter coming back from injury. New WR's need to step up, but there's talent everywhere and guys like Ryan Wingo & DeAndre Moore have real experience. TE Jack Endries (Cal) was also a brilliant addition to sure up the passing game. The OL only returns 1 starter, which is ultimately why I don't have them #1. But word out of Austin is the OT's had a good spring, there's surely enough talent to fill out a good OL. Preseason Texas is favored in 10 of 12, being short dogs at Ohio State and at Georgia.

QB Cade Klubnik is a Heisman contender, the Tigers have one of the best WR rooms in CFB, and the OL returns all five starters. New DC Tom Allen (Penn St) was a great addition to lead a veteran defense that has playmakers at every level. A DL of TJ Parker, Peter Woods and Will Heldt will devour ACC OL's, and LB Wade Woodaz plus CB Avieon Terrell will lead the back 7. Biggest question will be the RB room, highlighted by OC Garrett Riley's decision to move WR Adam Randall to the mix. None the less, I have Clemson early favorites in all 12 games, and the clear leader in the ACC clubhouse.

Last year's runner up will return a punishing defense, CFB's top offensive line and one, if not the, top RB rooms lead by Heisman candidate Jeremiah Love. HC Marcus Freeman has shown that both he and Notre Dame are no longer f'ing around in big games or adding talent. New QB CJ Carr or Kenny Minchey both beat out veteran backup Steve Angeli in spring ball, which tells me the future is very bright no matter who wins the job. WR is always the question with ND, but playoff hero Jaden Greathouse will lead a group that added a sneaky huge pickup in Malichi Fields (UVA) to go with other options. This team is just hard, and if they can find the leadership in the locker room to pair with Freeman and his staff... well it's been a long time since 1988. The Irish are preseason favorites in every game, with the only sub TD lines being the opener at Miami and the home opener vs Texas A&M.

The top four were rather obvious to me, and now we get into more of a projection starting with Alabama. HC DeBoer is a great coach that I think will thrive in year two now that he has both hands on this Saban plated wheel, especially after adding familiar OC Ryan Grubbs. On the field it starts up front with one of CFBs best OL/DL combo, lead by monster men OT Kadyn Proctor and DT Tim Keenan. New QB Ty Simpson will have cheat code Ryan Williams leading one of CFB's top WR units to throw to. The defense has big time talent all over, with DE LT Overton, DT Keenan II, LB Lawson and S Bray Hubbard. The questions I have are the RB room, the secondary and the leadership. Bama has had turnover and penalty issues for years now, and the steaming pile they took in the Oklahoma game last year was eye opening. Bama is still extremely talented, but the gap isn't as wide as before when little things didn't seem to hurt them so bad like last year. Preseason shows Alabama being favored in every game, although at Georgia is a relative toss up.

Get used to seeing the Ducks as a preseason favorite as long as HC Dan Lanning keeps bringing in this much talent. Oregon ranks #1 in my incoming class ratings (portal + croots), so don't expect a huge fallout from last years undefeated B1G champs. I have no doubt that QB Dante Moore or Austin Novasad will be a household name by October. The WR room is once again loaded to pair with a great TE in Kenyon Sadiq. Adding Makhi Hughes (Tulane) via portal to go with Noah Whittington makes the backfield quite impressive. The issue I see is defense, which was torched in Oregon's final two games last year and lost a ton of leadership & production. They've patched the secondary with a few portal adds highlighted by Dillon Thieneman (Purdue), and have some other talented options. I'm a believer in DC Tosh Lupoi, but I need to see more out of this group on the big stages. Oregon is favored in 11 of 12 preseason, with the trip to Happy Valley vs Penn State in late September the only exception.

HC Brian Kelly has made an SEC title game and produced a Heisman QB in his first three seasons, and is sliding into a hot seat in Baton Rouge. Expectations are a bitch, aren't they? This years Bayou Bengals team looks different, a credit to Kelly & staff so far with their work in the portal. Garrett Nussmeier is one of CFB's toughest QB's and he has lots of talent in the WR room to chuck it to. The defense should be much improved in DC Blake Baker's second season lead by LB Whit Weeks and a gaggle of the top portal DE's available. If the secondary can hold it's own, this front 7 could be dominant. I do have question about the running game, with an OL that needs new tackles and RB which has been an issue in the Kelly era so far and will likely need more than Caden Durham. But this level of talent paired with a veteran QB and staff, the Tigers could rocket up the SEC standings into the CFP quite easily. As of now the Tigers are favored in 10 of 12 games, short dogs at Clemson and Bama.

2025 has the makings of either Kirby's return to dominance, or a true transition year for the Bulldogs. Georgia is CFB's most talented roster, top to bottom. It also has questions at QB, RB, WR, OL and defense somehow. QB Gunner Stockton made some throws that impressed, but didn't exactly light the world on fire vs Texas & Notre Dame (but then, who did). WR has been a mess with drops, bad routes and off field problems. RB has a bunch of blue chips but average production, and the OL was very un-dawg last year. The defense was good in 2025, don't get me wrong, it just wasn't Georgia good outside of the Texas games. More should be expected from guys like LB CJ Allen, CB Daylen Everette and S Michael Taaffe. Still, there's so much to cook with, and Kirby is a master chef, count him out at your own peril. Oh, and Georgia is favored in every game this season.

The line of demarcation for national title favorites ends with last years champion, Ohio State. Still incredibly stocked with players, but losing 14 to the NFL will take a toll this year. When you start hearing the Buckeye DL is a potential weakness, you know it's a possible transition year. Adding DE Beau Atkinson (NC) will help, but Buckeye insiders are still concerned about the DT position. QB will be good to great with Julian Sayin, the WR room is still one of CFBs best with Jeremiah Smith & Carnell Tate headlining outside and Purdue transfer TE Max Klare eating in the middle. RB will rebuild with WVU transfer CJ Donaldson & James Peoples to start, and the OL returns all 3 interior but needs new OTs. The defense will still be very good, although new DC Matt Patricia is a head scratching hire I don't personally understand. But leaders will develop, talent will prevail and Ohio State will be right in the thick of the CFP mix in December. Right now the Buckeyes are favored in every game this season.

I can feel your laughter. Go ahead, get it all out. Now look at this roster. The Red Raiders have my #19 roster talent ranking, a shocking number from the dust plains of West Texas. HC Joey McGuire is really upping the ante this year with #2 transfer portal class of 2025. QB Behren Morton can sling it, and Tech returns 3 WR with 40+ rec with at least 600 yards and 6 TDs. TE Terrance Carter (ULL) is also a new dynamic weapon to play with. The defense was OK last year, but returns the most production (82%) in CFB along with a massive portal class that starts with DE's David Bailey (Stanford) & Romello Height (GT) and some big time DT's. They've added 3 starting OL, and they're favored in 10 of 12 games, with road trips to Arizona State and Kansas State to round out the schedule... you know what, just watch 'em. Watch 'em' before that matchup at Arizona State on Oct 18th when they're 5-1/6-0.

Ok, now you can laugh, hard. Keep going, I deserve everything I get for this pick. But I'm choosing to believe in Auburn Jesus this year. It's simple, QB won't be the disaster it was last year and has my preseason top WR unit in CFB to throw to lead by Eric Singleton, Malcolm Simmons and Cam Coleman. They will need to find a new RB, with UConn transfer Durell Robinson and a gaggle of 4 star options to do so. Having an OL that returns all 5 starters should give the offense time to find its footing. Auburn seems to roll out of bed and play really good defense, but they may need some time to iron out a depth chart that looks to have nearly half the starters new via the portal. But assuming they do continue their defensive ways under good DC/questionable human DJ Durkin, all the Tigers have to do is stop handing out turnovers like they're escort cards and they'll win 9+ games and be right in the mix come Iron Bowl time. As of now Auburn is favored in 9 of 12, and touchdown dogs to Texas A&M, Georgia & Alabama.

A program I rarely take seriously winds up ranked in my top 12, honestly higher than I'm comfortable with. But these Hurricanes feel like they are built differntly, starting with fielding one of the best OL's in the country to go with a great looking RB tandem in Mark Fletcher and Jordan Lyle. I see the defense improving under new DC Corey Hetherman (Minnesota) with potential studs in DE's Rueben Bain & Akheem Mesidor with portal CB Xavier Lucas (Wisconsin). The wild card is QB Carson Beck, who Georgia didn't exactly cry aboout when he bolted Athens for Coral Gables. Last year Cam Ward was not only a generational qb, but a phenomenal leader, and I question Beck's ability when Kirby Smart feels he's better off without him. HC Mario Christobal is good for one 'WTF is he doing' loss each year, but I have Miami favored in every game outside of the opener vs Notre Dame.

Last years darling Sun Devils look strong again this year, and don't look past QB Sam Leavitt and OC Arroyo teaming up for a 2nd straight season. New RB Kanye Udoh (Army) will team up with Kyson Brown for a crack at the Skattebo role, and WR Jordyn Tyson returns to pair with a couple of portal adds. The defense returns 79% (#2 in CFB) from last year, and 4 portal DB's highlighted by CB Nyland Green (Purdue) should build on what 2024 started. HC Dillingham's squad returns the 2nd most production in CFB, and preseason I have them favored in all 12 games. The perpetual sleeping giant in Tempe has awoken, so Forks Up, the Sun Devils should be a fun ride again in 2025.

This feels a bit high to me, but when you have what I believe is a generational talent at QB and a good defense, things get better in a hurry. As long as DJ Lagway is healthy, the Gators can compete with it's #1 ranked strength of schedule (seriously SEC, what did Florida do?). The defense will be anchored by a top DL with Tyreak Sapp & Caleb Banks and has a secondary that played great down the stretch last year. OL returns 4 of 5 and should be able to spring RB Jadan Baugh, who burst onto the scene in 2024 as a freshman, teamed up with Ja'Kobi Jackson. A healthy WR core is key, but there are lots of good options to spread around and Eugene Wilson is a freak in open space. Gators back? I think it's very possible, although preseason dogs in five games (LSU, Miami, Texas, A&M & Georgia) means they'll need to spring some upsets.

You're going to hear a lot of hype for the Illini this year, with good reason. They return 76% (#3 in CFB) of their production from a 10 win team last year, have a great leader at QB in Luke Altmyer who can beat teams in a hurry with his arm and sneaky tough running. The fightin Berts return 4 of 5 on the OL, and sport a defense that should improve a lot from the ups and downs of last year with 5 portal adds along the DL. Getting TE Cole Rusk back after he missed last year will help give Illinois time to gel in new portal WRs. I'm a big fan of HC Bielema and OC Barry Lunney is an extremely underrated play caller, which is a big reason I have Illinois favored in 10 of 12 games this year. They're short dogs to Indiana and they get to take a swing at a reloading Ohio State at home in early October.

Ah, Texas 8-4, something you could set your calendar to. Why is this different? Mike Elko. In case last year threw you off his scent, Elko can flat out coach. And he will build a machine at A&M, starting with this year. The defense should be nasty with LB Taurean York & CB Will Lee leading a group that returns 73% (#9 in CFB) of an already very good unit. The question is offense, starting with QB Marcel Reed and the passing game. There's a lot of talent at WR and the Aggies went out and added guys like Kevin Concepcion (NC St) to enhance the position. I always look for teams with QB/OC combos teaming up for multiple seasons, so if Reed flashes in his 2nd year in OC Collin Klein's system, A&M could be in the CFP mix late. What I'm already counting on is an OL that returns all 5 starters and one of CFBs top RB rooms with Amari Daniels, Le'Veon Moss & Rueben Owens. Preseason I have the Aggies favored in 9 of 12, and short dogs at ND, LSU & Texas.

Only Lane Kiffin could turn in back to back double digit win seasons, something not seen in Oxford since 1960, and yet it still feels rather underwhelming. Last year was a miss, plain and simple, and the loss to Kentucky was a special kind of gag. But the Rebels are still very talented and even rebuilding they are preseason favored in 9 games. QB Austin Simmons sure looked exciting in his limited opportunites, including a critical TD drive in the win over Georgia last year. Kiffin and OC Charlie Weis Jr. will once again press tempo but will need a portal RB to emerge unless Logan Diggs is fully healthy after missing last season. The Portal King did his thing once again and added a 3rd ranked class with bunch of fun parts to play with this fall. The headliners are DE's Princewill Umanmielen (Nebraska) & Da'Shawn Womack (LSU), along with TE Luke Hasz (Ark) and 5 new WR's. The defense will need a lot of these portals to hit as LBs Suntarine Perkins & TJ Dottery are the only full time starters back from last year and will need to completely rebuild the secondary. Still, they have the talent to start 4-0 while figuring some things out before hosting LSU in late September. This years Rebels are likely on the outside of the CFP race unless they can spring some upsets as road dogs at Georgia and Oklahoma or that LSU matchup.

Last years farming Wildcats stumbled 2-3 down the stretch, something I'm guessing HC Chris Klieman is reminding his team about every day. A backfield of QB Avery Johnson and RB Dylan Edwards should be fun if the portal OL patches hold firm. But last year defenses did not respect Johnson's arm, and it cost them dearly down the stretch especially in the red zone. New OC Matt Wells would be best served getting his QB hot early to change that narrative, and make teams defend both his arm along with his legs. At RB K State has also signed FCS Antonio Martin Jr (1,200 yds/11 TDs at SE La) to pair with Soph. Joe Jackson as quality depth. WR Jayce Brown is a great weapon to have, and K State added 3 portals with experience to fill out the passing chart. The defense is always good in Manhattan under DC Joe Klanderman and guys like LB Austin Romaine, Desmond Purnell and DT Damian Ilalio are why they should be again this year. They added 5 portals to the secondary to ease the loss of both of last years CB's. All this adds up to a solid squad that does have a couple of questions that need to be sorted out before heading off to Ireland for a week 0 Farmagedon matchup with Iowa State. That's why despite having the Wildcats preseason favored in all 12 games, I'm betting on somewhere in the 9-3 area.

Michigan lost a ton of great defensive players to the NFL, had one of CFBs worst passing games and has a head coach with one year of experience that is suspended for 2 games for the Connor Stallions mess. That's the bad, the good is still all over this roster, especially in the front seven of a punishing defense. DE Derrick Moore & DT Rayshaun Benny will lead one of CFBs best DLs and should take the heat off a secondary working in new parts around S Rod Moore. Offense is the question, and I'm skeptical of the answers I'm seeing. The OL was bad last year, and while they do return 3 starters they need to improve a lot. QB will get all the attention with 5 star Hulk of a prospect in Bryce Underwood. The Wolverines also added Mikey Keene (Fresno) via the portal but he missed the spring with an injury. The WR's are still mid G5 level, and they will rely on a couple of portal RBs in Justice Haynes (Bama) and CJ Hester (UMass). While I'm not sold on this offense at all, it can't be worse than last years squad that still managed 8 wins and took down Ohio State and Alabama in their final two games. As of now they are favored in all but at Oklahoma early, and vs the Buckeyes in the finale.

The rise of the Pony Express was fun last year, ripping through a mid ACC all the way to the title game. HC Rhett Lashlee is 29-12 in 3 years and continues to show he's already one of the best in the conference. QB Kevin Jennings returns, as does all everything TE RJ Maryland who missed last year with an injury. The OL was decent last year, returns 3 of 5 starters, but new RB's will need to step up starting with Soph. Derrick McFall to go with portal adds TJ Harden (UCLA) & Chris Johnson (Miami). The biggest questions I have are on defense, which returns only 50% of a suprisingly good unit last year. And even with DE's Isaiah Smith & Cameron Robertson back, DC Scott Symons must feel the DL depth was lacking because they added 10 to the position via the portal (Ten!?). Returning S Isaiah Nwokobia is a veteran presence with NFL talent to build around, but new CB's need to develop. Preseason I have the Mustangs favored in 10 of 12 games, short dogs vs Miami and they have a revenge shot at Clemson in mid October.

HC Matt Campbell is entering his 10th year in Ames still searching for that elusive B12 title. He'll take another good swing this year with Sr QB Rocco Becht leading a potent offense that should be a fun watch all year, despite losing 2 huge WR's to the NFL draft. The OL returns 3 of 5, but will need to improve to keep Becht upright which is why they added two B1G OTs in Derek Jensen (Wisconsin) and Austin Barrett (IU). The Clones have a good RB duo in Carson Hansen and Abu Sama, and they've added a couple of portal WRs to help find some new downfield weapons. But football is a game of two sides, and the defensive side of ISU fell apart last year, giving up 32 PPG in their final 8 games. 3rd year DC Jon Heacock has some nice pieces to build around in DT Domonique Orange and CB Jontez Williams, but will likely need more help than the 4 portals they added from powerhouses Lindenwood, Northern Iowa, Tulsa and Yale. Lots of fireworks coming to Ames in 2025, where the Clones are favored in 10 of 12, outside the opener vs Kansas State in Ireland and early November at TCU.

There's a much more in depth preview of the G5 below, but as of now there lacks a clear Boise State level of program to project into the G5 CFP slot. So I'll do some leaping here with South Florida. Last year was a pretty big letdown from what looked like a Bulls squad ready to pounce on the AAC. But I'm coming back to HC Alex Golesh one more time with what could be a highly entertaining offense. My hope is that a finally healthy Byrum Brown gets named the starting QB, I've been high on him for a while but the dynamic playmaker has had hard luck staying on the field. I'm counting on an OL that returns all 5 starters to become a mauling machine for RBs Cartevious Norton (Charlotte) and Sam Franklin (Oklahoma), and there's a lot of talent at WR and TE if this offense can finally gel. I'm also taking a leap of faith on Todd Orlando of all people to fix the holes on this defense that was torched last year, starting with some sneaky portal adds like CB Izaiah Guy (Ga St) and LB Chavez Brown (N Tex). South Florida ranks #37 in all of CFB in my talent ratings, which is a massive number for a G5 squad. Perhaps they'll do me wrong again, but I like Golesh's offense and I think this will be the year of fullfilled promises in Tampa. They'll need to start red hot to have a chance as they'll need to prove they can compete with the likes of Boise State, Florida and Miami in their first three games.

It's a pivotal year for HC Brent Venables and he's pulling talent from all corners of the country trying plug the leaks in this program. In comes an OC/QB combo of Ben Arbuckle and John Mateer from Wazzu, along with RB Jaydn Ott from Cal and a gaggle of WRs from all over. The run game was a disaster last year, so I'm keeping cautious even seeing 4 of 5 OL starters back to make way for Ott and Jovantae Barnes. The defense has improved to be the rock of the Sooners program, so I'm not all concerned about Venables himself stepping into the DC role. What does concern me is that 2024 DC Zac Alley left for WVU, which isn't exactly a promotion. None the less, if Mateer hits, the WRs are more reliable weapons rather than a MASH unit and Ott improves the run game, OU will win enough games against this brutal schedule to keep the wolves at bay in Norman. Getting W's early will be key, as the Sooners are projected dogs in 3 of the last 7 (Texas, Alabama, LSU) with close lines vs Mizzu and Tennessee.

Another darling from last year were the Hoosiers, under their brash HC Curt Cignetti, who will hopefully call games with a little more gusto than weak shit he showed in South Bend in the CFP. Indiana returns a fair amount of production (61%) and has once again found a big portal QB in Fernando Mendoza (Cal) along with a couple of good RB adds in Lee Beeby (UAB) & Roman Hemby (MD). In total the Hoosiers signed CFBs #21 portal class, adding 23 players to an already good looking roster. The OL added some good pieces to pair with 2 returning starters, and the defense seemingly has potential all B1G personnel everywhere from DE Mikail Kamara & LB Aiden Fisher to CB D'Angelo Ponds & S Amare Ferrell. Electric WR Elijah Sarratt returns to continue to terrorize under OC Mike Shanahan's creative offense, and he'll have help in portal adds Makai Jackson (App St) & Jonathan Brady (Cal). I have the Hoosiers as early favs in 9 of 12, short dogs at Iowa and two big road shots at Oregon & Penn State.

The monsters of Waco round out my top 25, mostly due to a lot of good parts returning lead by QB Sawyer Robertson. The Bears finished 2024 white hot winning their last 6 games of the regular season by scoring over 41 points per game. Now they return 72% (#14 in CFB) of that squad that could elevate even further under 2nd year OC Jake Spavital. The OL could be the best of the B12, returning 4 of 5 starters. A great duo of RB's in Bryson Washington & Dawson Pendergrass will more than keep defenses honest, and a couple of portal WRs should help keep Josh Cameron in single coverage. The defense was OK last year, returns 65% (#25) and got a nice portal boost with 9 new pieces to work with, including DE Emar'rion Winston (Oregon). Big bear stay hot? I think so, although preseason they are favored in only 6 of 12 as the glorious madness of the Big 12 has tight lines all through October & November.

I've heard enough feedback to include the Gamecocks on this list to explain why I'm lower on them than most. I think LaNorris Sellers is a gamechanger at QB, one of the best in all of CFB. I love what HC Shane Beamer is building in Columbia. But losing 5 players off of the defense to the NFL draft, 3 of them big lineman, along with RB Rocket Sanders out of eligibility I'm skeptical about the 2025 season. A lot of that has to do with a brutal schedule that has them favored in only 7 of 12 games, and short favs vs Oklahoma and Missouri. They've turned to new OC Mike Shula, who hasn't called an offense since 2019 with the NY Giants. I also need to see that they can build a better OL this year after losing both guards and their center off a unit that wasn't all that good last year. They should be good at WR with Mazeo Bennett & Nyck Harbor, but losing TE Joshua Simon could be a big factor that is often overlooked. Defense will still be good with DE Dylan Stewart terrorizing QBs, but the rest of the front 7 may take some time to gel with all the new faces. The Cocks will be a very tough out in the SEC, but I have more questions than answers at this point, even though I'm excited to see Sellers in his second year starting.

Louisville is a team I'm not quite sure what to think of yet. Jeff Brohm is an amazing coach, and usually gets the most out of his teams, and has an experienced staff that has been with him since he arrived in Louisville. 2024 was a decent year, but it would have been looked at so differently if the Cards didn't gag a game at Stanford. Outside of that they won 6 of their last 7 games, finishing with 9 wins. This years QB will be new again, with another intriguing portal add in Miller Moss (USC), who should fit well into Brohm's system. RB Isaac Brown is a top CFB back you may not know quite yet, as he burst onto the scene with 1,100 yds in his freshman season, and paired with classmate Duke Watson, form a top ACC duo. The OL has a ton of experience, but 2/3 of it is new to this Louisville roster. WR could be loaded with Chris Bell back and dynamic Caulin Lacy coming back from injury, along with 5 portal adds with good experience. The defense is where I have questions, where the DL looks like a mix of rotational players and portal adds from G5 schools. LBs TJ Quinn, Stanquan Clark and Antonio Watts are solid, but the secondary (on paper) looks thin with G5 portals at both CB slots along with FIU S JoJo Evans, another G5 portal albeit a very productive one. The overall talent numbers for Louisville are way down, 4th to last in the ACC by my numbers. So much so that I've dove back into the formula to ensure that is correct. My system isn't perfect, I'll be interested when other team talent ratings resources become available to compare. The schedule has the Cardinals favored in 9 games, but they get Miami and SMU on the road and a Clemson team looking for revenge from last years beat down in L'ville in mid November. Still, the non con looks weak and Brohm is always good for one big upset a year.

If there's a Jedd Fisch fan club, sign me up. Ditto that for Soph. QB Demond Williams as well as RB Jonah Coleman, who I'm willing to bet is the best RB most haven't heard of. This Husky offense could be a lot of fun, even breaking in last years QB coach in Jimmie Dougherty as the new OC. But that depends on rebuilding a new OL that returns only 2 starters. OT Carver Willis was a big portal add from Kansas State, but the rest will come from unproven depth to this point. And then there's the defense, which was lit up in B1G play last year, returns only 50% and is also under new leadership in DC Ryan Walters. And Walters plays more man coverage than most only fans models, and that's going to require more CB's than just portal add Tacario Davis from Arizona. Don't get my wrong, there's a lot to get excited about in Seattle this fall, but there are also a lot of questions that need big boy answers to navigate this sneaky tricky schedule that has Washington favored in 7 of 12 games, and only 2 of its last 6.

I am going to rank Utah at some point. I love HC Kyle Whittingham, I'm super excited about the QB add in Devon Dampier (New Mexico) and I'm a believer in new OC Jason Beck. I think RB Wayshawn Parker (Wazzu) was a perfect add along with others, and I am willing to bet a Utah OL that returns all 5 starters lead by All American candidates in OTs Spencer Fano & Caleb Lomu will vastly improve. Strangely enough my biggest questions are on defense, which returns only 50% (#79 in CFB) from a unit that ran out of gas last year trying to keep a mess of an offense in games. They added 4 CB's via the portal that could help sure up a secondary that returns a good safety in Tao Johnson, and DE Logan Fano and LB Lander Barton are great building blocks for an improved front 7. Being preseason favorites in only 7 of 12 games, there's just too many questions as of spring ball, no matter how much I do believe in this staff & roster.

I'm underrating TCU, something I'll need to look at further as fall camp arrives. The reasons are simple. First, Sonny Dykes is a heck of a ball coach, and 2nd is QB Josh Hoover. When you have a QB who has 21 career starts and has thrown for over 6,000 yards, you can win a lot of football games. Hoover, who is only in his junior season, still has WR Eric McAlister in a room that has added Jordan Dwyer (71/1,026/10 TD @ Idaho) and Joseph Manjack (Houston) via the portal. The running game was lacking last year and Dykes along with OC Kendal Briles are determined to fix that in 2025. It starts up front with an OL that returns 3 full time starters and guard Cade Bennett returning from a season ending knee injury. RBs Nate Palmer and Jeremy Payne look to be the duo the Horned Frogs will build around, but watch Freshman Jon Denman who looks too good to not see the field this season. The defense, which struggled early last year before settling in, will need to firm up the defensive line which loses most of its production from 2024. But behind them it gets a lot brighter in a hurry with what looks like a top LB core in Namdi Obiazor, Kaleb Elarms-Orr and Max Carroll and a deep secondary lead by the top B12 safety tandem in Jamel Johnson and Bud Clark. The CBs drew praise from DC Andy Avalos all spring where TCU feels they can go two deep at both spots. The schedule is tough, with TCU opening at North Carolina and hosting SMU two weeks later in the non-con slate. The Horned Frogs are preseason favored in 7 of 12 games, but 7 games have projected spreads of less than a TD. It looks like a wild year in the Big 12, and a team with a veteran QB and a solid defense could do a lot of damage along the way.

Georgia Tech is another example of a team I think can jump in a year that returns their HC, OC and QB. Brent Key was not supposed to be the guy at Tech, he was just supposed to steady the ship after the disaster of the Geoff Collins era. But Key has been building the Yellow Jackets to get into the ACC race, and that could happen this year. As always it starts at QB, with Haynes King back for what feels like his 11th year in CFB. King is one of those college QBs that isn't appreciated enough for what he is, which is an accurate passer, a tough runner and a great leader. RBs Jamal Haynes and Chad Alexander are back, and Tech has added Malachi Hosley, an FCS back out of Penn that ran for nearly 1,200 yards. This is the best QB/RB combo in the ACC this coming season. The OL will need retooling with only 2 of 5 starters back, but getting G Keylan Rutledge back after an all ACC performance last year was big. New portal add OT Malachi Carney out of South Alabama is a great run blocking addition that should plug right into this GT offense. The defense was spotty last year but does return 64% of their production (#25 in CFB), and DL Akelo Stone (Ole Miss) & Matthew Alexander (UCF), DE AJ Hoffler (Clemson) and CB Jon Mitchell (PSU) are the highlights of a 13 man defensive portal class. Overall the Jackets had the #30 portal class which tells me two things, first they have and are effecting using NIL funding like they haven't previously, and second they are doing so because they believe these additions can push them near the top of the conference. Preseason numbers show GT favored in 8 of 12 games, but they get Clemson at home and miss Miami and SMU. It's a crime that Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate vs Georgia has been moved off campus to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but Tech nearly took down the Dawgs in Athens last year.

The Cornhuskers are another team I was sure I would end up ranking. HC Matt Rhule is a proven builder entering his 3rd year, and he's finally gotten an OC I can get with in Dana Holgorsen. I just haven't seen a competent Nebraska offense in so long it's more than I can trust without proof. Hand up, I have no idea if/how good QB Dylan Raiola really is. A lot of smart people think he's a top prospect, but I didn't see it. And that's really not fair to say of what was a freshman QB trying to live up to the savoir label surrounded by mid talent at best. Word is Holgorsen wants a tempo offense, dictate the pace and get the ball out quick, which should make things simpler for Raiola in his second season. But last year the OL was meh, the RB room is still mostly meh to me, and while they've added a lot of interesting talent at WR, I need to see it to believe. The defense was good last year, but lost nearly 1/2 their production, is under new leadership in DC John Butler, and early word is DL is a concern. If I couldn't find a slot for Utah, I cannot find one for Nebraska, yet. The schedule is setup for success with only 4 true road games, no Ohio State or Oregon, and Michigan & Iowa coming to Lincoln. As of now the Huskers are early favs in 9 of 12 games.

Tennessee lost it's starting QB, it's all conference RB, both starting WR's and 4/5 offensive line starters. That one OL starter back is Lance Heard, who was the lowest graded OT in the SEC last year. So before Vol nation gives me any more hate mail, hear me out. I like what Josh Heupel has built in Knoxville, I just think this is going to be a true transition year. The defense will be good, with guys like DE Joshua Josephs & CB Jermod McCoy. Star Thomas looks like a back capable of leading the charge while hopefully Peyton Lewis and DeSean Bishop get ready to become stars. Chris Brazzell, Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley can become a lethal WR core by the end of the season. But the OL will take time to figure out, and Tennessee simply doesn't have a difference maker at QB, at least not in 2025. If Jake Merklinger were ready to be that guy right now, the Vols would have found a capable backup, not bring in Joey Aguilar from UCLA (via App St). Aguilar is a senior who I don't believe would come to Knoxville without at least a chance to compete for QB1. This is a young team that could position themselves for a loaded 2026 run, while still being an 8-9 win team in 2025. Or I'm completely off, QB1 lights it up like Hendon Hooker, the OL gels into a good unit and the young WR core takes off. It's all a guessing game in early May.

USC is a program I'm having a hard time figuring out. They've fallen from 11 wins in 2023 to 8 in '24 to 7 last year. HC Lincoln Riley has been skewered for hanging onto Alex Grinch for too long and ignored a glaring hole in special teams until he finally hired (well, promoted) a coordinator just last year. While fellow Pac 12 (RIP) member Oregon ripped their way to the B1G title game in their inaugural season in this new mega-conference, USC went 1-4 on the road and lost every game west of the Rockies, including a humiliating loss to a bad Maryland team. But the vibes are up tremendously with the #1 ranked crootin class for the upcoming year after Riley decided to hire personnel staff. QB Jayden Maiava is back after replacing Miller Moss (Louisville), and he's coming off tossing 7 TD's vs Notre Dame and Texas A&M in the Vegas Bowl. He also threw 5 costly picks, 2 of which were taken back for 200 yards ending their upset bid of the Irish. RB is a question that has both talent and a portal add in Eli Sanders (New Mexico) who rushed for 1k last year averaging 7.2 ypc. The OL was mixed last year, returns 2 of 5 starters but added starting OG DJ Wingfield (Purdue) and C J'Onre Reed (Syracuse). WR should need no introduction with one of the B1G's best duos in Makai Lemon & Ja'Kobi Lane. Defense has been the feces in the punch bowl of the LA Coliseum, but DC D'Anton Lynn made some strides in year one. But this SC defense lost most of their production from last year, so they've gone portal shopping in DL Keeshawn Silver (UK), DL Jamaal Jarrett (UGA) and six DB's. The schedule has the Trojans favored in 7 of 12 games but have road games at Illinois, Notre Dame, Nebraska and Oregon. If you trust Lincoln Riley, this team could win 9 games. I'm just not sure if I trust him to get this thing turned around.

One year ago, HC Kalani Sitake was on the hot seat and BYU looked lost in their new Big 12 life. Now they're coming off an 11 win season and a pounding of Prime's Colorado team in Alamo Bowl. QB Jake Retzlaff came out of nowhere to become a tough running, clutch QB that won 5 one score games due to his wizardry. He returns along with the Cougars leading RB in LJ Martin and their leading WR in Chase Roberts. They took some L's in the portal, but added some of their own highlighted by TE Carsen Ryan (Utah) who should give Retzlaff a nice safety valve while new WR depth works itself out. Last years suprisingly good OL returns 3 of 5 starters and adds a couple of portals to patch some spots. The defense also improved tremendously under DC Jay Hill, but will be replacing half of their starters and everyone on the DL. DT portal adds Justin Kirkland (OK St) & Keanu Tanuvasa (Utah) are gap fillers to build around, but a big question will be pass rush. LBs Isaiah Glasker & Jack Kelly form a strong returning duo along with S Tanner Wall, but new CBs will need to step up. Add it all up and there's equal parts promise and questions, which is why 6 of 12 games have a projected spread of less than a TD (A theme of the B12 this year). Truth be told the non-con is a joke, BYU misses Arizona St, gets Utah and TCU in Provo but must travel to Texas Tech and Iowa State.

I'll be honest, I'm not at all high on this NFL light circus show growing in Chapel Hill. But Bill Belichick knows ball (well, I think), and the schedule is an absolute joke to the point I have the Tarheels favored in 10 games. I'm disappointed QB Gio Lopez chose to bolt South Alabama for this, but he's an absolute playmaker at QB and should feast on a weak ACC. They've added 33 portals that include DL Pryce Yates (UConn) and 7 other lineman along with some good defensive propects from Washington that followed DC Stephen Belichick (whom despite the millenial Yoko Ono's peference is also known as Bill's son). I think you get it, I'm not a fan of this program right now. But roll out a competent offense under OC Freddie Kitchens and this team wins 9 games no matter how much I don't like it. Even the numbers say the Tarheels are early favs in 10 of 12 games.

Missouri is always overlooked, despite winning 21 games over the past two years, a lot of them with Drew Pyne at QB, not an easy task. HC Eliah Drinkwitz is vastly underrated, and he's found himself a fun QB in Beau Pribula (Penn State) to lead this 2025 squad. RB Ahmad Hardy is a great add from UL Monroe, as is WR Kevin Coleman from Mississippi State. OL is a big question with only 2 starters returning from an average at best unit, which is why 6 portal adds were brought in. But I have few questions about this defense, which returns 76% of production good for 4th nationally, and added some great portals like LB Josiah Trotter (WVU), CB Stephen Hall (Wazzu) and S Jalen Catalon (UNLV). DC Corey Batoon did a good job in his first year Columbia, he was a very good and overlooked hire from South Alabama last year. Missouri is always the team everyone looks up in November and wonders how are they still in the SEC race, this year will be no different. They'll need to be strong closers this year, as I have Mizzu favored in only 2 of their last 7 games.

I listed Mark Gronowski as my #1 QB I'm excited about in 2025. Just imagine an Iowa offense with a bulldozing 230 pound QB that can actually throw the forward pass could look like. The OL looks promising with 3 of 5 starters back lead by OT Gennings Dunker and C Logan Jones. RB loses all everything Kaleb Johnson, but Kamari Moulton and Jazuin Patterson looked capable in the Music City bowl vs Mizzu last year. Then there's WR, looking like the triple bogey on the roster. Judging from the spring reviews there's hope, but it's mostly about potential along with a number of WR injuries. The Iowa defense, ironcially, is where I have the most questions. I know they'll be good, as DC Phil Parker doesn't know how to field an incompetent unit. But they lost a ton at LB, need to find more pass rushers outside of DE Ethan Hurkett and need to find a #2 CB to team with Deshaun Lee. DT's Jonah Pace and Aaron Graves help build a solid middle, and S Xavier Nwankpa can help cover up issues on the back end. I just keep thinking that Iowa's defense has been so insanely good that I question what happens if they reload to be a good, not great unit. That means this offense has to take a big leap, and with a much tougher schedule in 2025 I have too many questions I need to see answers for before I consider them a top 25 team. The Hawkeyes play my #17 ranked SOS and are favored in 7 of 12 games, with 7 games having a spread of less than 3. The potential is there, but they'll be tested early and often.

Are you ready to row the boat this fall? PJ Fleck sure is, with a defense I had rated top 20 last year that returns 73% (#9 in CFB) and one of the B1Gs best RBs in Darius Taylor. Add in portal RBs AJ Turner (Marshall) & Cameron Davis (Wash) and there's nearly 2k yards of backs in the Twin Cities for OC Greg Harbaugh Jr to unleash. The OL needs new OTs but G Ashton Beers & C Greg Johnson are nice starting points, along with portal G's with starting experince in Marcellus Marshall (UCF) & Dylan Ray (UK). The question on offense is QB, which word out of spring ball looks like Soph. Drake Lindsey's job after spending last year behind Max Brosmer. Lindsey was an important croot for Fleck, a 6'5, 230 pound prospect with a live arm and reportedly good command of this offense. Further complicating the passing game is breaking in portal WRs Javon Tracy (Miami OH) and Logan Loya (UCLA) along with returning depth which has limited experience. But this defense has a lot of good parts, starting with one of the B1G's top safety duos in Koi Perich and Kerry Brown. LB's Maverick Baranowski & Devon Williams make a good core to pair with portal add Jeff Roberson (Ok St). The DL is stacked with run stuffers but really needs some pass rushers to emerge, and the Gophers need to find their CB duo from a lot with limited experience. One of the main reasons Minnesota isn't in my top 25 at the moment is due to losing DC Corey Hetherman to Miami, replaced by safety coach Danny Collins who will be calling the D for the first time. The B1G schedule has Minnesota traveling to Ohio State, Oregon and Iowa but has them favored in all 9 games otherwise. The best news is that the swing games against Nebraska & Wisconsin are in Minneapolis.

Like after Ashton Jeanty begins in HC Spencer Danielson's 3rd season. Nate Potter takes over as the Broncos OC, after serving in a co-capacity with now retired Dirk Koetter. The Boise offense will always start with the running game, and they'll have the best OL in the G5 to work with, returning 4 of 5 starters headlined by OT Kage Casey. Soph RB Sire Gaines, who had a promising start last year but hurt his knee 3 games in and had to be shut down, and portal add Malik Sherrod (Fresno) are the frontrunners to lead the rushing attack. Then there is QB Maddux Madsen and his 3k yards passing and 28 combined TDs. A lot of CFB media don't seem to believe in the junior QB, I guess due to the 3 INT game he had vs PSU in the playoffs. I think he's a gamer, certainly not big or flashy but a tough kid, and this year should tell the tale on how good he really is. He'll have a great weapon at TE to help in Matt Lauter, and some good WR options starting with Latrell Caples. The Bronco defense returns a good amount of production (64%, #28 in CFB) lead by DE Jayden Virgin-Morgan, LB Marco Notarainni & S Ty Benefield. They also added some nice parts in the portal in DE Serling Lane (Arizona) and CB Jaden Mickey (ND), along with some interesting FCS adds. They are lead by an underrated DC in Erik Chinander, who had the unfortunate career staller in being with Scott Frost at Nebraska. Boise is preseason favored in 11 of 12 games, and takes a huge swing at Notre Dame in early October. If they are at least competitve vs the Irish and handle their MWC business, the Broncos will be in the CFP race in November.

The Dukes look poised to build off a good/not great nine win season in HC Bob Chesney's first season after replacing Curt Cignetti. It starts with QB Alonzo Barnett, coming off a 2,500 yard, 26 TD/4 Int performance in 2024. Barnett is said to be a full go come summer as he recovers from a knee injury in the season finale vs Marshall. Assuming he's back at full strength, he's got the makings of a really good OL with 3 of 5 starters back lead by all SBC OT Pat McMurtie to help keep him clean. He also has what may be the Sun Belt's best 1-2 RB combo in George Pettaway and Wayne Knight. The question on offense is WR, which the Dukes tried to address in the portal by adding 5 to the position. The defense will need some time to find new answers, and 13 portal adds will need to get up to speed. CB DJ Barksdale and S Jacob Thomas are nice building blocks, and LB Trent Hendrick looks primed for an all SBC type of season. DE's Aiden Gobaira (ND), Lacota Dippre (Char) & Xavier Holmes (Maine) were nice additions to the DL to team up with Sr DT Immanuel Bush. JMU gets two early swings at Louisville and Liberty in back to back weeks, and then are favored in every conference game afterwards. If they can knock off one or both, the Dukes could find themselves in the CFP rankings come November.

The Green Wave were one of the busier teams in the portal this year, adding 34 players and the #4 class in the G5. There will be a QB battle into fall to replace Darian Mensah (Duke) as neither Kadin Semonza (Ball St) or Donovan Leary (Ill) separated, and Brendan Sullivan (Iowa) was also added after practices had completed. RB Jamauri McClure is the leader to take over for Maliki Hughes (Oregon), along with a couple of portal adds. There are a gaggle of WRs to sort out, and Fr Kellen Tasby, who's listed at QB, showed a lot of promise in spring to need to find a place for him in this offense. The OL will take some time to gel with 2 of 5 starters back and 6 portals to work in. The defense was far ahead of the offense in spring, with pass rush on display from a DL that will likely start portals at every position, like DT Derrick Shepard and DE Maurice Westmoreland. Even with all the new faces the Green Wave are preseason favored in 9 of 12 games, and will take two P4 swings with Duke coming to New Orleans and at Ole Miss. A two game road stretch at UTSA on Oct 30 and at Memphis on November 7th will likely determine who gets a leg up in the AAC title race.

Memphis is going to rebuild hard in 2025 coming off of back to back double digit win seasons. But HC Ryan Silverfield keeps adding talent at a pace that will keep them in the mix, with their #1 ranking incoming class in the G5 (portals + croots). The portal class is massive haul of 37 players led by a ton of big defensive adds. The offense starts with a QB battle between Brendon Lewis, who was a nice add from Nevada, Fr AJ Hill, and Soph. Arrington Maiden, who shined in the spring game. The QB1 winner will work behind an OL that needs to find 3 new starters out of the 6 they added via the portal. On the receiving end the Tigers have added some nice P4 talent highlighted by a speedy weapon in WR CJ Smith from Purdue. There's not a lot of info about RBs, but Greg Desrosiers and Malik Bodiford have both shown flashes in their limited carries. The defense will be almost brand new, with 24 portal adds taking over the depth chart. Good thing is DC Jordon Hankins has a couple of easy W's in the first two weeks to get his unit sorted out. Even with all this turnover, Memphis is favored in 11 of 12 games and get a great shot at a P4 skin with Arkansas coming to the Liberty Bowl on September 20th. The toss ups will be at Troy, vs South Florida & Tulane and a Navy team that scorched the Tigers for 56 points last year.

Coming off a disappointing 8-4 season and losing QB Kaidon Salter to Colorado, HC Jamey Chadwell has some resetting to do in Lynchburg. Ethan Vasko (C Car) looks to be QB1, although he's still battling fellow portal add Michael Merdinger (NC) & Fr Ethan Houck. The OL looks solid with 3 of 5 starters back lead by all CUSA center Aaron Fenimore. RB will be more of a rotation with Vaughn Blue, Caden Williams, Evan Dickens (GT) along with converted WR Juju Gray to replace all everything Quinton Cooley. The Flames should be good at WR as they have four options with at least 20 rec, highlighted by CSU transfer Jamari Person. The defense will be lead by DE CJ Bazile, LB Joseph Carter plus safties Brylan Green & A'Khori Jones, all of whom received all conference honors last season. The DL is a rotation of 10 out via the portal, including 5 after spring practices ended, and 3 added from P4 schools. The talent is there, and the Flames will be favored in every game of their criminally soft schedule that ranks #135 out of 136. But Liberty looked in similar position last year, and ended up finishing 3-4 a year after their run to the Fiesta Bowl.

The Jaguars look like a Sun Belt contender in HC Major Applewhite's second season, even after losing their star QB Gio Lopez to North Carolina after spring ball. Bishop Davenport will likely take over as QB1, but Zach Pyron was also added from Minnesota after Lopez left so check back in August. Honestly, finding information on South Alabama's spring practice was nearly impossible, if you know of any good resources please send them my way. RB Kentrel Bullock will be the main guy behind a my top rated Sun Belt OL that returns 3 of 5 starters, and 6 portal adds to fill in the rest. The defense will be lead by LBs Blayne Myrick and Darius McKenzie, but will need to fill in a DL that lost 4 and secondary that lost 7 to the portal, including both starting CBs. Life in the G5 is not for the faint of heart. But still the Jags are favored in 8 of 12 games, and get two big swings early with Tulane coming to Mobile and then at Auburn the following week. If all goes well the finale at Texas State looks like it could be for a shot at the Sun Belt title game.

2024 was HC Jeff Traylor's worst season in San Antonio, which the Roadrunners started 2-4 before rallying to make and win a bowl game. But I remain a big fan of his UTSA program that is now 45-20 in his tenure, and I think 2025 is going to be a big year. It starts with QB1 Owen McCown who threw for 3,400 yards and 25 TDs, as well as 340 yds on the ground and 3 more TDs in his sophomore season. He's a tremendously fun QB to watch, and he has the AACs deepest WR/TE core to throw it around to, lead by WRs Willie McCoy & Devin McCuin to pair with TEs Houston Thomas & Patrick Overmyer. In total 5 WR/TE had at least 28 rec & 300 yds. The OL struggled last year but should improve with 5 starters returning in 2025. Workhorse RB Robert Henry returns with some young backs and portal add A'Marion Peterson (USC) to give OC Justin Burke a promising running attack. The defense, however, needs to replace most of a unit that put up some decent numbers but also gave up way too many big plays. 10 of UTSA's portal class of 17 are on defense, lead by S Brandon Jacob (UCF), DL Cameron Blaylock (Tenn St) & Shad Banks Jr (TCU). There's a lot to sort out by the time the Meeps take the field in 2025, which opens at Texas A&M. Overall UTSA is favored in 9 of 12 games, but there are a lot of swing games starting with Texas State on September 6th. If the defense can get up to speed, this Roadrunner offense could take this team a long way this fall.

The UNLV team we knew is no longer, as this Rebels team will be different in almost every way in 2025 with 41 players coming in via the portal to replace 41 players transfering out. The one thing this team has is talent, #8 in the G5 talent rankings to be more specific. The QB will be one of the two portal adds in Anthony Colandrea (UVA) or Alex Orji (Mich). My bet is Colandrea starts with Mullen and new OC Corey Dennis finding ways to use Orji's athletic ability. Colandrea is a wild QB in that he has little regard for his own body when running the ball and can make throws that compare to NFL talent as often as a high school option QB who's unsure of his dominant hand. Having Jai'Den 'Jet' Thomas back at RB will help take the load off, along with 3 P4 portal adds. The OL is a big ole question mark with 0 starters returning and 5 portal adds. Ditto the WR room, which also added 5 via the portal. And then there's the defense, with it's own 20 portals to sort out, led by LB Justin Flowe (Arizona) and Denver Harris (UTSA). Look, is this a lot of great inside information? No. Here's the bottom line, this is a team with a lot of talent in the 25 portals coming from the P4. They are going to be a mystery, but they are also going to be fun to watch sort out. They are favored in 10 of 12 games against a bottom 10 schedule rating, get a P4 shot at UCLA coming to Allegiant Stadium in week two, and have a finishing stetch tailor made to get them back to the MWC title game for possibly a 3rd straight shot at Boise State. Yes, it's a best guess in May which in CFB terms means guessing season.

Navy was an incredibly fun team in 2024, with OC Drew Cronic taking Navy from a traditional triple option offense to what he calls the hybrid Wing-T that splashed all season. A lot of that is due to QB Blake Horvath, who returns for an encore in his senior season and his second with Cronic calling the plays. He also has a prototypical Navy FB in Alex Tecza & RB Eli Heidenreich back as well, making this Navy offense a must watch in the fall. The OL needs to find 3 new starters, but guards Ben Purvis and Cam Nichols are great building blocks to work with. The defense will need to find new DE's on the line to pair with DT Landon Robinson, who is coming off an all AAC season last year. The Middies have experience at LB but the secondary will need rebuilding. The Naval Academy does not play by the new CFB rules, as they don't add from the transfer portal and obviously don't hand out NIL funding. But HC Brian Newberry and his staff have a firm identity, a great culture and are a tough out for any team that isn't stacked with NFL talent. The Midshipmen are preseason favored in their first 8 games, and then close with Notre Dame, South Florida, Memphis and the clash with Army to finish. Getting to South Bend at 7-0/6-1 means they can take some serious swings in 2025.

San Jose State was one of the most interesting teams to watch in 2024. They hired former Navy HC Ken Niumatalolo who installed an OC and an offense seemingly to prove he is not just an option coach. But it worked, throwing for 4k yards and 31 TDs, over half of which are from returning QB Walker Eget. Eget is now in year two of OC Stutzmann's system, one of my favorite indicators of an offense poised to breakout. The Spartans also return their top 3 RBs lead by Floyd Chalk IV and an OL that returns 4 starters. WR Matthew Coleman and TE Jackson Canaan are good targets to try and replace the production of now NFL WR Nick Nash, and they've added a couple of P4 portals to help as well. They also grabbed Danny Scudero, a slot WR from Sacramento State that put up good numbers in his freshman season. Like other on this list, the defense will need rebuilding, and this is where things get hairy. The Spartans were fairly turnstyle-ish on D last year, and only added 5 via the portal. So get your over bet tickets in early and watch out when SJSU heads to Stanford in week 4, as they took down the Cardinal last year in the season finale. In all the Spartans are early favorites in 10 games with a schedule that gives them a shot at the MWC title game.

While everyone focused on NIU beating Notre Dame and Kentucky taking down Ole Miss, for my money Toledo gagging at Akron last season was the 2nd worse loss anyone took in CFB (Kennesaw over Liberty being #1). But Toledo is the talent hog of the MAC, and even though HC Jason Candle continually loses mind bending games it doesn't change the fact that the Rockets will be this years favorite to win the conference. They have my important HC/OC/QB combo back with OC Mike Hallett and QB Tucker Gleason who is fresh off of torching the Pitt Panthers for 336 yards and 2 TDs in the GameAbove Sports Bowl (Dumb name). Gleason is a good college QB and a willing runner, which is something the Rockets desperately needed with a dog mess rushing attack last year. The good news is leading rusher Connor Walendzak is back, the bad is he had only 457 yards. Overall Toledo rushed for 3.5 ypc, mostly due to an OL that started 2 freshman and a sophmore. That OL returns all 5 starters, and the staff brought in 5 additional portals to help revamp this group in 2025. They've also added a couple of RBs including former blue chip Ohio State commit Chip Trayanum looking to revamp his career. WR will rebuild from losing 3 of the top 4 pass catchers from last year, but has Junior Vandeross III and his 750+ yds and Trayvon Rudolph added from NIU in the portal, along with decent depth. The defense will need replacements from a good unit last year, 7 of which will come from the portal class highlighted by DE Louce Julien (UMass) and Hudson Miller (Purdue). The CBs are solid with Braden Awis and Avery Smith both returning to a secondary that was the strength of the team last year. The schedule is a Rocket dream (#134 of 136 SOS) with Toledo favored in 11 of 12 games, the other being the opener against SEC Kentucky, a P4 skin that can certainly be had.

#MACtion roles on with the Buffalo Bulls and their 2nd year HC Pete Lembo, who did a phenominal job last year in winning 9 games including a bowl win over Liberty. The Bulls defense was the reason, and they return 73% (#9 in CFB) of that unit into 2025, led by All MAC DE Kobe Stewart and all 156 tackles by LB Red Murdock. The offense needs to find a QB to pair with 1K RB Al-Jay Henderson and an OL that returns guards Trevor Block and Tyler Doty, all of whom received MAC honors as well. Still, the OL needs to find their best five in a hurry as they were dominated in the spring by the Bulls front seven. QB1 looks like Ta'Quan Roberson, a portal add from Kansas State, but he'll need to hold of Gunnar Gray in fall camp. WR has WR Victor Snow along with some big bodied options to fill out the route tree. If a QB1 can step up, this offense should improve under 2nd year OC Dave Patenaude. Pair a workmanlike offense with DC Joe Bowen's defense, and the Bulls could make an even further leap this fall. Preseason numbers say the Bulls will be favored in 8 of 12 games, and they get Miami (OH) and Ohio coming to Buffalo to close the regular season.

Why am I including a UTEP team that has one winning season in the past 8 years when they're coming off a 3-9 season? HC Scotty Walden is that reason, and it would be in your best interest to get to know him now. Walden is as high energy as they come at head coach, and he's quickly building the Miners roster into a CUSA contender. My talent rankings have UTEP #2 in CUSA just behind Liberty, an amazing accomplishment in a very short time in El Paso. The QB1 position is a battle, with incumbent starter Skyler Locklear over former 5* USC/Boise QB Malichi Nelson in the spring, and Cade McConnell also coming back in contention this summer. Locklear has the scrambling ability and the leadership to be a very good QB, if he does in fact win this job. WR Kenny Odom was with Walden at Austin Peay, and had a breakout year for the Miners with 761 yards and a whopping 16.2 yards per catch, to go with rFr Marcus Torres who has impressed in the spring. The RB's were not good last year, so they've added Hahsaun Wilson (Charlotte) and Kam Thomas has looked good after transitioning from being a hybrid RB/WR last year out of necessity. The biggest question is OL, which has only 1 full time starter back off a unit that struggled in 2024. The defense starts in the middle with DT KD Johnson, LB Nate Dyman & S Xavier Smith, but will need to find pass rushers out of a couple of portal adds and a big freshman class haul. The schedule is very managable with UTEP preseason favored in 9 games, but the key number is 6 to make a bowl. The Miners have not won a bowl game since beating Ole Miss in the 1967 Sun Bowl, and I'm betting Walden can end that streak.