Spring practices are finished across the country, and the transfer portal is closed. That means it\u2019s time to reevaluate teams ahead of the 2025 season now that we have a better idea of their rosters and who will start at each position.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If you don\u2019t like where your team is ranked. Don\u2019t worry. We\u2019ll do it again in August as fall camp opens.<\/p>\n
If we\u2019re going to bet on Arch Manning<\/a>, we may as well go all-in and bet that he takes the Longhorns to a national title. Texas has spots to fill on the offensive line, but the Longhorns seem confident in their recruiting and the development skills of position coach Kyle Flood. On the other side of the ball, Texas brings back enough off the edge to terrorize opposing QBs every week.<\/p>\n The most telling fact about Notre Dame\u2019s offseason? Two offensive linemen who started in the national title game immediately hit the transfer portal after the season because they probably wouldn\u2019t have starting jobs in 2025. A great offensive line is the most recession-proof factor in football. Can Notre Dame\u2019s defense maintain the level at which it played last year? That\u2019s the question. But injuries last season forced younger players like cornerback Leonard Moore<\/a> to show us that the Fighting Irish have future stars ready to emerge. We think C.J. Carr<\/a> wins the quarterback job, and a bigger arm than the Irish have had in years could unlock a downfield passing game that should complement a punishing run game.<\/p>\n Yes, Dabo Swinney<\/a> used the portal a little to fill some minor gaps in an otherwise rock-solid roster. But the most important offseason addition for the Tigers will be defensive coordinator Tom Allen<\/a>. Clemson\u2019s defensive personnel was fine last season, but it wasn\u2019t deployed properly. Allen will fix that. That means the Cade Klubnik<\/a>-led offense won\u2019t be forced to win shootouts against better opponents. But with some promising young receivers coming of age, Clemson may just put up those points anyway.<\/p>\n Transfer receivers Kyron Hudson<\/a> (USC), Devonte Ross<\/a> (Troy) and Trebor Pena<\/a> (added this past weekend from Syracuse) probably will determine whether the Nittany Lions are national title contenders or a very good team that makes the College Football Playoff but doesn\u2019t make it until the end. Penn State has just about everything else. The Nittany Lions lost the aforementioned Allen to Clemson and replaced him with Jim Knowles<\/a>, who was last seen helping Ohio State win a national title.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Buckeyes have a lot to replace on both lines of scrimmage, and they\u2019ll be breaking in a new quarterback. But having the nation\u2019s best returning offensive player (receiver Jeremiah Smith<\/a>) and the nation\u2019s best returning defensive player (safety Caleb Downs<\/a>) is incredible foundation on which to build.<\/p>\n Dan Lanning<\/a> has proven in his three seasons that he\u2019ll have the Ducks stocked to compete. Oregon hit the portal to shore up the offensive line with Nevada tackle Isaiah World<\/a> and USC guard Emmanuel Pregnon<\/a>. Safety Dillon Thieneman<\/a> (Purdue) might be the most impactful defensive transfer of the offseason. Quarterback Dante Moore<\/a> sat behind Dillon Gabriel <\/a>for a season. Now he gets his chance to shine in coordinator Will Stein<\/a>\u2019s offense.<\/p>\n I moved Alabama into the top 10 because every time I look at the Crimson Tide\u2019s depth chart, I get less worried about the quarterback competition. Whoever wins the job \u2014 Ty Simpson<\/a> looks like the favorite \u2014 is going to have serious talent around him and a defense that should take pressure off the offense.<\/p>\n This feels low for the Bulldogs considering what they\u2019ve been in the Kirby Smart<\/a> era. But the fear is that the supply of aliens on the defensive line is running short. Georgia remains one of the most talented rosters in the sport, but it feels as if the other contenders have caught the Bulldogs in terms of depth. Still, the additions of receivers Noah Thomas<\/a> (Texas A&M) and Zachariah Branch<\/a> (USC) suggest the offense could be more dynamic than it was last year.<\/p>\n Illini coach Bret Bielema<\/a> said his level of concern that quarterback Luke Altmyer<\/a> would leave in the spring transfer portal was \u201czero-point-zero.\u201d He was right, because Altmyer isn\u2019t that type. But lots of other teams would love to have Altmyer, who was sneakily one of the nation\u2019s most efficient QBs in 2024. The Illini return most of the core that led a 10-win team last year, and a College Football Playoff berth should be a realistic expectation.<\/p>\n If QB D.J. Lagway<\/a> resumes throwing again and his shoulder feels great, then Florida can play with anyone on its brutal schedule. The addition of UCLA transfer receiver J. Michael Sturdivant<\/a> had the Gators excited, but five-star freshman Dallas Wilson<\/a> flashing early in spring practice sent expectations for the offense into overdrive. But if Lagway\u2019s shoulder remains an issue, this will be a very different conversation come preseason camp.<\/p>\n The Red Raiders are this season\u2019s version of last season\u2019s Ole Miss team. They went all-in on the transfer portal, spending a fortune to upgrade their roster with players who probably wouldn\u2019t have considered Texas Tech in previous years. It almost worked for the Rebels, but they came up one win short last season. Can the Red Raiders turn the spending into a CFP berth? On paper, they now have the Big 12\u2019s most talented roster. But they still need to prove this group can play together.<\/p>\n The Gamecocks now fully understand the capabilities of QB LaNorris Sellers<\/a>, and that has sent expectations through the roof. The schedule is daunting, but South Carolina now has the kind of premium players (edge Dylan Stewart<\/a> and offensive tackle Josiah Thompson<\/a>) that are required to reach the level to which they aspire.<\/p>\n Having Auburn this high was the most controversial aspect of the way-too-early ranking we released in January, but I haven\u2019t backed off my belief that the Tigers were not nearly as bad as their record last season and that even a slight improvement can make a big difference in the win column. Can Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold<\/a> be better than he was in Norman last year? Throwing to Cam Coleman<\/a> and Georgia Tech transfer Eric Singleton Jr.<\/a> should make any QB better.<\/p>\n The Mustangs bring back a ton from a team that made the CFP and shocked everyone in its first ACC season. No one is going to be shocked this season, but Rhett Lashlee<\/a>\u2019s team should remain a contender in an ACC that feels deeper at the top this season. QB Kevin Jennings<\/a> needs to shake off brutal performances in the ACC title game and the CFP first-round loss at Penn State, but those could turn into learning experiences that help SMU going forward.<\/p>\n The Tigers hit the portal hard to shore up a defense that has been below LSU\u2019s standard from a talent perspective. But just as promising is the possibility that freshmen like cornerback D.J. Pickett<\/a> look like the freaks LSU used to bring in every recruiting class. QB Garrett Nussmeier<\/a> is excellent, and if the Tigers can replenish a line that is mostly off to the NFL, they should compete for a CFP berth.<\/p>\n The Sun Devils lose tailback Cam Skattebo<\/a> but bring back QB Sam Leavitt<\/a>. Plus, Leavitt gets to throw again to Jordyn Tyson<\/a>, who missed the Big 12 title game and the Peach Bowl with an injury. Kenny Dillingham<\/a> is building a power in the desert, but there is no guarantee that Arizona State can repeat. The margins at the top of the Big 12 are razor-thin, and Leavitt is just one of a group of quality veteran QBs in the league.<\/p>\n If Michigan\u2019s offense can be even slightly above-average, then I have the Wolverines ranked too low. It appears freshman QB Bryce Underwood<\/a> may have to be the day-one starter, which wasn\u2019t the original plan. If he needs some time to develop, then it could look like last year for a little while. If he immediately lives up to his recruiting hype, then Michigan becomes a title contender again.<\/p>\n Remember what I said about a group of quality veteran QBs in the Big 12? Jake Retzlaff<\/a> certainly qualifies. The Cougars bring back a lot from a team that stayed in the Big 12 title race until the end of the season. Expect them to be in the hunt all of this season as well.<\/p>\n The Rebels probably missed a golden opportunity last year, but that doesn\u2019t mean the window is closed. QB Austin Simmons<\/a> might be the best new starter this season, and if he is, then I have Ole Miss too low. Lane Kiffin<\/a> has raised the floor for the Rebels so much that this kind of preseason ranking probably feels like a disappointment. It would have felt like a compliment for most of the program\u2019s history. But if this is where your team is when it\u2019s \u201crebuilding,\u201d then your program is in a very healthy place.<\/p>\n I\u2019m less worried about QB Carson Beck<\/a>\u2019s return from elbow surgery than I am about Miami\u2019s ability to replace some excellent receivers. The offensive line should be great, though, and that should make everything easier. Whether Miami winds up around here or playing for the ACC title and a CFP berth likely will depend on how well new coordinator Corey Hetherman<\/a> improves the defense.<\/p>\n I didn\u2019t drop Tennessee from the teens (in the January ranking) just because QB Nico Iamaleava<\/a> left. When I left Iamaleava out of my top 10 QB rankings \u2014 which made Tennessee fans quite mad at first and quite happy two days later \u2014 it was because of doubts in general about the offense. I\u2019m not concerned about the defense. But the Volunteers will need some young playmakers on offense to step up and help whoever wins the QB job \u2014 whether it\u2019s Appalachian State\/UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar<\/a>, redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger<\/a> or true freshman George MacIntyre<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Cornhuskers upgraded their offensive talent in the transfer portal this offseason. Former Kentucky receiver Dane Key<\/a>, former Alabama offensive tackle Elijah Pritchett<\/a> and former Notre Dame guard Rocco Spindler<\/a> should help QB Dylan Raiola<\/a> in his second year as the starter. The question is whether Nebraska can stay as good on defense after losses to the draft and the portal and the departure of coordinator Tony White to Florida State. New coordinator John Butler<\/a> was hired last year with the intent that he would ultimately replace White, so perhaps the transition will be smooth.<\/p>\n Rocco Becht<\/a> \u2014 yet another one of those excellent returning Big 12 QBs \u2014 will have to break in some new favorite targets, but I\u2019m done doubting coach Matt Campbell<\/a>. When he has a QB, the Cyclones punch well above their weight class.<\/p>\n The Cardinals played one of the tougher ACC schedules last season and weren\u2019t quite good enough. But this may be a better overall team playing against an easier schedule. We\u2019ll see if coach Jeff Brohm<\/a> \u2014 a noted QB whisperer \u2014 can get out of Miller Moss<\/a> what fellow noted QB whisperer Lincoln Riley<\/a> couldn\u2019t. We saw in the Sun Bowl win against Washington what Louisville had hoped to get from receiver Caullin Lacy<\/a> through all of 2024, but an injury forced Lacy to redshirt. If the Cardinals get that production in 2025, the offense could be dangerous.<\/p>\n