The book is officially closed on the 2024 college football season with Ohio State winning the national championship after defeating Notre Dame in the national final. So it’s time to start looking ahead to the teams that will compete for championships next fall. Ohio State is ahead of the best teams the SEC has to offer, and Big Ten rival Penn State is leading the way in the USA TODAY Sports Top 25 for the 2025 season. The No. 1 Buckeyes must replace quarterback Will Howard but will be able to support the new player with a roster filled with outstanding talent, led by winger Jeremiah Smith.

Right behind Ohio State is Texas at No. 2. The Longhorns are about to enter the highly anticipated Arch Manning era. Rounding out the top five are Alabama at No. 3, Penn State at No. 4 and Georgia at No. 5. The Crimson Tide are preparing for a rebound in coach Kalen DeBoer’s second season. Notre Dame comes in at No. 8 due to some instability at the quarterback position. But a schedule that doesn’t feature any major contenders would keep the Fighting Irish in line for the College Football Playoff. The first top 25 is dominated by the SEC and Big Ten. These two leagues have 14 teams in our rankings, including the top six. Two teams in the Group of Five represented from the Mountain West were 21st-ranked Boise State and 23rd-ranked UNLV.