Ohio State won its first national championship since 2014 with a victory over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff National Championship, but the Buckeyes’ path to a preseason No. 1 ranking in 2025 won’t be easy. As many as 16 starters could be gone from the championship team, but wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs will give them a chance.
Overall, the race for the No. 1 team in the preseason top 25 will be closer than ever. Between NFL entries, the transfer portal, and expiration of eligibility, almost every major team suffers significant losses. Six of the top seven teams in CBS Sports’ Way-Too-Early Top 25 are replacing quarterbacks, including both College Football Playoff national championship teams. Two of the four major conference champions are also making a change at this position.
With so much turnover, the opportunities are numerous. Over the past seven years, six different teams have won national championships. Six unique teams have played for national championships over the past three years. Three teams earned first-place votes in the 2024 preseason AP Top 25 (Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon). This figure could be even higher in 2025.
Here are the teams that could be considered for preseason No. 1 in 2025. Keep in mind that many teams could still move through the transfer portal, especially with the spring window remaining.
College football rankings: Texas, Georgia, Miami lead top 25 way too early ahead of 2025 season
Dennis Dodd
Top contenders
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes lose a generation of players to the NFL after retaining several for the 2024 championship, but there is plenty of talent left in Columbus. Ohio State returns Smith and Downs, each of whom is perhaps the best player in college football on their respective sides of the ball. A rash of injuries on the offensive line means there’s more experience than expected. The biggest question centers around reloading the defense, as the Buckeyes could possibly lose 10 starters, but defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has produced four straight top-15 defenses dating back to his time at Oklahoma State.
Texas Longhorns
The Arch Manning era begins in 2025, which should make the Longhorns a popular choice among voters for the top spot. In limited action, Manning threw nine touchdowns and two interceptions and showed impressive accuracy from deep. The pieces around him will make up the big picture as the offense loses its top three receivers and four of its top five offensive linemen. Steve Sarkisian’s team also reloaded last year after losing national-caliber receivers and defensive linemen. So there are many reasons to be optimistic.
Notre Dame fighting the Irish
There’s one huge blessing that comes with the injury-plagued national title run: The team’s young players are now brimming with experience. Outside of Leonard, Cross and Watts, the vast majority of the two-deep are still eligible. Greathouse and Bowen lead a generation of young stars ready to take on the role, while the high school is filled with underclassmen. The biggest question remains at quarterback, but the staff is in love with both Steve Angeli and CJ Carr. This was just the beginning for Marcus Freeman.
Pillars
Penn State Nittany Lions
The Nittany Lions received key retentions heading into 2025, including quarterback Drew Allar and star running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Defensively, defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton and linebacker Dominic DeLuca provide serious leadership. The main thing holding the Nittany Lions back from serious competition is pass catchers. Penn State does not return a single receiver with more than 500 career yards. Will this be enough to help Allar take the next step as a senior?
Georgia Bulldogs
The Bulldogs managed to win an SEC championship in an inconsistent year, but will have to do so next season without several stalwarts dating back to their national championship-winning teams. The Bulldogs’ No. 30 total defense was the worst in the Kirby Smart era, and more than half the starting lineup on defense is gone. The offense moved quickly to tackle pass catchers after adding Zachariah Branch and Noah Thomas in the transfer portal, but freshman quarterback Gunner Stockton needs to run the show. There are major advantages for Georgia, but also major disadvantages.
Oregon Ducks
The Ducks were perhaps the biggest loser in the expanded College Football Playoff; falling on an Ohio State buzzsaw essentially erased the joy of an undefeated regular season. Still, coach Dan Lanning has stacked elite recruiting classes and the impact is only beginning to be felt. The Ducks also attracted another strong transfer class, headlined by safety Dillon Thieneman and running back Makhu Hughes. The quarterback battle between Dante Moore and Austin Novosad will be critical, but the Ducks have plenty to work on.
Black horses
LSU Tigers
The Tigers received a major boost when Nussmeier and Perkins announced they would opt out of the NFL draft, and the offseason reflected that momentum. LSU coach Brian Kelly shook up the nation’s No. 1 transfer class, featuring eight players rated as four-star transfer recruits. The defense has moved up more than 40 spots in total defense under coordinator Blake Baker and should only continue to improve. If LSU’s offensive line can hold up after losing two NFL tackles, there’s championship upside in Baton Rouge.
Clemson Tigers
Finally, Clemson’s wide receiver pipeline appears fixed heading into 2025. TJ Moore, Antonio Williams and Bryant Wesco all had impressive moments playing alongside quarterback Cade Klunbik. All four players return in 2025 to name an easy favorite to win the ACC and return to the College Football Playoff. Woods is also leading a youth movement on defense, and coach Dabo Swinney proved he still has appeal by poaching defensive coordinator Tom Allen from Penn State. Adding another level of shock, Swinney accepts transfers for the first time in his career. Everything happens to Clemson.
