A veteran college football analyst rolls out his latest preseason top-136, blending numbers with seasoned instincts as Week 0 approaches. The piece comes at a quiet moment for the sport: no major conference realignment headlines, just a familiar calendar and a football landscape that remains mostly intact. The Football Bowl Subdivision has grown to 136 programs, with Delaware and Missouri State newly welcomed into the FBS ranks.
The author notes that the rankings are a subjective exercise. He factors in analytical rankings but emphasizes judgment about each program’s trajectory, adjusting as results come in. This is a preseason snapshot meant to spark discussion, not a final declaration of who will win the national title. He also candidly reflects on how, in past years, his early calls have swung as data points accumulate, underscoring that expectations will evolve once games begin.
Top of the list and other early moves
– 1. Penn State
– 2. Clemson
– 3. Texas
– 4. Ohio State
– 5. Georgia
– 6. Notre Dame
– 7. Oregon
– 8. Arizona State
– 9. Alabama
– 10. LSU
The write-up highlights several common themes likely to shape the season: proven coaching and experience returning at multiple programs, quarterback questions in others, and the constant balance between offensive firepower and defensive stability. The top tier features programs with a mix of proven track records and evolving attack plans, signaling a season that could tilt in a few dramatic directions.
Notable entries and considerations
– The piece notes the influx of veteran talent returning to several programs and the way that might help teams weather early-season bumps. It also calls out quarterback development as a persistent storyline for contenders like Notre Dame, Alabama, and Texas, among others.
– A number of programs bring back strong lines and skill groups, while some are integrating new coordinators or fresh quarterback depth. The author weighs how transferrable schemes and line play might be as crucial as name recognition in this era of parity.
– The ranking includes a broad look at the landscape, from powerhouse programs to rising teams and notable mid-major and Group of Five entrants continuing to push for national relevance.
A fuller field, and what it suggests about 2025
The article promises a spot for every team, offering commentary on each program’s outlook. Beyond the top-10, there are intriguing cases like Kansas State with questions about the new offensive line, Iowa State seeking to extend a recent run of success, and a host of programs—such as Pittsburgh, Nebraska, Washington, USC, and others—looking to translate recruiting momentum and transfer-driven upgrades into competitive seasons. The expansion to 136 teams means more windows for sleeper breakthroughs and unexpected developments, keeping eyes on both established powers and programs building toward 2025-26 potential.
What to watch as the season unfolds
– Quarterback development and stability across contenders.
– Offensive line play and run-game efficiency, which the write-up repeatedly flags as critical to sustaining elite performance.
– Coaching transitions and their early impact, particularly for teams with new coordinators or transferring quarterbacks.
– The balance between returning experience and new talent as teams navigate early-season tests and travel schedules.
– The long view: how a subjective preseason ranking aligns with Week 1 results and the evolving playoff landscape.
Summary and outlook
This preseason ranking exercise is as much about starting conversations as it is about declaring a verdict. It reflects the sport’s ongoing stories: lingering quarterback questions, the importance of lines of scrimmage, and the way returning experience can shape a team’s ceiling. While the piece leans into a hopeful tone about a season that could feature exciting upsets and competitive races, it also anchors expectations in the realities of depth charts, injuries, and schedule strength.
A note for readers: with no major off-season upheavals dominating headlines this year, the 2025 season may hinge on how quickly teams convert talent into execution and how well coaches adapt as the calendar turns to autumn.
Added value and takeaways
– The rankings remind fans that preseason perspectives are fluid. Early results and injuries can pivot a program’s arc in meaningful ways.
– The presence of Delaware and Missouri State in the context of broader FBS expansion signals opportunities for new narratives and deeper regional engagement.
– If you’re following the season’s storylines, focus on QB development, line health, and early non-conference challenges as indicators of which teams might outperform or underperform their preseason position.
Overall, the piece sets an ambitious tone for the 2025 campaign, inviting readers to weigh analytical projections against on-field realities as Week 0 arrives and the college football world shifts its gaze to the opening games.