College football rankings: Tight race for preseason No. 1 serves as key storyline entering 2025 season

Ohio State captured its first national championship since 2014 with a win 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 squad, but wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs will give them a chance. 

Across the board, the race for the No. 1 team in the preseason top 25 will be closer than ever. Between NFL entries, transfer portal and plain old eligibility expiring, nearly every major team is experiencing major losses. Six of the top seven teams in the CBS Sports Way-Too-Early Top 25 are replacing quarterbacks, including both teams in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Two of the four major conference champions are also making a change at the position. 

With so much turnover, there’s plenty of opportunity. In the last seven years, six different teams have won national championships. Six unique teams have played for national championships in the past three years. Three teams earned first-place votes in the preseason AP Top 25 in 2024 (Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon). The number could be even bigger in 2025. 

Here are the teams that could be under consideration for preseason No. 1 in 2025. Keep in mind, plenty of rosters could still change via the transfer portal, especially with the spring window remaining. 

College football rankings: Texas, Georgia, Miami lead way-too-early top 25 ahead of 2025 season

Dennis Dodd

Top contenders

…


Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-rankings-tight-race-for-preseason-no-1-serves-as-key-storyline-entering-2025-season/

Author : Shehan Jeyarajah

Publish date : 2025-01-21 14:53:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.