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Mike's top 25 college football teams heading into Week 1 of the 2025 season. His complete top 25 rankings, including Iowa State, Clemson, and more.
Week 1 College Football Power Rankings
There were only five games in Week 0, so these rankings are going to look a little out of whack. My rankings may look out of whack, but I go solely by what has happened on the field. It seems a little ridiculous to rank a team that survived against Idaho State, even if it was a win. There won’t be a lot of movement on this list this week since only five teams played. One helped its cause. Others would never sniff normal rankings under certain circumstances.
Next week, wins against ranked teams will always be weighted more. My rankings won’t look like what you find on most sites, and I’m okay with that. I like to keep speculation to a minimum. These will eventually work themselves out. Suffice it to say, the winner of Texas-Ohio State will ascend to the top next week. The winner of Clemson-LSU will be second. That’s the way it goes in my universe.
25. Memphis (0-0)
Last week: 25 ⇔
I want to have UTSA here, but Memphis just kept adding through the portal. They snagged Brendon Lewis’s favorite target (Cortez Braham Jr.) from Nevada last year, and Middle Tennessee RB Frank Peasant will start this year. I’m a believer in what Lewis showed on a bad Nevada team last year. Let’s see what he and Braham can do with a defense.
24. Georgia Tech (0-0)
Last week: 24 ⇔
It’s not about what the Wreck added in the portal this year. It’s about what they added in the portal the last couple of years that stuck around for this year. Haynes King and Jamal Haynes had this offense humming last year. Add in FIU’s Eric Rivers (he was the first All-American in FIU history and had 295 receiving yards against New Mexico State last year), and this offense is as dangerous as any in this conference. Tech could be this year’s SMU.
23. Kansas (1-0)
Last week: Not ranked
Jalon Daniels looked like the 2022 version, but with better passes. This guy can throw on the run better than most quarterbacks in the NFL. If he stays healthy, this is a playoff team. I know it’s only one game, but Daniels reminded me of Lamar Jackson in his last season at Louisville with his accuracy on the run.
The defense was good, and Iowa transfer LeShon Williams is likely going to push Daniel Hishaw Jr. into more of a reserve role. The upgrade to David Booth Stadium was beautiful, and it created a distinct home-field advantage for the Jayhawks. The stadium is more enclosed now, so it got loud in there. That didn’t happen before the renovations due to all of the open air and no second (or third) decks.
22. Michigan (0-0)
Last week: 22 ⇔
I had to remove Texas Tech from the rankings due to the unfortunate injury to USC transfer Quinten Joyner. There is a buzz around this Michigan offense that wasn’t there at any point in 2024. They wasted the last season of Donovan Edwards. Bryce Underwood may struggle at times, but Michigan hasn’t had this kind of talent at quarterback in a long time.
21. Miami (FL) (0-0)
Last week: 21 ⇔
Hear me out…what if Georgia fans were right about Carson Beck? What if he limited Georgia instead of enhancing it? I watched Xavier Restrepo bail out a better QB (Cam Ward) than Beck last year. Both are gone, and CJ Daniels is not Restrepo. Don’t expect a repeat of Miami’s magical 2024.
20. Illinois (0-0)
Last week: 22 ⇑2
Illinois gets the call because of the veteran leadership at QB and the stout defense. If I moved Baylor up because of how the team finished the 2024 season, I should have done the same for Illinois in the preseason.
19. Oklahoma (0-0)
Last week: 20 ⇑1
Texas Tech’s loss is Oklahoma’s gain (in the polls). The schedule is tough, but I’m excited to see what this Oklahoma team can do with John Mateer at quarterback and Jaydn Ott at running back. It was nice to see those portal additions after the disastrous 2024 offseason.
18. Tennessee (0-0)
Last week: 18 ⇔
Joey Aguilar will do more to help lead the offense than Nico Iamaleava did, but with the rest of the departures on offense, I’m taking a wait-and-see approach with Tennessee. The defense alone is enough to rank them for now.
17. Texas A&M (0-0)
Last week: 17 ⇔
We’re in prove-it territory for the Aggies. Every year, they’re ranked in the preseason polls. Every year, they finish outside of the top 25. I like Marcel Reed at QB. KC Concepcion is a game-changer at WR. Le’Veon Moss is a giant in the backfield. Everything is in place for the Aggies. All they have to do is prove it.
16. Arizona State (0-0)
Last week: 15 ⇓1
I’m coming around to Arizona State. Sam Leavitt played better in each game last year. The bad news in Arizona State’s quest for a repeat in the Big 12 (16) is how well Iowa State and Kansas played in Week 0.
15. Notre Dame (0-0)
Last week: 14 ⇓1
I still think Marcus Freeman was the right hire for the Irish, but settling for CJ Carr at QB is a little concerning to me. Jeremiyah Love might be the best returning RB in college, and the defense is still good, but what’s the backup plan if Carr doesn’t work out? There’s no backup option. At least Michigan went out and got a backup option.
14. Oregon (0-0)
Last week: 13 ⇓1
Oregon is banking its 2025 success on a quarterback who hasn’t started a game since 2023, Makhi Hughes, and a true freshman receiver. Oregon’s defense will be better, but the offense has a lot to prove. Dillon Gabriel’s strong summer camp for the Browns strengthens how much of a steadying force he was for this offense last year. Can Dante Moore do the same after riding the bench for a year?
13. Mississippi (0-0)
Last week: 12 ⇓1
QB Austin Simmons is in his third year in the system and has looked great this summer. The Rebels got two big hauls at WR in the portal in De’Zhaun Stribling (Texas Tech) and Harrison Wallace III (Penn State). The defense might be better than last year. The bad news is that the schedule is tougher than the 2024 version.
12. Alabama (0-0)
Last week: 11 ⇓1
Ty Simpson hasn’t looked quite as good as Austin Simmons this summer, but the Alabama defense is championship level. The receivers are better than last year. If Simpson is that dude, Alabama could win the SEC.
11. Baylor (0-0)
Last week: 10 ⇓1
Obviously, I’m a little concerned that almost no one else has love for Baylor. However, I did this with Indiana last year. I chickened out on ranking them in preseason, even though I believed they would have a strong year. I did it because of the other preseason rankings. I’m not doing that again. If I look like a fool, I look like a fool. I still believe Baylor is good enough to make the CFP.
10. South Carolina (0-0)
Last week: 9 ⇓1
I like the portal additions for the Gamecocks, and LaNorris Sellers has had a full offseason to play with his starting offense. He didn’t have that luxury last year, and he still played well when he took over the starting job. The schedule is a bit of a bear, but if South Carolina is as good as they look on paper, they are ranked appropriately.
9. Iowa State (1-0)
Last week: 16 ⇑7
The Cyclones beat a ranked team and are now leading the Big 12 (16). I have to have them ranked above the other Big 12 (16) teams. Fair is fair. The Cyclones have a dangerous run game, and Rocco Becht knows how to win. We didn’t get to see much from the receivers in the rain in Dublin. We’ll learn a little more about the Cyclones this week…but just a little.
8. Georgia (0-0)
Last week: 8 ⇔
I have this feeling that Georgia is going to have a tough season. Gunner Stockton didn’t look great when he was forced into action in the playoffs. If you think that isn’t a big deal, take a look at the number of teams that are at least the caliber of Texas and Notre Dame in 2024. I’m not backing off on my initial ranking of Georgia, but I feel like I may have them too high.
7. Indiana (0-0)
Last week: 7 ⇔
Indiana’s schedule isn’t as easy as 2024, but it’s not that prohibitive either. If Fernando Mendoza is at least as he was in his first two seasons at Cal, this offense will be at least as good as last year. Penn State is the only team in this conference that is definitely better than the Hoosiers right now. I think Ohio State is, but I can say that it’s definite.
6. Ohio State (0-0)
Last week: 6 ⇔
As expected, Julian Sayin won the QB competition. The fact that it was close could be cause for concern since the run game isn’t as strong as it was last year. That said, Jeremiah Smith is a cheat code at WR. He could make me look good as a quarterback.
5. Florida (0-0)
Last week: 5 ⇔
I likely overrated Florida, but I ranked based on the roster, not on the schedule. The schedule isn’t as tough as 2024, but it’s very close. However, DJ Lagway and Jadan Baugh both looked good as true freshmen last year. This team is good enough to keep every game close.
4. LSU (0-0)
Last week: 4 ⇔
The Tigers have one of the best WR rooms in the country, and QB Garrett Nussmeier is one of the best returning QBs in the country. Caden Durham could be an elite back. This offense might be the best unit in the nation. Can the defense hold up?
3. Clemson (0-0)
Last week: 3 ⇔
This feels like Cade Klubnik’s year, doesn’t it? The schedule is bookended by SEC teams, but everything in the middle is as soft as a Tempurpedic mattress.
2. Penn State (0-0)
Last week: 2 ⇔
The Nittany Lions have the best RB tandem in the country with Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton. Drew Allar made a couple of regrettable plays in big spots, but overall, he was much better. At this point, is it the players or the coach who can’t win the big one?
1. Texas (0-0)
Last week: 1 ⇔
As an Oklahoma fan, I hate to admit when Texas is good. As a writer, I need to put personal preferences aside and call it like I see it. The Texas defense might be the best one they have had in the last 50 years. The offense lost a lot to the NFL once again, but the most famous backup in history is now the starter. The hype machine has built this team up, but it’s not all hype. There is a lot of talent in Austin.
