RADIO
Now two years removed from their 2023 title run, the Michigan Wolverines are poised to bounce back after a disappointing 2024 campaign in which they struggled to find a capable quarterback post-J.J. McCarthy.
True freshman Bryce Underwood, a five-star out of Belleville, is expected to take the reigns right away. Alabama transfer running back Justice Haynes, who ran for 448 yards and seven touchdowns a season ago, will lead the way on the ground paired with freshman Jordan Marshall, who recorded 100 yards in the bowl win over Alabama.
Defensively the Wolverines are losing a lot, but they return key players in defensive end Rayshaun Benny, linebackers Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham, and safety Rod Moore.
Sherrone Moore has talent and a huge quarterback upgrade on a team that beat both Ohio State and Alabama last season. The Wolverines should work their way back into the playoff picture in 2025.
Clemson Tigers
Not sure how much they qualify as a bounce back candidate considering that they were in the College Football Playoff last year after winning the ACC, but Clemson’s ceiling is drastically higher entering 2025.
The Tigers return the most production of any team in college football. Quarterback Cade Klubnik, who took strides last season, is back and has his top three targets in receivers T.J. Moore, Bryant Wesco Jr., and Antonio Williams. Four of their five starting offensive linemen return, and eight of eleven defensive starters are back.
Running back Phil Mafah is off to the NFL, but he is replaced by four-star freshman Gideon Davidson. Dabo Swinney actually utilized the transfer portal this offseason, bringing in Purdue edge rusher Will Heldt (five sacks in 2024), Southeast Missouri State receiver Tristan Smith (934 yards and six touchdowns in 2024), and Alabama linebacker Jeremiah Alexander (former four-star recruit) to help fill holes in the roster. This team is well-rounded and should return to national title contention in 2025.
Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State was a preseason favorite in the Big 12, but finished up league play at a disappointing 5-4. Chris Klieman has his roster in a better spot to compete in 2025.
Quarterback Avery Johnson showed flashes in 2024 but ultimately was inconsistent. He passed for 2,712 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while rushing for 605 yards and seven touchdowns. Breakout receiver Jayce Brown is back along with tight end Garrett Oakley, providing two familiar targets.
The offensive line was patched up in the transfer portal, adding three new likely starters in Brandon Sneh (Wagner), Amos Talalele (USC), and George Fitzpatrick (Ohio State).
Star linebacker Austin Romaine is back, joined by Ohio State transfer Gabe Powers to form a solid corps.
With another step forward from Johnson, this team should be right in the thick of what should be another fun Big 12 race.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Mike Gundy is coming off of his worst season ever as the head coach of Oklahoma State, as the Cowboys won just three games in 2024. Star running back Ollie Gordon II is off to the NFL, but also departing is quarterback Alan Bowman, who struggled immensely in 2024.
Maealiuaki Smith is projected to earn the starting quarterback job after playing limited time as a freshman. He threw for 489 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions, showcasing a big arm.
After an atrocious 2024 campaign, Gundy went to the transfer portal to patch teh roster up for 2025. The Cowboys brought in 23 transfers, headlined by former UTEP edge rusher Kyran Duhon who recorded seven sacks as a freshman. The Pokes are projected to start 10 transfers as of right now, with plenty more projected as second-stringers.
There is nowhere to go but up for this squad after a poor 2024, and Gundy has a history of winning. He should get this program back on track next season.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Matt Rhule got the Cornhuskers to a bowl game for the first time since 2016 last year, and the team is poised to take another step forward in 2025. Quarterback Dylan Raiola showed a ton of promise as a true freshman, throwing for 2,819 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
The Huskers’ defense was a strong spot in 2024, and they return key pieces in linebacker Vincent Shavers Jr., safety DeShon Singleton, defensive back Malcolm Hartzog, and EDGE Cam Lenhardt. They also bring in a number of high-caliber transfers, including linebacker Dasan McCullough and former five-star edge rusher Williams Nwaneri. This will be a talented, tough unit.
Joining Raiola on offense is former Kentucky receiver Dane Key, who put up 715 yards and two touchdowns last season. Former Alabama tackle Elijah Pritchett joins returners Gunnar Gottula, Justin Evans, Sam Sledge, and Henry Lutovsky to create a solid unit.
Rhule has succeeded at every collegiate program he has taken the reigns of and although they finished poorly last season after a 5-1 start, they capped the year off with a Pinstripe Bowl win. Expect the Cornhuskers to work their way back into the national spotlight.
Florida Gators
Now that Texas is back, is Florida the next program to follow suit? Billy Napier played his way off of the hot seat in 2024 with a strong finish to the season including four straight wins. The Gators took down twenty-second-ranked LSU, ninth-ranked Ole Miss, rival Florida State, and Tulane to finish the season strong behind true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway.
Lagway finished his freshman year with 1,915 yards, 12 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He will be joined by returning running back Jadan Baugh, receiver Eugene Wilson III, and transfer receiver J.Michael Sturdivant to form a strong group of weapons.
The offensive line returns four starters, headlined by center Jake Slaughter, and the defensive line returns three starters. Strength and continuity in the trenches will be the center of this team’s success, coupled with Lagway’s progression from his freshman to sophomore season.
It’s another tough schedule for the Gators, who will face road games against LSU, Miami, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss along with a home matchup against Texas and a neutral-site game with Georgia. The tough schedule should only help them, as it gives them opportunities to lose games and still potentially sneak into the CFP field.
Auburn Tigers
Head coach Hugh Freeze was diagnosed with prostate cancer this offseason, but he is not letting his diagnosis stop him from trying to turn this team around. This program has been in the dumps for a while and has not enjoyed double-digit wins since 2017.
Freeze will look to change that going into year three. This is an up-and-coming team filled with young talent and transfers. Former Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold will be under center. Talented sophomore Cam Coleman, who recorded 598 yards and eight touchdowns as a true freshman, looks to lead the receiving corps with Georgia Tech transfer Eric Singleton Jr. joining him to form a strong duo.
The defense is full of young talent, with a bunch of incoming freshmen expected to play roles. Five-star defensive tackle Malik Autry, four-star safety Anquon Fegans, and others in the sixth-ranked class should get onto the field in their debut season.
While this team is not expected to compete for a playoff spot, they get their two toughest matchups at home (Georgia and Alabama). The Tigers could play spoiler and have the talent to string together their strongest season in recent memory.
