Way-Too-Early Prediction For The 2025 College Football Playoff Bracket

Justin's playoff predictions for the 2025 college football season. Which 12 teams are the early favorites to make the expanded CFP field?

Four teams remain in the 2024 College Football Playoff, but it's never too early to look ahead to the future, is it?

While there could still be some slight changes to how seeding works before next year's playoff, the basis gist should remain the same, as five automatic qualifiers and seven at-large teams will make up the 12-team field.

Let's predict what the 12-team playoff bracket will look like in 2025.

The Automatic Qualifiers

Texas: SEC Champion

A quarterback change in 2025 is going to propel the Texas Longhorns to the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff.

I have nothing against Quinn Ewers, who is one of the better quarterbacks in college football, but next year, the team will turn the offense over to Arch Manning.

Manning started three games this season while Ewers was injured, throwing four touchdowns on just 12 throws against UTSA and then throwing for 325 yards and two touchdowns against Mississippi State. Texas was 3-0 with Manning as the starter.

And unlike what you usually get from a member of the Manning family, Arch showcased an ability to use his legs as well, rushing for four touchdowns in 2024.

Ohio State: Big Ten Champion

I keep going back and forth on who will win the Big Ten next year, and we really won't know who the favorite is until we know who the quarterbacks will be at Ohio State and Oregon. But for now, I'm predicting that the Buckeyes will take the title in a tough-fought, three-team battle with Oregon and Penn State.

The Buckeyes will likely look for a one-year starter in the portal, but if that fails, then the team could put its faith in freshman Tavien St. Clair, the No. 3 ranked quarterback recruit for 2025 by 24/7 Sports.

BYU: Big 12 Champion

There are several people who argue that 10-2 BYU could have gotten an at-large bid in 2024. For example, the Cougars beat playoff-bound SMU in September. However, that was BYU's only win against a ranked team, and the Cougars simply didn't pass the eye test, losing to unranked Kansas and barely beating Oklahoma State and Utah.

Getting excited for BYU football 2025. The next 8 months will be torturous. #BYUFOOTBALL #byu #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/85u0USTlxH

— Dean Nielson (@DeanNielson5) January 3, 2025

But BYU is set to bring back a huge portion of its roster next season and has a relatively easy schedule. In conference play, BYU doesn't play Arizona State or Baylor, with the team's toughest game being a road matchup against Iowa State. BYU can afford one conference loss as long as it wins the Big 12 Championship Game.

Clemson: ACC Champion

Cade Klubnik finally figured things out in 2024, leading Clemson to a strong season that ended in a playoff berth. That trip to the playoffs only happened because Clemson beat SMU in the ACC title game, but in 2025, Clemson's going to be good enough to get in either way, as the Tigers will dominate the ACC.

Cade Klubnik finishes his season with:

• 4,102 total yards
• 43 total touchdowns
• 6 interceptions
• 10 games with 3+ total TDs

“Not Top 10 in Heisman voting”

He’ll be a frontrunner heading into 2025. pic.twitter.com/59IhWMgZ5K

— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) December 22, 2024

Boise State: Mountain West Champion

Boise State won't have Ashton Jeanty next year, but the team should still be the best Group of Five program in the nation.

It won't necessarily be because of the run game, though Jambres Dubar could excel in an expanded role. No, what makes Boise State so dangerous next year is that the team brings back quarterback Maddux Madsen, who led the Mountain West in passing yards and passing touchdowns this season. Madsen is one of the nation's most underrated quarterbacks.

At Large Bids

Oregon

Oregon went undefeated in the regular season, but the CFP committee did the team no favors in the seeding, putting the No. 1 seed Ducks in a position where they'd face Ohio State in the quarterfinals. The Buckeyes dominated from the first whistle in that one, sending Oregon home with its only loss of 2024.

There will be plenty of fair takes around Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele’s to leave Oregon and enter the transfer portal.

If you’re looking for the proper read on the situation, @akili_smith — former NFL QB and father of Oregon’s other 2025 QB signee — has it here. https://t.co/b2G3suUNn9 pic.twitter.com/Kdn99O5ZGy

— Eli Lederman (@ByEliLederman) January 3, 2025

However, an easy 2025 schedule puts Oregon in a good spot to repeat as Big Ten champions. The team has a road matchup with Penn State, but it doesn't play Ohio State in the regular season. Thus, it avoids a Michigan team that should rebound nicely.

Everything likely comes down to whether the team can find magic at quarterback again. Bo Nix fitted the system perfectly. So did Dillon Gabriel. If Oregon can find another plug-and-play option in 2025, the team can win the Big Ten.

Penn State

When I revisit these predictions after the playoffs, I have a feeling that Penn State is going to be the most likely team to jump into the auto bids.

The Nittany Lions expect to have quarterback Drew Allar back for 2025, which should have the team right back at the top of the Big Ten. Allar took a major step forward this season, completing 67.4% of his passes for 3,192 yards and 24 touchdowns. He threw more interceptions than he had in 2023, but a 7.5% rise in completion percentage helps offset that.

Georgia

This was a down year for Georgia, capped off by an injury to starting quarterback Carson Beck that forced the program to start Gunner Stockton for the playoff game against Notre Dame. The Bulldogs managed just 10 points.

I can't count a Kirby Smart team out, though. Georgia is always loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. It's hard to imagine a world where Georgia ever misses the 12-team playoff as long as Smart is there.

Notre Dame

The Irish will likely need to find a new starting quarterback next season, but the team's relatively easy schedule sets it up for another one-loss season. Games against Miami, Texas A&M, Boise State, and USC could be tough, but unless the team completely whiffs at quarterback, it should go at least 3-1 against those four programs.

Tennessee

In his first season as the Vols starting quarterback, Nico Iamaleava threw 19 touchdown passes and rushed for three more, leading Tennessee to a playoff appearance. With another year of experience under his belt, he should have the Volunteers right back there next season.

South Carolina

The Gamecocks were one of the best surprises in college football this season, fueled by the strong play of quarterback LaNorris Sellers. Assuming he avoids a sophomore slump, Sellers and the Gamecocks should be in good shape to make a run next year.

As part of his NIL deal with Cheez-It, LaNorris Sellers got to pick something he wanted to come true.

The result. A truck is driving around Camping World Stadium with a screen rolling video of Sellers eating Cheez-Its pic.twitter.com/5xQHkmvsaz

— Jordan Kaye (@jordankaye_23) December 28, 2024

The schedule isn't the easiest as the team faces LSU, Oklahoma, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M all in a row and then ends the season against Clemson, but this team has the talent to win any of those games.

Arizona State

The final at-large spot goes to Arizona State, which will prove that 2024 wasn't a fluke. Cam Skattebo is headed to the NFL, but the gritty Sun Devils can still get it done in the weak Big 12.

Final Projected Seeding

We're going to operate under the belief that the top four seeds will still go to conference champions, though there has been a proposal made to change that.

1. Texas
2. Ohio State
3. BYU
4. Clemson
5. Oregon
6. Penn State
7. Georgia
8. Notre Dame
9. Tennessee
10. South Carolina
11. Arizona State
12. Boise State

After a Mountain West team earned a surprise bye this year, things get back to the way they were intended in 2025, with the four byes going to the four Power 5 conference champions.

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