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Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
College football Top 25: Where do Michigan, Oklahoma, SMU and others fit in?
The 2025 college football season is less than a month away. Week Zero officially kicks off on Aug. 23 while Week 1 gets underway just five days later on Thursday, Aug. 28. There are a ton of great matchups on the first full weekend; there is no easing into the season for teams like LSU, Clemson, Miami, Notre Dame and others. With the season rapidly approaching, here is the first installment of our preseason Top 25. This post contains teams Nos. 11-25, with our top 10 set to be revealed in the days following. How many of these teams can finish high enough in the selection committee's final rankings to make the College Football Playoff? (All odds are from BetMGM.) 25. Iowa State (2024 record: 11-3, odds to make CFP: +950) The Cyclones are in a strong position to get back to the Big 12 title game. QB Rocco Becht and RB Carson Hansen are back, though ISU will need to find someone to step up at receiver with the departures of Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins to the NFL. Watch out for East Carolina transfer Chase Sowell. He averaged nearly 20 yards a catch in 2024. The defense lost its two leading tacklers but could and should be better in 2025. The Cyclones allowed over five yards a carry and had just 16 sacks. Improving on both of those numbers will go a long way. 24. Florida (8-5, +350) This ranking is largely dependent on a healthy season from QB DJ Lagway. And he's already reportedly in a walking boot ahead of fall camp because of a minor lower leg injury. Lagway showed flashes of brilliance in 2024 while dealing with a hamstring injury. If he can stay on the field all season, Florida has a very high ceiling despite back-to-back games at LSU and Miami as well as matchups against Texas, Texas A&M, Georgia, Ole Miss and Tennessee on the schedule. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] 23. Indiana (11-2, +575) A return trip to the College Football Playoff is not out of the question for the Hoosiers. QB Kurtis Rourke was fantastic in 2024 despite playing with a significant knee injury all season and Fernando Mendoza arrives from Cal as his replacement. Mendoza is a favorite of Yahoo Sports NFL analyst Nate Tice, and he's got two solid weapons to throw to in Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper. They combined to catch 15 TD passes in 2024. The receiving depth behind those two is still a question, however, and Indiana needs to replace its top two rushers from 2024. But Aiden Fisher is back to lead the defense after recording a team-high 118 tackles and the schedule is favorable outside of trips to Oregon and Penn State. A Week 4 matchup against Illinois shouldn't be overlooked. It could be one of the most pivotal games of the Big Ten season. 22. South Carolina (9-4, +400) The South Carolina offense isn't going to sneak up on anyone in 2025. LaNorris Sellers had one of the biggest breakout seasons in college football as he rushed for 674 yards and threw for 2,534 yards and completed 66% of his passes. He was voted the first-team preseason all-SEC quarterback. WR Nyck Harbor could also make a leap after catching 26 passes for 376 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman in 2024. Mike Shula will call the plays for the Gamecocks after Dowell Loggains left to become the head coach at Appalachian State. Shula, the former Alabama head coach, was an offensive assistant with the Gamecocks in 2024. Another step forward for the offense is vital for the Gamecocks, as the defense may not be as great as it was a season ago. South Carolina lost six of its top seven tacklers from 2024, including Nick Emmanwori and Demetrius Knight. Kyle Kennard is also gone after getting 11.5 sacks. Dylan Stewart and Bryan Thomas will be counted on after tallying 11 combined sacks a season ago as South Carolina navigates a schedule that includes LSU, Alabama and Clemson. 21. Texas A&M (8-5, +240) Marcel Reed enters the season as the Aggies' starting quarterback after taking the job from Conner Weigman during the 2024 season. Reed threw for over 1,800 yards and rushed for 543 after leading A&M to a home win over LSU. Running backs Le'Veon Moss and Amari Daniels also return. Moss was one of the most dynamic rushers in the SEC before suffering a season-ending knee injury against the Tigers. If Moss is close to where he was a season ago, the Aggies should have one of the best rushing attacks in the country. That will help cover for a receiving group that has no one back who had more than 17 catches in 2024 but added NC State WR KC Concepcion via the transfer portal. The defense brings back its top six tacklers while looking for new edge rushers to replace Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton. The two high picks in the 2025 NFL Draft had just 6.5 sacks combined in 2024, however. 20. Arizona State (11-3, +425) No one is sleeping on the Sun Devils after they won the Big 12 title in 2024 in a season where hardly anyone expected them to be competitive in the conference title race. QB Sam Leavitt was fantastic in his first season in Tempe with over 2,800 yards passing and 24 TDs to just six interceptions. Getting back WR Jordyn Tyson is huge for 2025 after he missed the Big 12 title game and College Football Playoff due to injury. Tyson had 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 TDs. Replacing Cam Skattebo may not be as difficult as it once seemed after the offseason arrival of former Army RB Kanye Udoh. He rushed for 1,117 yards with the Black Knights in 2024 and averaged over six yards a carry. The defense returns nine starters from a season ago, including the entire secondary. Opposing offenses passed for just 227 yards a game on ASU in 2024. 19. Ole Miss (10-3, +210) The Rebels reloaded with one of the top transfer classes in the country after posting at least 10 wins for the third time in the last four seasons. QB Austin Simmons spent the 2024 season as Jaxson Dart's backup and takes over as the starter in 2025. Simmons could quickly end up being one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC. Leading receivers Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins are gone, but Ole Miss added De'Zhaun Stribling (Oklahoma State) and Harrison Wallace (Penn State) to replace them. Former Notre Dame and LSU RB Logan Diggs is in line to start at running back but could split time with Missouri transfer Kewan Lacy. Don't sleep on Troy transfer Damien Taylor either. He rushed for over 1,000 yards a season ago. The defense added Princewill Umanmielen from Nebraska after his brother Princely had 10.5 sacks in 2024. Replacing Princely and DT Walter Nolen is imperative; Ole Miss was a much more competitive team a season ago thanks to its improvement on both the offensive and defensive lines. 18. Kansas State (9-4, +425) How much of a leap can Avery Johnson make in his second season as Kansas State's starter? Johnson is one of the most talented running QBs in college football, but he still needs some polish as a passer at times. Johnson rushed for 605 yards and seven TDs but completed fewer than 60% of his passes in 2024. Colorado transfer Dylan Edwards is in line to start at running back after backing up DJ Giddens a year ago. Leading receiver Jayce Brown is also back along with three starters on the offensive line. The defense needs to replace six starters, but leading tacklers Austin Romaine and VJ Payne return. In a schedule quirk for the second straight season, Kansas State plays 10 Big 12 teams despite having nine conference games. K-State's Sept. 12 trip to Arizona to fill out a home-and-home series again counts as a non-conference game. 17. Illinois (10-3, +500) The Illini are a serious threat to make the College Football Playoff. Illinois brings back a host of starters on both sides of the ball following the school's first 10-win season since 2001. QB Luke Altmyer threw for over 2,700 yards last year and had 26 total touchdowns. RB Kaden Feagin returns after a season-ending injury in 2024 to team with Aidan Laughery in the backfield again and the entire starting offensive line is back. The only questions on offense are who will step up at receiver. The defense returns its top five tacklers, including Gabe Jacas. He had eight sacks in 2024. Illinois gave up fewer than 22 points per game in 2024 after allowing nearly 30 a contest in 2023. The schedule is also extremely friendly. There's a plausible path to 11 regular-season wins and a trip to the Big Ten title game. The toughest game is a visit from Ohio State on Oct. 11 and Indiana visits on Sept. 20. There are no other games against teams projected to be near the top of the Big Ten. 16. Boise State (12-2, +200) The Broncos should again be the leading candidate to represent the Group of Five in the College Football Playoff. Yes, all-world RB Ashton Jeanty is gone, but the offense should be in good hands with QB Maddux Madsen returning along with four starters on the offensive line. RB Sire Gaines is in line to replace Jeanty and showed flashes in the first three games of the season before a season-ending injury. The defense loses a lot of pass rush juice, but Jayden Virgin-Morgan returns after leading the team with 10 sacks. Safeties Zion Washington and Ty Benefield are the best combination in the Mountain West. The Broncos should be favored in 11 of their 12 games this season. The only time they could be an underdog is for an Oct. 4 trip to Notre Dame. 15. SMU (11-3, +350) After a first season in the ACC that avoided games against both Clemson and Miami, the Mustangs play both teams in 2025, along with Louisville. Given the rest of the ACC slate, going 2-1 in those games could be enough to get SMU back in the ACC title game. Kevin Jennings returns at QB after taking over for Preston Stone early in the season. Jennings had a terrible game against Penn State in the College Football Playoff but was otherwise very good in 2024. The offense needs to replace RB Brashard Smith (1,332 yards) and three of its four leading receivers from a year ago, but a full season from TE RJ Maryland will be huge. He played in just five games in 2024. The defense needs to reload up front after the losses of Elijah Roberts (7.5 sacks) and Jahfari Harvey (7.5). But coach Rhett Lashlee stacked up on defensive line talent in the transfer portal 14. Utah (5-7, +500) After a year of sub-par quarterback play, Utah moved quickly to address the position in the transfer portal. The Utes were the favorites to win the Big 12 entering 2024, but Cam Rising suffered a hand injury in Week 2 before suffering another injury upon his return. In his absence, Utah QBs threw as many TDs (13) as they did interceptions. Enter Devon Dampier, who threw for over 2,700 yards and rushed for over 1,100 at New Mexico a season ago. Dampier had 31 total touchdowns and averaged 7.5 yards per carry. He is the clear starter for the Utes, who also added Washington State RB Wayshawn Parker in the transfer portal. Simply having a competent offense could make the Utes playoff contenders. The defense has allowed fewer than 23 points per game in each of the last six full seasons and brings back three of its four leading tacklers along with DE Logan Fano. 13. Texas Tech (8-5, +450) Just how much can a stellar transfer portal class and a healthy quarterback do for the Red Raiders? They're among the massive group of favorites in the Big 12 due in large part to the top portal class in the country. Tech added edge rusher David Bailey from Stanford, DL Lee Hunter from UCF, RB Quinten Joyner from USC and 28 other players this offseason. Behren Morton threw for over 3,300 yards in 2024 but had offseason shoulder surgery. Another full season from him is key for Tech's playoff hopes. The offense takes a step back if Will Hammond has to play for an extended period of time. The schedule includes road trips to Kansas State, Arizona State and Utah, but Texas Tech avoids Baylor and Iowa State. If the defensive transfers can improve like we think they can from a unit that allowed nearly 35 points per game in 2024, there's reason to believe that Sept. 20 trip to Utah could be a Big 12 title game preview. 12. Oklahoma (6-7, +500) John Mateer was really, really good at Washington State in 2024. Can he be just as good for Oklahoma in 2025? Mateer threw for over 3,100 yards, rushed for 826 yards and had 44 total touchdowns in 2024. He transferred to Oklahoma after his offensive coordinator at Wazzu, Ben Arbuckle, took the same position with the Sooners. Oklahoma's offense was dreadful in 2024. OU averaged 24 points per game as Michael Hawkins replaced Jackson Arnold (now at Auburn) at QB during the season. A 27-21 win over Auburn was the only time all season that Oklahoma scored more than 24 points in an SEC game. The defense did its part last year and allowed just 21.5 points per game and fewer than five yards per play. With players like R Mason Thomas (9 sacks) back long with seven other starters, Oklahoma could be in line for a big year despite a really tough schedule if the offense is simply above average. 11. Michigan (8-5, +200) You may sense a theme among three of the last four teams. Michigan got eight wins and beat Ohio State and Alabama to end the season in 2024 despite a passing offense that was one of the worst in the country. The team's three QBs combined to throw 11 TDs and 13 interceptions. That should change in 2025. Even if five-star freshman Bryce Underwood doesn't start right away, former Fresno State QB Mikey Keene should be a significant upgrade. Keene threw for almost 2,900 yards with 18 TDs and 11 interceptions last year at Fresno State. He also completed 70% of his passes. Michigan QBs completed fewer than 62% of their throws in 2024. Last season's defense wasn't as good as it was in 2023, but it was still excellent. Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham are back at linebacker and Arkansas transfer TJ Metcalf could make a big impact at corner. TJ Guy will be counted on, along with Derrick Moore, to provide the edge rush. A Week 2 matchup between the Wolverines and Sooners should be fascinating — and a great early test for each team's offensive improvements. Also considered: Baylor, Tennessee, Missouri, Louisville, Iowa, USC, Nebraska, Memphis, Tulane
USA Today
01-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Three season-defining swing games for Iowa football in 2025
The 2025 schedule for the Iowa Hawkeyes is manageable. The road trips are sparse, and they are against teams that Iowa can hang with and win against. The home games are selling out rapidly, and the Hawkeyes host their toughest opponents in a hostile Kinnick Stadium. Which of those games will define the 2025 season, though? What games can Iowa win to change 2025 from a good year, as is the norm, to something special and possibly even a College Football Playoff appearance to break down that barrier? As the calendar has turned to August, the same month that the Iowa Hawkeyes return to action with their season-opener at home against UAlbany on Saturday, August 30th, check out what three matchups can change the entire complexion for the 2025 season. Week 2: Iowa Hawkeyes at Iowa State Cyclones, Saturday, Sep. 6 You know. I know. We all know it. It's the Cy-Hawk. This year sees Iowa head to Ames and Jack Trice Stadium seeking revenge on a 2024 loss that saw them blow a 13-point lead and left them stunned by a Cyclones' game-winning field goal. This year, the matchup has a new level of talent at the quarterback position. Iowa State brings back the extremely talented Rocco Becht, while this will be the first real test for Iowa transfer quarterback Mark Gronowski. After Iowa State won 11 games last year, they have visions of the College Football Playoff this year. This game will pit two talented teams against each other early in the season and will be a measuring stick for which of these teams could have a special year. With Iowa's early-season schedule, a win in this game could set the Hawkeyes up for a 3-0 start before Big Ten conference play begins. Week 5: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Indiana Hoosiers, Saturday, Sep. 27 It's Iowa's Big Ten home opener, and it is against an upstart program that stole the show in college football last year. The Indiana Hoosiers shocked the world with an 11-win season under head coach Curt Cignetti in his first year at the helm. Iowa gets the Hoosiers in Kinnick Stadium and also catches them during a bit of a gauntlet. Indiana plays the Illinois Fighting Illini the week before, a game that will be a very telling Big Ten matchup, and gets Oregon two weeks later. Can the Hawkeyes sneak in a win and knock off Indiana in between? The location of this game figures to be vitally important. Kinnick Stadium will be rocking as this opens up Big Ten play and is going to be the first real chance to have an impact on a game. If Iowa manages Iowa State in Week 2 and finds a way to handle Indiana in Week 5, the dreams and visions of grandeur may be allowed to start. Week 8: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions, Saturday, Oct. 18 This one is the big one. If Iowa can manage the two previously mentioned games, they have a very realistic shot of entering this game with a blemish-free record or just one loss. Anyone getting flashbacks to 2021? Who remembers how that one went? Petras to Ragaini late, anyone? This is the game Iowa has not been able to figure out over the last few years. Iowa has beaten up on the Big Ten bottom feeders, but their matchups against the top of the conference have gone rather poorly, if we can speak candidly. Can Iowa win? It's in Kinnick Stadium. It could be a night game. It could have the makings of a special, unforgettable evening. But let's say Penn State comes out on top. If Iowa can at least hang in this game, the precedent has been set that a close loss against a top contender is not going to derail the season. But who has fun thinking about close losses? If the Hawkeyes sweep this slate of three games, Iowa fans may want to start looking at flights and hotels around Christmas time for the College Football Playoff. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Iowa State football: Jake Waters on quarterback Rocco Becht and where he stands in Big 12
Iowa State football's quarterbacks coach Jake Waters shared his thoughts on Rocco Becht and where he stands in a quarterback-crowded Big 12.
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Iowa State football: Matt Campbell on how quarterback Rocco Becht can take next step
Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell shared how Rocco Becht can take the next step in his third year as starting quarterback.
USA Today
15-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What Colorado fans need to know about the Iowa State Cyclones
After falling short last year, the Iowa State Cyclones have one thing on their mind: win the Big 12. However, Colorado stands in the way of that task. Heading into Week 7 of the season, the Buffs' hope to be in good shape offensively and defensively after tough matchups versus BYU and TCU. But the schedule does not get any easier with Iowa State coming to Boulder in what should be one of their most challenging games. The Cyclones are an experienced group returning 14 starters from last season. While it will still be early in conference play for both teams, this game could separate either team as contenders for the Big 12. The Cyclones and Buffs have a long history dating back to 1946, with this year's matchup being the two programs' 66th all-time meeting. The Buffaloes host the Cyclones at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado, for their fourth conference game and fifth home game of the season. Opponent Previews: Georgia Tech, Delaware, Houston, Wyoming, BYU, TCU 2024 in review Iowa State is coming off an unprecedented season where they went 11-3 with a win in the Pop-Tarts Bowl over Miami. Their conference schedule was on the easier side, with six of their nine conference opponents being in the bottom eight of the Big 12. However, when push came to shove, the Cyclones won their biggest games. ISU's biggest game of the season was a Week 12 matchup against Kansas State. The Cyclones' defense held the Wildcats' top-five offense to limited production in the second half and secured their first 10-win season in program history. Head coach profile The Cyclones are led by the winningest head coach in program history, Matt Campbell. He is the third-longest tenured head coach in the Big 12 and has helped build Iowa State into a winning program. Since 2016, he has had only two losing seasons and three bowl wins in seven appearances. Coming off his most successful season, can his teams remain consistent, and will he be able to propel himself as one of college football's top coaches? Top offensive player Rocco Becht had an impressive red-shirt sophomore campaign and can take an even bigger jump in 2025. He was third in the Big 12 in passing yards and fifth in touchdowns. He completed nearly 60% of his passes while passing for 3,505 yards and 25 touchdowns. Heading into this season, Becht is expected to spearhead the Cyclones' offense into another successful year. However, he lost his top two targets from last season, so it'll depend on other receivers to step up and make plays. Top defensive players It's challenging to select a single defensive player for Iowa State when they have three players who made the preseason All-Big 12 team. The Cyclones had a middle-of-the-pack defense in 2024; however, their pass defense was elite, thanks in part to the contributions of these two cornerbacks. Jeremiah Cooper and Jontez Williams each had successful 2024 seasons that earned them a spot on the All-Big 12 team. In 2024, Cooper was lockdown corner with a team-leading eight pass deflections, two interceptions and 48 tackles. Williams had a similar season with 46 tackles, but snagged a few more picks with four while still tallying five pass deflections. 2025 schedule Way-too-early Colorado matchup preview The Buffs and Cyclones, at this point in the 2025 season, should be must-watch television. While fans might expect a high-scoring matchup between Rocco Becht and Colorado's reconfigured offense, the game is likely to be a defensive slugfest. The Buffs' defense isn't likely to take a significant step back, and Iowa State's defense is solid and could lock down a Colorado offense still figuring things out. Ultimately, the Buffaloes' fate will depend on two things: can they get to the quarterback, and can they produce on offense? Iowa State has a strong offensive line with many returning starters that could stump Robert Livingston's aggressive play calling. This game is a toss-up. Contact/Follow us@BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
