With just 50 days to go until the 2025 college football season, The Sporting News released its Preseason Composite Top 25 rankings. The composite includes 11 publications – Action Network, Athlon Sports, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, ESPN, 247Sports, Sports Illustrated, USA Today and On3, along with The Sporting News.
All eyes are on Texas, which comes in at No. 1 in the Sporting News’ Preseason Composite Top 25 rankings. The Longhorns are generating plenty of buzz despite losing some key contributors to last year’s NFL Draft. Of course, the headliner in Austin is quarterback Arch Manning, who is officially taking over for Quinn Ewers as starting quarterback.
There’s also the defending national champion in Ohio State, which could be in position to make another run this year. It’s part of an impressive group toward the top of the poll. Here is The Sporting News’ full Preseason Composite Top 25 rankings ahead of the 2025 season.
1. Texas (244 total points)
High: 1
Low: 3
The Arch Manning era has officially arrived in Austin as he assumes QB1 duties. Texas notably lost 12 players to the 2025 NFL Draft, but has the nation’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class coming in along with a talented running back room. As a result, the Longhorns sit on top of The Sporting News’ Preseason Composite Top 25.
2. Ohio State (236)
High: 1
Low: 5
After getting its first title under Ryan Day’s leadership a season ago, Ohio State will now look to repeat despite setting an NFL Draft record for players selected. But with key pieces such as Caleb Downs and Jeremiah Smith still in place on both sides of the ball, the Buckeyes are still poised for a run through the Big Ten – though a question still remains about who will start at quarterback.
3. Penn State (234)
High: 1
Low: 5
The hype is building around Penn State, which returns both standout running backs and its quarterback from last year’s College Football Playoff semifinal appearance. Drew Allar continues to generate NFL interest as he enters Year 2 in Andy Kotelnicki’s system and with a talented offensive line – not to mention star pass rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton among the group of returners – the Nittany Lions have the pieces to make some noise in the Big Ten.
4. Clemson (213)
High: 2
Low: 8
Cade Klubnik is back at quarterback for Clemson after a breakout year in 2024, leading the Tigers to the College Football Playoff. Dabo Swinney’s group has the most returning production this year, according to ESPN, giving Clemson continuity to potentially make another run through the ACC in 2025.
5. Georgia (211)
High: 4
Low: 8
Although Georgia lost quarterback Carson Beck to the transfer portal after last year’s SEC Championship appearance, the Bulldogs are still a Top-5 team in The Sporting News’ Preseason Composite Top 25 rankings. Gunnar Stockton is likely to assume the starting job, and UGA made a splash in the portal by landing electric returner and wide receiver Zachariah Branch.
6. Notre Dame (199)
High: 2
Low: 7
Despite a slew of injuries last season, Notre Dame rebounded from a Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois and made a run to the national championship game. The Fighting Irish’s 2025 roster notably includes star running back Jeremiyah Love following a huge sophomore season, and Marcus Freeman’s group will look to build on last season’s success.
7. Oregon (192)
High: 5
Low: 9
Last year’s No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, Oregon won the Big Ten title in its first season in the league. A changing of the guard is coming at quarterback, though, with Dante Moore expected to take over for Dillon Gabriel, along with other key departures to the NFL. Nonetheless, Dan Lanning’s group has momentum entering Year 2 in the Big Ten, and Oregon is still generating Top-10 buzz entering the season.
8. LSU (185)
High: 6
Low: 15
LSU had an up-and-down go in 2024, but got a big boost with Garrett Nussmeier’s return for his second season as the starting quarterback. The Tigers will look to especially flip the script on defense as coordinator Blake Baker enters his second year as coordinator, and that was a point of emphasis in the portal. Of LSU’s 18 transfer additions, nine are on the defensive side of the ball.
9. Alabama (155)
High: 7
Low: 23
Kalen DeBoer’s first season at Alabama was an up-and-down go, but the Crimson Tide will look to continue building with a strong offensive line core in place and a Top-3 recruiting class on the way. Of course, there’s also a new look on offense with new coordinator Ryan Grubb coming to town amid a quarterback battle, although Ty Simpson is the frontrunner entering training camp.
10. Miami (144)
High: 9
Low: 21
Miami was the best offense in the country last season as Cam Ward became the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. The Hurricanes reloaded at the position by bringing Carson Beck in from the transfer portal as part of a class that ranked No. 5 in the country. It’s a big year for Mario Cristobal’s group, which rounds out the Top 10 in The Sporting News’ Preseason Composite Top 25 rankings.
Nos. 11-25
11. Illinois (136 total points) – High: 9, Low: 17
12. Arizona State (126) – High: 9, Low: 21
13. Florida (123) – High: 10, Low: 22
14. South Carolina (106) – High: 12, Low: 22
15. BYU (96) – High: 10, Low: NR
16. Michigan (92) – High: 15, Low: 20
17. Kansas State (75) – High: 12, Low: NR
18. Tennessee (67) – High: 9, Low: NR
19. SMU (59) – High: 12, Low: NR
T20. Ole Miss (56) – High: 11, Low: NR
T20. Iowa State (56) – High: 14, Low: NR
22. Texas Tech (48) – High: 11, Low: NR
23. Louisville (38.5) – High: 17, Low: NR
24. Oklahoma (33) – High: 14, Low: NR
25. Indiana (31) – High: 16, Low: NR
Others receiving votes: Texas A&M (29.5), TCU (13), Auburn (9), Baylor (8), Missouri (7), Georgia Tech (6), Boise State (5), North Carolina (5), Nebraska (4), Navy (3), UNLV (3), Kansas (2), Iowa (1).
