2025 Post-Spring Way-Too-Early Top 25: Where Do Texas, Notre Dame, and Other College Football Powerhouses Rank in the Preseason?
As the 2025 college football season approaches, fans and analysts alike are already dissecting team rosters, transfers, and coaching changes to predict which programs will emerge as the top contenders. With spring practices and the annual spring games now behind us, it’s time to look at the post-spring rankings. These early rankings are always a fun exercise, though they come with plenty of uncertainties. Injuries, last-minute transfers, and new coaching strategies will inevitably alter the landscape, but for now, the Way-Too-Early Top 25 serves as a tantalizing preview of the teams that could dominate the upcoming season.
For teams like Texas and Notre Dame, expectations are high. Both programs have experienced shifts in momentum over the past few years, and 2025 could be the season when they break through to elite status. As the preseason begins, Texas and Notre Dame are among the schools drawing the most attention in the Way-Too-Early rankings. But where do they land? And who else will join them in the race for the coveted playoff spots?
Texas, coming off a strong 2024 season, enters the 2025 season with renewed optimism. Under head coach Steve Sarkisian, the Longhorns have shown incremental improvement, and the 2025 team is expected to be one of the program’s most talented in recent memory. The Longhorns finished the 2024 season with a 9-4 record and earned a solid bowl victory, but their real test lies in how they perform in the Big 12 and ultimately in the College Football Playoff race.
Texas has long been a sleeping giant in college football, and many believe that the program’s time is now. With a dynamic quarterback in Quinn Ewers, who showed flashes of brilliance in his first season as a starter, the Longhorns have the foundation to make a serious push for a national championship. Ewers’ development over the spring will be crucial to the team’s success. If he can continue to refine his accuracy and decision-making, Texas will be one of the most dangerous offenses in the country.
Additionally, Texas boasts a wealth of talent on both sides of the ball. The offensive line, always a focal point for Texas, appears to be in good shape with several veterans returning. Running back Bijan Robinson’s departure left a hole, but the Longhorns have a stable of backs who are eager to fill that void. On defense, Texas is expected to have one of the most formidable units in the Big 12, with playmakers at nearly every level. The defensive line is anchored by several top-tier recruits, and the secondary should feature one of the best cornerback tandems in the country.
Heading into 2025, Texas finds itself near the top of the rankings, poised to not only contend for the Big 12 title but also to push for a College Football Playoff spot. The Longhorns are ranked within the top 10 of most early rankings, with some projections placing them as high as No. 4. Much of this optimism hinges on the continued development of their offense and the ability to finally overcome the conference’s perennial powerhouses.
Notre Dame, long one of college football’s most prestigious programs, enters 2025 with high expectations after a solid 2024 campaign. The Fighting Irish, led by head coach Marcus Freeman, finished the season with a respectable 10-3 record and a New Year’s Six bowl win. However, Freeman’s ultimate goal is to bring Notre Dame back to national championship contention, and 2025 could be the year that it happens.
At the heart of Notre Dame’s 2025 aspirations is their quarterback, Sam Hartman, a graduate transfer from Wake Forest. Hartman, who has proven himself as one of the best signal-callers in the ACC, will be the centerpiece of an offense that is looking to take the next step under Freeman’s leadership. Hartman’s experience and ability to stretch the field vertically should open up opportunities for the Notre Dame receiving corps, which is deep and talented. The offensive line, perennially a strength for the Irish, will be tasked with protecting Hartman and establishing the running game, which was a bit inconsistent in 2024.
Defensively, Notre Dame remains as strong as ever. Freeman has consistently recruited top-tier talent, and the Irish have one of the best front sevens in the nation. The linebacker corps, in particular, is loaded with playmakers who can disrupt both the passing and running games. The secondary, while young, is filled with potential, and if the defensive backs can develop quickly, Notre Dame will have the pieces in place to compete with anyone in the country.
Despite being an independent team, Notre Dame faces a tough schedule in 2025, with several high-profile games against marquee opponents. The Fighting Irish’s playoff hopes will hinge on how well they perform in these high-stakes matchups. Many rankings have Notre Dame positioned in the top 10 for 2025, with some placing them as high as No. 5. Freeman’s ability to elevate the team and build upon the success of the previous season will be pivotal in determining just how far the Irish can go.
While Texas and Notre Dame are both rising programs with major aspirations for 2025, they are not alone in the fight for supremacy. Several other teams remain in the mix, including perennial powerhouses like Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State, who will once again be at the top of the rankings. These programs have shown consistent excellence over the past several seasons and will remain formidable contenders.
Georgia, fresh off back-to-back national championships, will enter the 2025 season as the favorite for many. The Bulldogs, led by head coach Kirby Smart, have one of the most well-rounded teams in college football, with talent at every position. Their defense, which has been a hallmark of Smart’s tenure, will again be elite, while the offense, which has undergone a transformation in recent years, will be one of the most dangerous in the SEC.
Alabama, under Nick Saban, is never far from the top of the rankings, and despite losing several key players to the NFL, the Crimson Tide will reload as always. With a talented quarterback in Jalen Milroe and a stacked recruiting class, Alabama’s dynasty remains alive and well.
Ohio State, led by Ryan Day, continues to be a force in the Big Ten and on the national stage. The Buckeyes have one of the most explosive offenses in college football, and their defense, while sometimes maligned, has the talent to compete with the best. Ohio State will be motivated after a disappointing finish in 2024 and will look to make a statement in 2025.
Other teams that could rise up in the rankings include Michigan, who looks to build on its recent success in the Big Ten, and USC, who, under Lincoln Riley, is putting together a powerhouse offense that could make waves in the College Football Playoff race.
As we look at the rankings, the SEC continues to dominate the conversation. Georgia, Alabama, and LSU are all teams that can contend for the national title, while other programs like Tennessee and Ole Miss are also on the rise. The Big 12 will have its hands full in 2025, with Texas and Oklahoma both aiming for the top spot, while teams like Kansas State and TCU are not far behind.
The emerging trend in college football is the strength of the SEC and the Big Ten, while the Big 12, ACC, and Pac-12 will all look to stay competitive. With Texas and Oklahoma heading to the SEC in the coming years, the landscape of college football is rapidly changing, and 2025 will be a pivotal year for many of these programs.
As the 2025 season looms, the college football world is abuzz with excitement, and the early rankings are merely a snapshot of the talent and intrigue that will unfold throughout the season. Texas and Notre Dame, both with high hopes for the upcoming year, find themselves in the mix as top contenders. However, the usual powerhouses—Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State—remain in the conversation for the national championship, with a host of emerging teams ready to shake things up.
No matter how the rankings shift between now and the start of the season, it’s clear that 2025 will be one of the most exciting years in recent memory for college football. Fans of Texas, Notre Dame, and every other program will eagerly watch as these teams battle for supremacy. For now, these Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings will have to suffice as we anxiously await the arrival of another season of college football greatness.
