NCAA Football: Way-Too-Early 2025 College Football Playoff Predictions

This is a busy time for college football, even as we find ourselves in January during the offseason. Fans are already buzzing with excitement about the upcoming 2025 season, and it’s the perfect moment to dive into some way-too-early College Football Playoff (CFP) bracket predictions.

Before the season kicks off, let’s highlight some of the top contenders for the playoff spots. The projected top four seeds are Ohio State, Texas, Clemson, and Arizona State, all expected to be conference champions. Ohio State is in a prime position to secure the No. 1 overall seed with a crucial Week 1 home game against Texas. Given their home-field advantage at the Ohio Stadium, they are slightly favored in this matchup. Ohio State’s schedule includes tough games like road contests at Illinois and Michigan, but the Buckeyes have dominated these teams in past seasons.

Following Ohio State, Texas is lined up as the No. 2 seed, despite projecting a loss to the Buckeyes early in the season. Key games will include road trips to face Florida and Georgia, along with a home matchup against Texas A&M. The Longhorns are likely to stay competitive in the SEC, giving them solid footing for a potential playoff run.

Clemson comes in at the No. 3 seed, with the talent necessary to sweep through the ACC. A tough opening game against LSU and a challenging finale versus South Carolina will test their resolve. Meanwhile, the reigning Big 12 champion, Arizona State, is the No. 4 seed. The Sun Devils boast returning talent like quarterback Sam Leavitt, essential for navigating their opponents.

The next tier includes Notre Dame at No. 5, expected to contend with a slightly tougher schedule, and Penn State and Oregon rounding out seeds six and seven, respectively. Both should finish with just one loss in the Big Ten, but Penn State has the edge in a crucial head-to-head matchup against Oregon.

Finally, the last spot in this early bracket goes to Tennessee, who is projected to have a favorable SEC schedule. Notably, the Vols will face Georgia at home, presenting an exciting clash for fans. Under coach Josh Heupel’s guidance, they have a good chance to capitalize on their matchups this season.

As we look ahead, the next batch of teams includes Illinois, LSU, and Kansas State. Each team brings their own unique challenges and strengths, but with the season still unfolding, the race for the playoffs is wide open. Notably absent from the playoff picture are South Carolina and Florida, both of which are looking to improve on their performances.

With the 2025 season on the horizon, excitement is building for what promises to be another thrilling year of college football. Fans can look forward to engaging matchups and surprises as the teams vie for their chance at the College Football Playoff.