College Football Rankings: ESPN releases 2025 post-spring Top 25

With Spring practice officially in the rearview mirror and the NCAA Transfer Portal window once again closed, college football is officially on Summer break. Of course, that makes it the perfect time for ESPN to overhaul its post-Spring Top 25 team rankings ahead of the 2025 season.

And ESPN college football expert Mark Schlabach certainly shook things up coming out of Spring, promoting a new No. 1 team out of the Big Ten while boosting a perennial ACC power into the Top 2 after previously entering the Spring outside the Top 5. A new No. 1 means reigning national champion Ohio State fell out of the top spot, now rounding out Schlabach’s Top 5 teams behind a pair of SEC superpowers.

Schlabach also dropped Tennessee completely out of the Top 25 after the Vols lost starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava to UCLA by way of the transfer portal following their very public divorce over NIL. By the same token, Schlabach also promoted two of the most active teams in the transfer portal — Texas Tech and Oklahoma — into the Top 25 after both began the Spring on the outside looking in.

Check out Mark Schlabach’s Post-Spring 2025 College Football Top 25 Rankings below:

1. Penn State Nittany Lions (+2)

2024 record: 13-3, 8-1 Big Ten
Key returners: QB Drew Allar, RB Kaytron Allen, RB Nicholas Singleton, C Nick Dawkins, DE Dani Dennis-Sutton, S Zakee Wheatley, CB AJ Harris.
Key transfer additions: WR Trebor Pena (Syracuse), WR Devonte Ross (Troy), WR Kyron Hudson (USC), S King Mack (Alabama), DE Owen Wafle (Michigan), DE Enai White (Texas A&M)

Penn State overtook fellow Big Ten power Ohio State in the No. 1 spot thanks in large part to its balanced and experienced offense led by Allar and the Nittany Lions’ two-headed RB tandem of Allen and Singleton. Add to that the new receiver additions out of the portal, and Penn State has the making of a serious national championship contender, especially offensively. And let’s not forget about new DC Jim Knowles.

2. Clemson Tigers (+5)

2024 record: 10-4, 7-1 ACC
Key returners: QB Cade Klubnik, WR Antonio Williams, WR Bryant Wesco Jr., LB Sammy Brown, LB Wade Woodaz, DL T.J. Parker, DL Peter Woods, OT Blake Miller
Key transfer additions: DE Will Heldt (Purdue), LB Jeremiah Alexander (Alabama), WR Tristan Smith (Southeast Missouri State)

With an experienced returning offense led by multi-year starting QB Klubnik and a loaded receiving corps, Clemson compares quite well to Penn State, minus the deep backfield. Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney also made waves by adding former Nittany Lions DC Tom Allen to run his 2025 defense, which is loaded along the front seven with Parker and Woods in the trenches.

3. Texas Longhorns (-1)

2024 record: 13-3, 7-1 SEC
Key returners: QB Arch Manning, RB Quintrevion Wisner, LB Anthony Hill Jr., DE Colin Simmons, DE Trey Moore, S Michael Taaffe
Key transfer additions: DL Maraad Watson (Syracuse), DL Travis Shaw (North Carolina), DL Cole Brevard (Purdue), DL Lavon Johnson (Maryland), P Jack Bouwmeester (Utah), TE Jack Endries (Cal), WR Emmett Mosley V (Stanford)

The Arch Manning Era is officially here on The 40 Acres, and that alone has Texas in the Top 3, albeit one spot south of its prior ranking after losing several key playmakers to the NFL Draft. Still, Manning won’t be without weapons, including former five-star receiver Ryan Wingo and DeAndre Moore Jr., both of whom were limited in Spring. The Longhorns also dipped into the transfer portal to help reload defensively.

4. Georgia Bulldogs (-1)

2024 record: 11-3, 6-2 SEC
Key returners: QB Gunner Stockton, TE Oscar Delp, TE Lawson Luckie, LB CJ Allen, LB Raylen Wilson, S KJ Bolden, CB Daylen Everette
Key transfer additions: RB Josh McCray (Illinois), LB Elo Modozie (Army), WR Noah Thomas (Texas A&M), WR Zachariah Branch (USC), S Jaden Harris (Miami), S Adrian Maddox (UAB), DL Josh Horton (Miami)

The SEC champion Bulldogs are hoping for a little addition by subtraction after two-year starting QB Carson Beck left for Miami this offseason. That opens the door for Stockton to resume his QB1 duties after replacing Beck last postseason. Georgia also added several key pieces out of the portal with dynamic WRs Branch and Thomas, new RB McCray and a litany of defensive talents, while freshman DT Elijah Griffin could make an immediate impact in 2025.

5. Ohio State Buckeyes (-4)

2024 record: 14-2, 7-2 Big Ten
Key returners: WR Jeremiah Smith, WR Carnell Tate, WR Brandon Inniss, S Caleb Downs, CB Davison Igbinosun, CB Jermaine Mathews Jr., LB Arvell Reese, C Carson Hinzman, G Luke Montgomery
Key transfer additions: TE Max Klare (Purdue), G Phillip Daniels (Minnesota), OT Ethan Onianwa (Rice), DE Beau Atkinson (North Carolina), OT Justin Terry (West Virginia)

The reigning national champion Buckeyes fell from the top spot mostly due to roster uncertainties after losing most of last year’s squad to the NFL. That includes Ohio State’s entire starting backfield. QBs Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz are still battling it out to be QB1, but whoever wins will have the benefit of throwing to Smith. Rising junior Downs is also back to lead an experienced OSU secondary.

6. LSU Tigers

2024 record: 9-4, 5-3 SEC
Key returners: QB Garrett Nussmeier, RB Caden Durham, WR Aaron Anderson, LB Whit Weeks, CB Ashton Stamps, LB Harold Perkins Jr., S Jardin Gilbert
Key transfer additions: DE Patrick Payton (Florida State), DE Jack Pyburn (Florida), WR Nic Anderson (Oklahoma), WR Barion Brown (Kentucky), C Braelin Moore (Virginia Tech), G Josh Thompson (Northwestern), CB Mansoor Delane (Virginia Tech), S A.J. Haulcy (Houston), DT Bernard Gooden (South Florida), S Tamarcus Cooley (NC State)

The Tigers are another team with a mostly intact offense that is led by a veteran QB in Nussmeier, who enters his second year leading LSU. But as opposed to Penn State and Clemson, the Tigers’ defense is also a veteran group led by former five-star pass rusher Perkins Jr. LSU also dipped in the portal to land DLs Payton and Pyburn as well as electric WRs Anderson and Brown, among others.

7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-3)

2024 record: 14-2
Key returners: RB Jeremiyah Love, RB Jadarian Price, WR Jordan Faison, WR Jaden Greathouse, LB Drayk Bowen, S Adon Shuler
Key transfer additions: WR Malachi Fields (Virginia), WR Will Pauling (Wisconsin), TE Ty Washington (Arkansas), DL Jared Dawson (Louisville), DL Elijah Hughes (USC), S DeVonta Smith (Alabama), S Jalen Stroman (Virginia Tech)

The Irish were Schlabach’s other biggest faller in the Top 10, dropping out of the Top 5 completely after losing veteran backup Steve Angeli (Syracuse) to the transfer portal. That would seem to indicate talented freshman CJ Carr is the QB1 favorite coming out of Spring. Notre Dame’s offensive line also took a hit from the portal, which also brought some vital defensive replacements like Hughes and Smith.

8. Oregon Ducks (-2)

2024 record: 13-1, 9-0 Big Ten
Key returners: WR Evan Stewart, TE Kenyon Sadiq, C Iapani Laloulu, LB Devon Jackson, LB Teitum Tuioti, LB Matayo Uiagalelei, LB Bryce Boettcher, S Kingston Lopa
Key transfer additions: RB Makhi Hughes (Tulane), G Emmanuel Pregnon (USC), OT Isaiah World (Nevada), OT Alex Harkey (Texas State), S Dillon Thieneman (Purdue), CB Theran Johnson (Northwestern), DT Bear Alexander (USC)

The defending Big Ten champion Ducks once again reloaded despite another offseason of significant roster turnover. Thankfully, Oregon was prepared with plenty of young talent, including former five-star UCLA transfer Dante Moore replacing Dillon Gabriel as QB1. The Ducks’ loaded defense also features veteran LBs Uiagalelei, Tuioti and Jackson, as well as big-play threat Stewart offensively.

9. Alabama Crimson Tide (+3)

2024 record: 9-4, 5-3 SEC
Key returners: RB Jam Miller, WR Ryan Williams, WR Germie Bernard, C Parker Brailsford, OT Kadyn Proctor, DE LT Overton, LB Justin Jefferson, LB Deontae Lawson, CB Zabien Brown, CB Domani Jackson, S Keon Sabb
Key transfer additions: WR Isaiah Horton (Miami), TE Brody Dalton (Troy), G Kam Dewberry (Texas A&M), CB Cameron Calhoun (Utah)

Year 2 of the Kalen DeBoer era is here and the Crimson Tide are expected to be better despite losing two-year starting QB Jalen Milroe to the NFL and multiple playmakers on both sides of the ball. Ty Simpson is the favorite to replace Milroe as QB1, and could be in a better situation with longtime DeBoer disciple Ryan Grubb back as OC. Alabama’s defense is once again loaded at linebacker and in the secondary, but it will have questions in the trenches.

10. BYU Cougars (-1)

2024 record: 11-2, 7-2 Big 12
Key returners: QB Jake Retzlaff, RB LJ Martin, WR Chase Roberts, WR/KR Keelan Marion, LB Isaiah Glasker, LB Jack Kelly, S Tanner Wall, CB Evan Johnson
Key transfer additions: DT Keanu Tanuvasa (Utah), DE Tausili Akana (Texas), DT Anisi Purcell (Southern Utah), TE Carsen Ryan (Utah), OT Andrew Gentry (Michigan)

After barely missing out on the College Football Playoffs in 2024, Schlabach believes a talented and experienced offense led by returning QB1 Retzlaff will have the Cougars back in the mix in 2025. BYU will need to fill some big holes on both its offensive and defensive lines, but it still features plenty of talented playmakers on both sides of the ball that will keep the Cougars competitive all season long.

ESPN’s Post-Spring 2025 Top 25 Ranking, Nos. 11-25

11. Illinois Fighting Illini (+2)
12. Arizona State Sun Devils (+2)
13. South Carolina Gamecocks (-3)
14. Iowa State Cyclones (-3)
15. SMU Mustangs
16. Texas Tech Red Raiders (NR)
17. Indiana Hoosiers
18. Kansas State Wildcats (-2)
19. Florida Gators (-1)
20. Michigan Wolverines (+1)
21. Miami Hurricanes (+2)
22. Louisville Cardinals (-2)
23. Texas A&M Aggies (-1)
24. Ole Miss Rebels (+1)
25. Oklahoma Sooners (NR)