10 Teams that Could Break into the 2025 College Football Playoff
TJ Inman
Host · Writer
Auburn Tigers
Auburn was a mess for much of the 2024 season, but it must be pointed out that they lost many close games and suffered from poor turnover luck. If you squint, there is a path for the Tigers to be genuine playoff contenders in 2025. Hugh Freeze has been pointing to this season since he took over on the Plains and has recruited well despite poor on-field results. The receiving corps is strong, the offensive line should be better, and the defense has talent. The key will be Jackson Arnold playing like something resembling a high-end collegiate quarterback after transferring in from Oklahoma. The Tigers open with an interesting game at Baylor, but they do not play Texas, South Carolina, Florida, or LSU, and they get both Georgia and Alabama at home.
2025 National Title Odds: Auburn +6000
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Alabama Crimson Tide
The Alabama Crimson Tide were in the playoff chase for much of the 2024 season, but inconsistent quarterback play from Jalen Milroe and some very damaging losses knocked them out of the picture. The 24-3 loss to Oklahoma on November 23 was particularly harmful and showed the limitations of a Milroe-led attack. Kalen DeBoer now gets a second offseason and recruiting cycle to instill his culture and system into the program, and quarterbacks Austin Mack and Ty Simpson fit what DeBoer would like to do on offense better than Milroe. Alabama begins the 2025 season at Florida State, and the schedule will offer a lot of tough tests (at Georgia, at Missouri, at South Carolina, home to Tennessee and LSU, and at Auburn) but a bit of progress on both sides of the ball would be enough to get Alabama into the 12-team playoff.
2025 National Title Odds: Alabama +1800
BYU Cougars
The BYU Cougars began the season 9-0 before losing by four points to Kansas and five at Arizona State. They rebounded to beat Houston and thump Colorado in an impressive showing in the bowl game. The Cougars finished the season 11-2 and returns the team's core that nearly won the Big 12. That includes quarterback Jake Retzlaff, running back LJ Martin, and a veteran defensive group. The non-conference schedule is a cakewalk with games against Portland State, Stanford, and East Carolina. They get Utah at home and avoid Kansas State and Kansas in the league.
2025 National Title Odds: BYU +13000
LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers have been disappointing for two seasons in a row. Still, Brian Kelly and the Tigers invested in the transfer portal, return quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, and appear to have a roster capable of competing at the top of the SEC in 2025. The big questions are whether or not the defense can make another jump and become a problem for opposing offenses, plus how much the wide receiver group can improve. LSU begins the season with an awesome clash at Clemson (the “Battle of Death Valleys” jokes are already old), and they also have to go to Ole Miss and Alabama while welcoming Florida, South Carolina, and Texas A&M to the Bayou. The seat is warming a bit, and Kelly needs a big year.
2025 National Title Odds: LSU +2000
Illinois Fighting Illini
Bret Bielema has been building at Illinois, and the Illini feel like 2025 is the year they can break through. They return the core of a team that went 10-3 and triumphed over South Carolina in a very heated bowl game, and the schedule sets up very nicely. The Illini play Western Illinois, Western Michigan, and Duke in the non-conference. The Big Ten slate has a game against Ohio State in Champaign, plus a road game at IU on September 20. Still, the rest of the schedule looks extremely manageable (USC, Rutgers, Maryland, NW at home and at Purdue, Washington, and Wisconsin). Winning ten games would be considered the floor for this team, putting them squarely in the playoff picture.
2025 National Title Odds: Illinois +10000
South Carolina Gamecocks
The LaNorris Sellers hype train has already left the station, taking the South Carolina Gamecocks' 2025 hopes with it. After a successful 2024 ended on a sour note with a loss to Illinois, the Gamecocks hope they can build and make a playoff push in 2025. Sellers will be joined by a strong group of incoming receivers and another strong transfer class, plus star edge rusher Dylan Stewart returns as an elite pass rusher. The Gamecocks open with Virginia Tech in Atlanta, and they close with a home game against rival Clemson. Between that, there are road trips to LSU, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M, as well as a home game against Alabama that will test their playoff hopes.
2025 National Title Odds: South Carolina +4000
Iowa State Cyclones
Matt Campbell’s Iowa State Cyclones nearly represented the Big 12 in the College Football Playoff in 2024. They return starting quarterback Rocco Becht, a good rushing attack, and a defense that should be salty in 2025. The Cyclones open the campaign with a Week 0 clash in Dublin against fellow Big 12 contender Kansas State, but they get Arizona State, BYU, and Arizona State all at home. There is no reason that Iowa State can’t replicate 2024 but finish it with a win in the Big 12 Championship Game instead of a loss.
2025 National Title Odds: Iowa State +11000
Florida Gators
Picking the Florida Gators as a playoff contender may seem slightly optimistic, but there are reasons beyond blind optimism behind the selection. Florida returns potential superstar DJ Lagway at quarterback, and he can be a difference-maker for the Orange and Blue. In addition, a top-ten recruiting class is joining the fray to improve the overall talent level of the roster. A strong portal class is being added to a young roster with a lot of experience, and it feels like now or never for Billy Napier in Gainesville.
2025 National Title Odds: Florida +5000
Michigan Wolverines
After a poor start to the season, Sherrone Moore and the Michigan Wolverines showed a lot of fight down the stretch. They closed the campaign with a close defeat to playoff-bound Indiana, a shocking win at Ohio State, and a bowl win over Alabama. Michigan had significant problems at quarterback, and they hope it's solved with the addition of veteran Mikey Keene to bridge things until top recruit Bryce Underwood takes over. They added Justice Haynes at running back, a top-ten recruiting class, and the defense will be good. Michigan begins the season with a Week 2 test at Oklahoma, but they avoid expected playoff contenders Indiana and Illinois and only have one likely preseason-ranked team on the schedule (Ohio State).
2025 National Title Odds: Michigan +3500
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech’s boosters see a path to winning the Big 12 and earning a spot in the College Football Playoff. They splashed the cash in the transfer portal, and the Red Raiders will likely have the most talented roster in the Big 12 for the 2025 season. Texas Tech will have a shot if that talent fits together and can quickly pick up new systems. The big question will be whether or not the defense has infused enough talent to take a big jump. Texas Tech has a Charmin-soft non-conference schedule. They do not play Iowa State and get BYU at home.
2025 National Title Odds: Texas Tech +15000
Auburn Tigers
Auburn was a mess for much of the 2024 season, but it must be pointed out that they lost many close games and suffered from poor turnover luck. If you squint, there is a path for the Tigers to be genuine playoff contenders in 2025. Hugh Freeze has been pointing to this season since he took over on the Plains and has recruited well despite poor on-field results. The receiving corps is strong, the offensive line should be better, and the defense has talent. The key will be Jackson Arnold playing like something resembling a high-end collegiate quarterback after transferring in from Oklahoma. The Tigers open with an interesting game at Baylor, but they do not play Texas, South Carolina, Florida, or LSU, and they get both Georgia and Alabama at home.
2025 National Title Odds: Auburn +6000
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The Alabama Crimson Tide were in the playoff chase for much of the 2024 season, but inconsistent quarterback play from Jalen Milroe and some very damaging losses knocked them out of the picture. The 24-3 loss to Oklahoma on November 23 was particularly harmful and showed the limitations of a Milroe-led attack. Kalen DeBoer now gets a second offseason and recruiting cycle to instill his culture and system into the program, and quarterbacks Austin Mack and Ty Simpson fit what DeBoer would like to do on offense better than Milroe. Alabama begins the 2025 season at Florida State, and the schedule will offer a lot of tough tests (at Georgia, at Missouri, at South Carolina, home to Tennessee and LSU, and at Auburn) but a bit of progress on both sides of the ball would be enough to get Alabama into the 12-team playoff.
2025 National Title Odds: Alabama +1800
