Media days have come and gone, fall camp is on its last legs before game preparation takes hold and the onset of Week Zero means the 2025 college football season has officially arrived. 

And what a season it should be.

The field chasing a national title might be as wide open as ever. There are dozens of teams that believe they’re in the College Football Playoff race. The Heisman Trophy field seems equally diverse from a famous last name in Austin, to the reigning champions in Columbus, Ohio, to a slew of contenders from coast to coast. 

While that would normally make for a hazy crystal ball, Sports Illustrated’s is perfectly clear at the moment. That’s, of course, subject to change once kickoff arrives, but after putting together a preseason Top 25, crafting some meticulous conference previews and diving into the biggest storylines in the sport, the 2025 campaign has certainly come into focus. 

How will it all play out? Glad you asked. 

Borrowing a page from our MMQB colleagues, it’s time to predict not just how the season will play out, but to unleash our inner degeneracy and lay down a winner and a loser for every game. While the NFL side of the shop only has to worry about 32 teams and 272 games, we’re supersizing that in college with every game from every Power 4 school plus Notre Dame. That’s a whopping 68 programs each playing 12 regular-season contests.

No need to do the math on that, just go ahead and enjoy knowing how this season will play out before it happens.

MORE: Forty Observations on the 2025 College Football Schedule

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) catches the football during Clemson football practice.
Quarterback Cade Klubnik returns to lead the Clemson Tigers, who have aspirations of getting back to domination of the ACC in 2025. | Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

ACC

In a slight contrast to last season when it needed a bit of help to make it to Charlotte, Clemson rolls through the conference it has lorded over much of the past decade with ease this season. Though Miami mounts a notable challenge given the heavy investments in its roster, the Hurricanes are not quite on the same level as the Tigers. SMU still has a great season in store despite losing a few more league games, while Duke and Pitt are among the teams that remain on the fringes of the conversation for bigger things. Don’t overlook Georgia Tech and Louisville as sleepers despite having a ton of toss-ups in ACC play. Syracuse takes a big step back against a much tougher slate than it had a year ago.

MORE: ACC Football Preview: Chaos Beyond CFP Hopefuls Make for Unpredictable League

Predicted ACC standings

Here is how each ACC team fares this season, in alphabetical order:


Boston College: 4–8 overall, 2–6 ACC

Week 1: vs. Fordham, W
Week 2: at Michigan State, L
Week 3: at Stanford, L
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: vs. Cal, W
Week 6: at Pitt, L
Week 7: vs. Clemson, L
Week 8: vs. UConn, W
Week 9: at Louisville, L
Week 10: vs. Notre Dame, L
Week 11: vs. SMU, L
Week 12: vs. Georgia Tech, L
Week 13: Bye
Week 14: at Syracuse, W


Cal: 6–6 overall, 3–5 ACC

Week 1: at Oregon State, W
Week 2: vs. Texas Southern, W
Week 3: vs. Minnesota, L
Week 4: at San Diego State, W
Week 5: at Boston College, L
Week 6: vs. Duke, L
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: vs. North Carolina, W
Week 9: at Virginia Tech, L
Week 10: vs. Virginia, W
Week 11: at Louisville, L
Week 12: Bye
Week 13: at Stanford, W
Week 14: vs. SMU, L


Clemson: 11–1 overall, 8–0 ACC 

Week 1: vs. LSU, L
Week 2: vs. Troy, W
Week 3: at Georgia Tech, W
Week 4: vs. Syracuse, W
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: at North Carolina, W
Week 7: at Boston College, W
Week 8: vs. SMU, W
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: vs. Duke, W
Week 11: vs. Florida State, W
Week 12: at Louisville, W
Week 13: vs. Furman, W
Week 14: at South Carolina, W


Duke: 9–3 overall, 6–2 ACC

Week 1: vs. Elon, W
Week 2: vs. Illinois, L
Week 3: at Tulane, W
Week 4: vs. NC State, W
Week 5: at Syracuse, W
Week 6: at Cal, W
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: vs. Georgia Tech, L
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: at Clemson, L
Week 11: at UConn, W
Week 12: vs. Virginia, W
Week 13: at North Carolina, W
Week 14: vs. Wake Forest, W


Florida State: 6–6 overall, 4–4 ACC

Week 1: vs. Alabama, L
Week 2: vs. East Texas A&M, W
Week 3: Bye
Week 4: vs. Kent State, W
Week 5: at Virginia, L
Week 6: vs. Miami, L
Week 7: vs. Pitt, W
Week 8: at Stanford, W
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: vs. Wake Forest, W
Week 11: at Clemson, L
Week 12: vs. Virginia Tech, L
Week 13: at NC State, W
Week 14: at Florida, L


Georgia Tech: 8–4 overall, 5–3 ACC

Week 1: at Colorado, W
Week 2: vs. Gardner-Webb, W
Week 3: vs. Clemson, L
Week 4: vs. Temple, W
Week 5: at Wake Forest, W
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: vs. Virginia Tech, L
Week 8: at Duke, W
Week 9: vs. Syracuse, W
Week 10: at NC State, L
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: at Boston College, W
Week 13: vs. Pitt, W
Week 14: vs. Georgia, L


Louisville: 8–4 overall, 4–4 ACC

Week 1: vs. Eastern Kentucky, W
Week 2: vs. James Madison, W
Week 3: Bye
Week 4: vs. Bowling Green, W
Week 5: at Pitt, L
Week 6: vs. Virginia, W
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: at Miami, L
Week 9: vs. Boston College, W
Week 10: at Virginia Tech, W
Week 11: vs. Cal, W
Week 12: vs. Clemson, L
Week 13: at SMU, L
Week 14: vs. Kentucky, W

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 24 Louisville


Miami: 10–2 overall, 7–1 ACC

Week 1: vs. Notre Dame, W
Week 2: vs. Bethune-Cookman, W
Week 3: vs. USF, W
Week 4: vs. Florida, L
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: at Florida State, W
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: vs. Louisville, W
Week 9: vs. Stanford, W
Week 10: at SMU, L
Week 11: vs. Syracuse, W
Week 12: vs. NC State, W
Week 13: at Virginia Tech, W
Week 14: at Pitt, W

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 15 Miami


NC State: 6–6 overall, 3–5 ACC

Week 1: vs. East Carolina, W
Week 2: vs. Virginia, W
Week 3: at Wake Forest, W
Week 4: at Duke, L
Week 5: vs. Virginia Tech, W
Week 6: vs. Campbell, W
Week 7: at Notre Dame, L
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: at Pitt, L
Week 10: vs. Georgia Tech, W
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: at Miami, L
Week 13: vs. Florida State, L
Week 14: vs. North Carolina, L


North Carolina Tar Heels head football coach Bill Belichick speaks during half time of a men’s basketball game.
Bill Belichick begins his tenure at the college level in 2025, taking over a Tar Heels team capable of making noise in the ACC. | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

North Carolina: 8–4 overall, 5–3 ACC

Week 1: vs. TCU, L
Week 2: at Charlotte, W
Week 3: vs. Richmond, W
Week 4: at UCF, W
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: vs. Clemson, L
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: at Cal, L
Week 9: vs. Virginia, W
Week 10: at Syracuse, W
Week 11: vs. Stanford, W
Week 12: at Wake Forest, W
Week 13: vs. Duke, L
Week 14: at NC State, W


Pitt: 9–3 overall, 5–3 ACC

Week 1: vs. Duquesne, W
Week 2: vs. Central Michigan, W
Week 3: at West Virginia, W
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: vs. Louisville, W
Week 6: vs. Boston College, W
Week 7: at Florida State, W
Week 8: at Syracuse, L
Week 9: vs. NC State, W
Week 10: at Stanford, W
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: vs. Notre Dame, W
Week 13: at Georgia Tech, L
Week 14: vs. Miami, L


SMU: 9–3 overall, 6–2 ACC

Week 1: vs. East Texas A&M, W
Week 2: vs. Baylor, L
Week 3: at Missouri State, W
Week 4: at TCU, W
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: vs. Syracuse, W
Week 7: vs. Stanford, W
Week 8: at Clemson, L
Week 9: at Wake Forest, L
Week 10: vs. Miami, W
Week 11: at Boston College, W
Week 12: Bye
Week 13: vs. Louisville, W
Week 14: at Cal, W

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 13 SMU


Stanford: 2–10 overall, 1–7 ACC

Week Zero: at Hawai’i, W
Week 1: Bye
Week 2: at BYU, L
Week 3: vs. Boston College, W
Week 4: at Virginia, L
Week 5: vs. San Jose State, L
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: at SMU, L
Week 8: vs. Florida State, L
Week 9: at Miami, L
Week 10: vs. Pitt, L
Week 11: at North Carolina, L
Week 12: Bye
Week 13: vs. Cal, L
Week 14: vs. Notre Dame, L


Syracuse: 3–9 overall, 1–7 ACC

Week 1: vs. Tennessee, L
Week 2: vs. UConn, W
Week 3: vs. Colgate, W
Week 4: at Clemson, L
Week 5: vs. Duke, L
Week 6: at SMU, L
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: vs. Pitt, W
Week 9: at Georgia Tech, L
Week 10: vs. North Carolina, L
Week 11: at Miami, L
Week 12: Bye
Week 13: at Notre Dame, L
Week 14: vs. Boston College, L 


Virginia: 5–7 overall, 2–6 ACC

Week 1: vs. Coastal Carolina, W
Week 2: at NC State, L
Week 3: vs. William & Mary, W
Week 4: vs. Stanford, W
Week 5: vs. Florida State, L
Week 6: at Louisville, L
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: vs. Washington State, W
Week 9: at North Carolina, L
Week 10: at Cal, L
Week 11: vs. Wake Forest, W
Week 12: at Duke, L
Week 13: Bye
Week 14: vs. Virginia Tech, L


Virginia Tech: 7–5 overall, 5–3 ACC 

Week 1: vs. South Carolina, L
Week 2: vs. Vanderbilt, L
Week 3: vs. Old Dominion, W
Week 4: vs. Wofford, W
Week 5: at NC State, L
Week 6: vs. Wake Forest, W
Week 7: at Georgia Tech, W
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: vs. Cal, W
Week 10: vs. Louisville, L
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: at Florida State, W
Week 13: vs. Miami, L
Week 14: at Virginia, W


Wake Forest: 5–7 overall, 1–7 ACC

Week 1: vs. Kennesaw State, W
Week 2: vs. Western Carolina, W
Week 3: vs. NC State, L
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: vs. Georgia Tech, L
Week 6: at Virginia Tech, L
Week 7: at Oregon State, W
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: vs. SMU, W
Week 10: at Florida State, L
Week 11: at Virginia, L
Week 12: vs. North Carolina, L
Week 13: vs. Delaware, W
Week 14: at Duke, L 


Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) throws a pass during the first day of 2025 fall practice.
The Sun Devils defied expectations last season, but enter 2025 among the favorites in the Big 12, due in part to the return of quarterback Sam Leavitt. | Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Big 12

Uh, go ahead and pick names out of a hat or start flipping coins to determine who you think is going to win every game in this league given how closely bunched it is from the very top all the way to the bottom of the conference. In the end, the returning production of reigning champion Arizona State wins out while the roster improvement in Lubbock carries the day for Texas Tech to eke out enough victories to make it to Arlington, Texas. The tough nonconference schedule probably hurts Baylor’s chances of being in the CFP mix, but don’t overlook Utah taking a big step forward between its improved offense and normally stingy defense to send Kyle Whittingham out on a nice note. There’s some regression built in for Colorado and BYU after last season but don’t be surprised if Kansas and Arizona win a few more of those close games than they did in 2024.

MORE: Big 12 Football Preview: Conference Will Be Unpredictable Again

Predicted Big 12 standings

Here is how each Big 12 team fares this season, in alphabetical order:


Arizona: 5–7 overall, 3–6 Big 12

Week 1: vs. Hawai’i, W
Week 2: vs. Weber State, W
Week 3: vs. Kansas State, L
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: at Iowa State, L
Week 6: vs. Oklahoma State, W
Week 7: vs. BYU, W
Week 8: at Houston, L
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: at Colorado, L
Week 11: vs. Kansas, W
Week 12: at Cincinnati, L
Week 13: vs. Baylor, L
Week 14: at Arizona State, L 


Arizona State: 10–2 overall, 7–2 Big 12

Week 1: vs. Northern Arizona, W
Week 2: at Mississippi State, W
Week 3: vs. Texas State, W
Week 4: at Baylor, W
Week 5: vs. TCU, W
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: at Utah, L
Week 8: vs. Texas Tech, W
Week 9: vs. Houston, W
Week 10: at Iowa State, L
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: vs. West Virginia, W
Week 13: at Colorado, W
Week 14: vs. Arizona, W

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 8 Arizona State

MORE: Sam Leavitt Is Ready to Make Arizona State More Than a One-Hit Wonder


Baylor: 9–3 overall, 7–2 Big 12

Week 1: vs. Auburn, L
Week 2: at SMU, W
Week 3: vs. Samford, W
Week 4: vs. Arizona State, L
Week 5: at Oklahoma State, W
Week 6: vs. Kansas State, W
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: at TCU, W
Week 9: at Cincinnati, W
Week 10: vs. UCF, W
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: vs. Utah, L
Week 13: at Arizona, W
Week 14: vs. Houston, W


BYU: 8–4 overall, 5–4 Big 12

Week 1: vs. Portland State, W
Week 2: vs. Stanford, W
Week 3: Bye
Week 4: at East Carolina, W
Week 5: at Colorado, W
Week 6: vs. West Virginia, W
Week 7: at Arizona, L
Week 8: vs. Utah, L
Week 9: at Iowa State, W
Week 10: Bye
Week 11: at Texas Tech, L
Week 12: vs. TCU, L
Week 13: at Cincinnati, W
Week 14: vs. UCF, W


Cincinnati: 7–5 overall, 5–4 Big 12

Week 1: vs. Nebraska, L
Week 2: vs. Bowling Green, W
Week 3: vs. Northwestern State, W
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: at Kansas, W
Week 6: vs. Iowa State, L
Week 7: vs. UCF, W
Week 8: at Oklahoma State, W
Week 9: vs. Baylor, L
Week 10: at Utah, L
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: vs. Arizona, W
Week 13: vs. BYU, L
Week 14: at TCU, W 


Colorado football coach Deion Sanders smiles while speaking with the media.
Without his son Shedeur and Travis Hunter, Deion Sanders will have to find a way to keep Colorado in the hunt for a bowl game in a deep Big 12. | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Colorado: 5–7 overall, 3–6 Big 12

Week 1: vs. Georgia Tech, L
Week 2: vs. Delaware, W
Week 3: at Houston, W
Week 4: vs. Wyoming, W
Week 5: vs. BYU, L
Week 6: at TCU, L
Week 7: vs. Iowa State, L
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: at Utah, L
Week 10: vs. Arizona, W
Week 11: at West Virginia, W
Week 12: Bye
Week 13: vs. Arizona State, L
Week 14: at Kansas State, L 


Houston: 6–6 overall, 3–6 Big 12

Week 1: vs. Stephen F. Austin, W
Week 2: at Rice, W
Week 3: vs. Colorado, L
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: at Oregon State, W
Week 6: vs. Texas Tech, L
Week 7: at Oklahoma State, W
Week 8: vs. Arizona, W
Week 9: at Arizona State, L
Week 10: vs. West Virginia, L
Week 11: at UCF, W
Week 12: Bye
Week 13: vs. TCU, L
Week 14: at Baylor, L


Iowa State: 8–4 overall, 6–3 Big 12

Week Zero: vs. Kansas State, W
Week 1: vs. South Dakota, W
Week 2: vs. Iowa, L
Week 3: at Arkansas State, W
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: vs. Arizona, W
Week 6: at Cincinnati, W
Week 7: at Colorado, W
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: vs. BYU, L
Week 10: vs. Arizona State, W
Week 11: at TCU, L
Week 12: Bye
Week 13: vs. Kansas, L
Week 14: at Oklahoma State, W 


Kansas: 7–5 overall, 5–4 Big 12

Week Zero: vs. Fresno State, W
Week 1: vs. Wagner, W
Week 2: at Missouri, L
Week 3: Bye
Week 4: vs. West Virginia, W
Week 5: vs. Cincinnati, L
Week 6: at UCF, W
Week 7: at Texas Tech, L
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: vs. Kansas State, L
Week 10: vs. Oklahoma State, W
Week 11: at Arizona, L
Week 12: Bye
Week 13: at Iowa State, W
Week 14: vs. Utah, W


Kansas State: 8–4 overall, 5–4 Big 12

Week Zero: vs. Iowa State, L
Week 1: vs. North Dakota, W
Week 2: vs. Army, W
Week 3: at Arizona, W
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: vs. UCF, W
Week 6: at Baylor, L
Week 7: vs. TCU, L
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: at Kansas, W
Week 10: vs. Texas Tech, L
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: at Oklahoma State, W
Week 13: at Utah, W
Week 14: vs. Colorado, W

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 23 Kansas State


Oklahoma State: 2–10 overall, 0–9 Big 12

Week 1: vs. UT Martin, W
Week 2: at Oregon, L
Week 3: Bye
Week 4: vs. Tulsa, W
Week 5: vs. Baylor, L
Week 6: at Arizona, L
Week 7: vs. Houston, L
Week 8: vs. Cincinnati, L
Week 9: at Texas Tech, L
Week 10: at Kansas, L
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: vs. Kansas State, L
Week 13: at UCF, L
Week 14: vs. Iowa State, L 


TCU: 8–4 overall, 6–3 Big 12

Week 1: at North Carolina, W
Week 2: Bye
Week 3: vs. Abilene Christian, W
Week 4: vs. SMU, L
Week 5: at Arizona State, L
Week 6: vs. Colorado, W
Week 7: at Kansas State, W
Week 8: vs. Baylor, L
Week 9: at West Virginia, W
Week 10: Bye
Week 11: vs. Iowa State, W
Week 12: at BYU, W
Week 13: at Houston, W
Week 14: vs. Cincinnati, L


Texas Tech: 10–2 overall, 7–2 Big 12

Week 1: vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, W
Week 2: vs. Kent State, W
Week 3: vs. Oregon State, W
Week 4: at Utah, L
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: at Houston, W
Week 7: vs. Kansas, W
Week 8: at Arizona State, L
Week 9: vs. Oklahoma State, W
Week 10: at Kansas State, W
Week 11: vs. BYU, W
Week 12: vs. UCF, W
Week 13: Bye
Week 14: at West Virginia, W 

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 14 Texas Tech


UCF: 4–8 overall, 2–7 Big 12

Week 1: vs. Jacksonville State, W
Week 2: vs. North Carolina A&T, W
Week 3: Bye
Week 4: vs. North Carolina, L
Week 5: at Kansas State, L
Week 6: vs. Kansas, L
Week 7: at Cincinnati, L
Week 8: vs. West Virginia, W
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: at Baylor, L
Week 11: vs. Houston, L
Week 12: at Texas Tech, L
Week 13: vs. Oklahoma State, W
Week 14: at BYU, L 

MORE: Back at UCF, Scott Frost Bridging Past Success With Hopeful Future


Utah: 9–3 overall, 6–3 Big 12

Week 1: at UCLA, W
Week 2: vs. Cal Poly, W
Week 3: at Wyoming, W
Week 4: vs. Texas Tech, W
Week 5: at West Virginia, L
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: vs. Arizona State, W
Week 8: at BYU, W
Week 9: vs. Colorado, W
Week 10: vs. Cincinnati, W
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: at Baylor, W
Week 13: vs. Kansas State, L
Week 14: at Kansas, L 

MORE: Utah Football Aiming for Revamped Offense With New Mexico Additions


West Virginia: 4–8 overall, 2–7 Big 12

Week 1: vs. Robert Morris, W
Week 2: at Ohio, W
Week 3: vs. Pitt, L
Week 4: at Kansas, L
Week 5: vs. Utah, W
Week 6: at BYU, L
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: at UCF, L
Week 9: vs. TCU, L
Week 10: at Houston, W
Week 11: vs. Colorado, L
Week 12: at Arizona State, L
Week 13: Bye
Week 14: vs. Texas Tech, L


Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton carries the football during a Playoff game against Notre Dame.
Penn State kicks off 2025 as a true national title contender behind the running back tandem of Nicholas Singleton (pictured) and Kaytron Allen. | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Big Ten

Penn State’s pillow-soft nonconference warmup amounts to a preseason nod for the Nittany Lions, who benefit from the way the schedule is set up to be no worse than 11–1. Ohio State still has the talent to beat or contend with any team on its docket. There are some nice steps forward for Nebraska, Washington and Iowa in store with the way things are laid out from September through November. Indiana and Oregon remain in CFP contention despite some new faces around each program. There might be some decisions made at Maryland and Northwestern given how difficult some of their opponents are this season.

MORE: Big Ten Football Preview: Third Straight National Title Could Be on the Horizon

Predicted Big Ten standings

Here is how each Big Ten team fares this season, in alphabetical order:


Illinois: 9–3 overall, 6–3 Big Ten

Week 1: vs. Western Illinois, W
Week 2: at Duke, W
Week 3: vs. Western Michigan, W
Week 4: at Indiana, L
Week 5: vs. USC, W
Week 6: at Purdue, W
Week 7: vs. Ohio State, L
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: at Washington, W
Week 10: vs. Rutgers, W
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: vs. Maryland, W
Week 13: at Wisconsin, L
Week 14: vs. Northwestern, W 

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 12 Illinois


Indiana: 10–2 overall, 7–2 Big Ten

Week 1: vs. Old Dominion, W
Week 2: vs. Kennesaw State, W
Week 3: vs. Indiana State, W
Week 4: vs. Illinois, W
Week 5: at Iowa, W
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: at Oregon, L
Week 8: vs. Michigan State, W
Week 9: vs. UCLA, W
Week 10: at Maryland, W
Week 11: at Penn State, L
Week 12: vs. Wisconsin, W
Week 13: Bye
Week 14: at Purdue, W 

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 10 Indiana


Iowa: 8–4 overall, 5–4 Big Ten

Week 1: vs. Albany, W
Week 2: at Iowa State, W
Week 3: vs. UMass, W
Week 4: at Rutgers, W
Week 5: vs. Indiana, L
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: at Wisconsin, W
Week 8: vs. Penn State, L
Week 9: vs. Minnesota, W
Week 10: Bye
Week 11: vs. Oregon, L
Week 12: at USC, L
Week 13: vs. Michigan State, W
Week 14: at Nebraska, W

MORE: One on One With Kirk Ferentz: Iowa Coach Talks Retirement, Bill Belichick, College Football Changes


Maryland: 3–9 overall, 0–9 Big Ten

Week 1: vs. FAU, W
Week 2: vs. NIU, W
Week 3: vs. Towson, W
Week 4: at Wisconsin, L
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: vs. Washington, L
Week 7: vs. Nebraska, L
Week 8: at UCLA, L
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: vs. Indiana, L
Week 11: at Rutgers, L
Week 12: at Illinois, L
Week 13: vs. Michigan, L
Week 14: at Michigan State, L 


Michigan: 8–4 overall, 6–3 Big Ten

Week 1: vs. New Mexico, W
Week 2: at Oklahoma, L
Week 3: vs. Central Michigan, W
Week 4: at Nebraska, L
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: vs. Wisconsin, W
Week 7: at USC, L
Week 8: vs. Washington, W
Week 9: at Michigan State, W
Week 10: vs. Purdue, W
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: at Northwestern, W
Week 13: at Maryland, W
Week 14: vs. Ohio State, L 

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 18 Michigan


Michigan State: 6–6 overall, 3–6 Big Ten

Week 1: vs. Western Michigan, W
Week 2: vs. Boston College, W
Week 3: vs. Youngstown State, W
Week 4: at USC, L
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: at Nebraska, L
Week 7: vs. UCLA, W
Week 8: at Indiana, L
Week 9: vs. Michigan, L
Week 10: at Minnesota, W
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: vs. Penn State, L
Week 13: at Iowa, L
Week 14: vs. Maryland, W 


Minnesota: 8–4 overall, 5–4 Big Ten

Week 1: vs. Buffalo, W
Week 2: vs. Northwestern State, W
Week 3: at Cal, W
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: vs. Rutgers, W
Week 6: at Ohio State, L
Week 7: vs. Purdue, W
Week 8: vs. Nebraska, W
Week 9: at Iowa, L
Week 10: vs. Michigan State, L
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: at Oregon, L
Week 13: at Northwestern, W
Week 14: vs. Wisconsin, W 


Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) drops to throw during the first quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
After showing improvement in Matt Rhule’s second season, the Huskers are hoping to get into the CFP conversation. | Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Nebraska: 9–3 overall, 6–3 Big Ten

Week 1: vs. Cincinnati, W
Week 2: vs. Akron, W
Week 3: vs. Houston Christian, W
Week 4: vs. Michigan, W
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: vs. Michigan State, W
Week 7: at Maryland, W
Week 8: at Minnesota, L
Week 9: vs. Northwestern, W
Week 10: vs. USC, W
Week 11: at UCLA, W
Week 12: Bye
Week 13: at Penn State, L
Week 14: vs. Iowa, L 


Northwestern: 3–9 overall, 1–8 Big Ten

Week 1: at Tulane, L
Week 2: vs. Western Illinois, W
Week 3: vs. Oregon, L
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: vs. UCLA, L
Week 6: vs. ULM, W
Week 7: at Penn State, L
Week 8: vs. Purdue, W
Week 9: at Nebraska, L
Week 10: Bye
Week 11: at USC, L
Week 12: vs. Michigan, L
Week 13: vs. Minnesota, L
Week 14: at Illinois, L 


Ohio State: 11–1 overall, 9–0 Big Ten

Week 1: vs. Texas, L
Week 2: vs. Grambling State, W
Week 3: vs. Ohio, W
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: at Washington, W
Week 6: vs. Minnesota, W
Week 7: at Illinois, W
Week 8: at Wisconsin, W
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: vs. Penn State, W
Week 11: at Purdue, W
Week 12: vs. UCLA, W
Week 13: vs. Rutgers, W
Week 14: at Michigan, W


Oregon: 10–2 overall, 7–2 Big Ten

Week 1: vs. Montana State, W
Week 2: vs. Oklahoma State, W
Week 3: at Northwestern, W
Week 4: vs. Oregon State, W
Week 5: at Penn State, L
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: vs. Indiana, W
Week 8: at Rutgers, W
Week 9: vs. Wisconsin, W
Week 10: Bye
Week 11: at Iowa, W
Week 12: vs. Minnesota, W
Week 13: vs. USC, W
Week 14: at Washington, L 

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 11 Oregon


Penn State: 11–1 overall, 8–1 Big Ten 

Week 1: vs. Nevada, W
Week 2: vs. FIU, W
Week 3: vs. Villanova, W
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: vs. Oregon, W
Week 6: at UCLA, W
Week 7: vs. Northwestern, W
Week 8: at Iowa, W
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: at Ohio State, L
Week 11: vs. Indiana, W
Week 12: at Michigan State, W
Week 13: vs. Nebraska, W
Week 14: at Rutgers, W


Purdue: 2–10 overall, 0–9 Big Ten

Week 1: vs. Ball State, W
Week 2: vs. SIU, W
Week 3: vs. USC, L
Week 4: at Notre Dame, L
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: vs. Illinois, L
Week 7: at Minnesota, L
Week 8: at Northwestern, L
Week 9: vs. Rutgers, L
Week 10: at Michigan, L
Week 11: vs. Ohio State, L
Week 12: at Washington, L
Week 13: Bye
Week 14: vs. Indiana, L 


Rutgers: 5–7 overall, 2–7 Big Ten

Week 1: vs. Ohio, W
Week 2: vs. Miami (Ohio), W
Week 3: vs. Norfolk State, W
Week 4: vs. Iowa, L
Week 5: at Minnesota, L
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: at Washington, L
Week 8: vs. Oregon, L
Week 9: at Purdue, W
Week 10: at Illinois, L
Week 11: vs. Maryland, W
Week 12: Bye
Week 13: at Ohio State, L
Week 14: vs. Penn State, L 


UCLA: 4–8 overall, 2–7 Big Ten

Week 1: vs. Utah, L
Week 2: at UNLV, W
Week 3: vs. New Mexico, W
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: at Northwestern, W
Week 6: vs. Penn State, L
Week 7: at Michigan State, L
Week 8: vs. Maryland, W
Week 9: at Indiana, L
Week 10: Bye
Week 11: vs. Nebraska, L
Week 12: at Ohio State, L
Week 13: vs. Washington, L
Week 14: at USC, L 


USC: 8–4 overall, 6–3 Big Ten

Week 1: vs. Missouri State, W
Week 2: vs. Georgia Southern, W
Week 3: at Purdue, W
Week 4: vs. Michigan State, W
Week 5: at Illinois, L
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: vs. Michigan, W
Week 8: at Notre Dame, L
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: at Nebraska, L
Week 11: vs. Northwestern, W
Week 12: vs. Iowa, W
Week 13: at Oregon, L
Week 14: vs. UCLA, W 

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 22 USC

FORDE: USC vs. Notre Dame Football Rivalry Must Continue


Washington: 8–4 overall, 5–4 Big Ten

Week 1: vs. Colorado State, W
Week 2: vs. UC Davis, W
Week 3: Bye
Week 4: at Washington State, W
Week 5: vs. Ohio State, L
Week 6: at Maryland, W
Week 7: vs. Rutgers, W
Week 8: at Michigan, L
Week 9: vs. Illinois, L
Week 10: Bye
Week 11: at Wisconsin, L
Week 12: vs. Purdue, W
Week 13: at UCLA, W
Week 14: vs. Oregon, W 


Wisconsin: 5–7 overall, 3–6 Big Ten

Week 1: vs. Miami (Ohio), W
Week 2: vs. Middle Tennessee, W
Week 3: at Alabama, L
Week 4: vs. Maryland, W
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: at Michigan, L
Week 7: vs. Iowa, L
Week 8: vs. Ohio State, L
Week 9: at Oregon, L
Week 10: Bye
Week 11: vs. Washington, W
Week 12: at Indiana, W
Week 13: vs. Illinois, W
Week 14: at Minnesota, L


Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) passes during the Georgia Spring game.
After giving Georgia a boost in the second half of last season’s SEC Championship game, quarterback Gunner Stockton steps into the starting role for the Bulldogs in 2025. | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

SEC

There are no shortage of scenarios at play in the mighty SEC, but in the end, the two teams that met in Atlanta last season can meet again this year. Part of that is the favorable slate Texas was dealt as well as a belief in what Kirby Smart has built down in Athens, Ga. There are some big-time surges out of Florida, Auburn and Oklahoma from a year ago. South Carolina and Tennessee take a step back given the number of upper-tier teams they play. The way things break, it’s not foolish to think the league could produce four or five CFP contenders. 

MORE: SEC Football Preview: Loaded and Ready to Strike Back

Predicted SEC standings

Here is how each SEC team fares this season, in alphabetical order:


Alabama: 10–2 overall, 6–2 SEC

Week 1: at Florida State, W
Week 2: vs. ULM, W
Week 3: vs. Wisconsin, W
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: at Georgia, L
Week 6: vs. Vanderbilt, W
Week 7: at Missouri, W
Week 8: vs. Tennessee, W
Week 9: at South Carolina, W
Week 10: Bye
Week 11: vs. LSU, L
Week 12: vs. Oklahoma, W
Week 13: vs. Eastern Illinois, W
Week 14: at Auburn, W 

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 7 Alabama


Arkansas: 4–8 overall, 1–7 SEC

Week 1: vs. Alabama A&M, W
Week 2: vs. Arkansas State, W
Week 3: at Ole Miss, L
Week 4: at Memphis, W
Week 5: vs. Notre Dame, L
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: at Tennessee, L
Week 8: vs. Texas A&M, L
Week 9: vs. Auburn, L
Week 10: vs. Mississippi State, W
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: at LSU, L
Week 13: at Texas, L
Week 14: vs. Missouri, L 


Auburn: 9–3 overall, 5–3 SEC

Week 1: at Baylor, W
Week 2: vs. Ball State, W
Week 3: vs. South Alabama, W
Week 4: at Oklahoma, W
Week 5: at Texas A&M, L
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: vs. Georgia, L
Week 8: vs. Missouri, W
Week 9: at Arkansas, W
Week 10: vs. Kentucky, W
Week 11: at Vanderbilt, W
Week 12: Bye
Week 13: vs. Mercer, W
Week 14: vs. Alabama, L


Florida: 9–3 overall, 5–3 SEC

Week 1: vs. LIU, W
Week 2: vs. USF, W
Week 3: at LSU, L
Week 4: at Miami, W
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: vs. Texas, L
Week 7: at Texas A&M, L
Week 8: vs. Mississippi State, W
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: vs. Georgia, W
Week 11: at Kentucky, W
Week 12: at Ole Miss, W
Week 13: vs. Tennessee, W
Week 14: vs. Florida State, W 

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 16 Florida


Georgia: 11–1 overall, 7–1 SEC

Week 1: vs. Marshall, W
Week 2: vs. Austin Peay, W
Week 3: at Tennessee, W
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: vs. Alabama, W
Week 6: vs. Kentucky, W
Week 7: at Auburn, W
Week 8: vs. Ole Miss, W
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: vs. Florida, L
Week 11: at Mississippi State, W
Week 12: vs. Texas, W
Week 13: vs. Charlotte, W
Week 14: vs. Georgia Tech, W 

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 6 Georgia


Kentucky: 4–8 overall, 1–7 SEC

Week 1: vs. Toledo, W
Week 2: vs. Ole Miss, L
Week 3: vs. Eastern Michigan, W
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: at South Carolina, W
Week 6: at Georgia, L
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: vs. Texas, L
Week 9: vs. Tennessee, L
Week 10: at Auburn, L
Week 11: vs. Florida, L
Week 12: vs. Tennessee Tech, W
Week 13: at Vanderbilt, L
Week 14: at Louisville, L


LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly talks to the media during SEC Media Day.
Brian Kelly has come under fire for the start of his tenure in Baton Rouge, but will have a massive opportunity ahead of him in LSU’s opener against Clemson. | Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

LSU: 10–2 overall, 6–2 SEC

Week 1: at Clemson, W
Week 2: vs. Louisiana Tech, W
Week 3: vs. Florida, W
Week 4: vs. Southeastern Louisiana, W
Week 5: at Ole Miss, L
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: vs. South Carolina, W
Week 8: at Vanderbilt, W
Week 9: vs. Texas A&M, W
Week 10: Bye
Week 11: at Alabama, W
Week 12: vs. Arkansas, W
Week 13: vs. Western Kentucky, W
Week 14: at Oklahoma, L 

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 9 LSU


Mississippi State: 3–9 overall, 0–8 SEC

Week 1: at Southern Miss, W
Week 2: vs. Arizona State, L
Week 3: vs. Alcorn State, W
Week 4: vs. NIU, W
Week 5: vs. Tennessee, L
Week 6: at Texas A&M, L
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: at Florida, L
Week 9: vs. Texas, L
Week 10: at Arkansas, L
Week 11: vs. Georgia, L
Week 12: at Missouri, L
Week 13: Bye
Week 14: vs. Ole Miss, L 

MORE: Eight SEC Coaches Enter Season on the Hot Seat


Missouri: 7–5 overall, 3–5 SEC

Week 1: vs. Central Arkansas, W
Week 2: vs. Kansas, W
Week 3: vs. Louisiana, W
Week 4: vs. South Carolina, L
Week 5: vs. UMass, W
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: vs. Alabama, L
Week 8: at Auburn, L
Week 9: at Vanderbilt, L
Week 10: Bye
Week 11: vs. Texas A&M, L
Week 12: vs. Mississippi State, W
Week 13: at Oklahoma, W
Week 14: at Arkansas, W 

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 20 Missouri


Oklahoma: 8–4 overall, 4–4 SEC

Week 1: vs. Illinois State, W
Week 2: vs. Michigan, W
Week 3: at Temple, W
Week 4: vs. Auburn, L
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: vs. Kent State, W
Week 7: vs. Texas, L
Week 8: at South Carolina, W
Week 9: vs. Ole Miss, W
Week 10: at Tennessee, W
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: at Alabama, L
Week 13: vs. Missouri, L
Week 14: vs. LSU, W 

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 25 Oklahoma


Ole Miss: 8–4 overall, 4–4 SEC

Week 1: vs. Georgia State, W
Week 2: at Kentucky, W
Week 3: vs. Arkansas, W
Week 4: vs. Tulane, W
Week 5: vs. LSU, W
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: vs. Washington State, W
Week 8: at Georgia, L
Week 9: at Oklahoma, L
Week 10: vs. South Carolina, L
Week 11: vs. The Citadel, W
Week 12: vs. Florida, L
Week 13: Bye
Week 14: at Mississippi State, W 


South Carolina: 7–5 overall, 4–4 SEC

Week 1: vs. Virginia Tech, W
Week 2: vs. South Carolina State, W
Week 3: vs. Vanderbilt, W
Week 4: at Missouri, W
Week 5: vs. Kentucky, L
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: at LSU, L
Week 8: vs. Oklahoma, L
Week 9: vs. Alabama, L
Week 10: at Ole Miss, W
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: at Texas A&M, W
Week 13: vs. Coastal Carolina, W
Week 14: vs. Clemson, L 


Tennessee: 7–5 overall, 3–5 SEC

Week 1: vs. Syracuse, W
Week 2: vs. ETSU, W
Week 3: vs. Georgia, L
Week 4: vs. UAB, W
Week 5: at Mississippi State, W
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: vs. Arkansas, W
Week 8: at Alabama, L
Week 9: at Kentucky, W
Week 10: vs. Oklahoma, L
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: vs. New Mexico State, W
Week 13: at Florida, L
Week 14: vs. Vanderbilt, L 

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 19 Tennessee


Texas: 11–1 overall, 7–1 SEC

Week 1: at Ohio State, W
Week 2: vs. San Jose State, W
Week 3: vs. UTEP, W
Week 4: vs. Sam Houston, W
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: at Florida, W
Week 7: vs. Oklahoma, W
Week 8: at Kentucky, W
Week 9: at Mississippi State, W
Week 10: vs. Vanderbilt, W
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: at Georgia, L
Week 13: vs. Arkansas, W
Week 14: vs. Texas A&M, W 

MORE: Arch Manning Steps Into Considerable Burden but Also Incredible Opportunity


Texas A&M: 8–4 overall, 5–3 SEC

Week 1: vs. UTSA, W
Week 2: vs. Utah State, W
Week 3: at Notre Dame, L
Week 4: Bye
Week 5: vs. Auburn, W
Week 6: vs. Mississippi State, W
Week 7: vs. Florida, W
Week 8: at Arkansas, W
Week 9: at LSU, L
Week 10: Bye
Week 11: at Missouri, W
Week 12: vs. South Carolina, L
Week 13: vs. Samford, W
Week 14: at Texas, L 

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 17 Texas A&M


Vanderbilt: 7–5 overall, 3–5 SEC

Week 1: vs. Charleston Southern, W
Week 2: at Virginia Tech, W
Week 3: at South Carolina, L
Week 4: vs. Georgia State, W
Week 5: vs. Utah State, W
Week 6: at Alabama, L
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: vs. LSU, L
Week 9: vs. Missouri, W
Week 10: at Texas, L
Week 11: vs. Auburn, L
Week 12: Bye
Week 13: vs. Kentucky, W
Week 14: at Tennessee, W


Independent

The Fighting Irish are breaking in a new starting quarterback but still have talent all over the place. It wouldn’t be surprising to see them favored in every game this season. They might trip up in Miami or on the road at Pitt late in the season, but you can likely pencil them into the CFP between a decent schedule and what they have coming back from their national championship game run. 

MORE: Group of 5 and Independents Football Preview: Notre Dame, Boise State Ready to Make Noise

Notre Dame: 10–2 

Week 1: at Miami, L
Week 2: Bye
Week 3: vs. Texas A&M, W
Week 4: vs. Purdue, W
Week 5: at Arkansas, W
Week 6: vs. Boise State, W
Week 7: vs. NC State, W
Week 8: vs. USC, W
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: at Boston College, W
Week 11: vs. Navy, W
Week 12: at Pitt, L
Week 13: vs. Syracuse, W
Week 14: at Stanford, W

MORE: Sports Illustrated’s College Football Preseason Top 25: No. 5 Notre Dame


More College Football on Sports Illustrated


This article was originally published on www.si.com as Predicting Every 2025 College Football Game for Power 4 and Notre Dame.

Test hyperlink for boilerplate