Although the 2024-2025 College Football Season just came to an end, crowning Ohio State as the National Champions, it’s never a bad time to look ahead to the next season. Similar to those made by others, Similar to the predictions made by others we at the Blueprint have decided to create our very own CFB early rankings for the 2025-2026 season.
Five years ago this list would have been fairly easy to create. Ranking Alabama either first or second, following up with either Georgia, Ohio State or Clemson. Nowadays because of the NIL, as stated by the New York Times, it takes the gross annual revenue of a small country to keep a college football roster intact.
1: Georgia
Key returning players: quarterback Gunner Stockton, running back Nate Frazier, tight end Oscar Delp, tight end Lawson Luckie, lineman CJ Allen, linebacker Raylen Wilson, safety KJ Bolden and cornerback Daylen Everette
Key transfers: wide receivers Zachariah Branch (USC) and Noah Thomas (Texas A&M) and safety Jaden Harris (Miami)
Our number one team is the Georgia Bulldogs. With three losses last season, the Bulldogs seemed a bit disjointed throughout the majority of the 2024 season, including a heartbreaking Sugar Bowl loss to Notre Dame. However they had still managed to pick up a Southeastern Conference Title by beating Texas and now with QB Stockton taking on a bigger role and Thomas joining the Bulldogs, they will be sure not to disappoint this year, especially not with Defensive Back Coach, Donte Williams.
2: Oregon
Key returning players: wide receiver Evan Stewart, linebackers Devon Jackson, Teitum Tuioti, and Matayo Uiagalelei, running back Noah Whittington and cornerback Iapani Laloulu
Key transfers: running back Makhi Hughes (Tulane), guard Emmanuel Pregnon (USC), cornerback Theran Johnson (Northwestern) and safety Dillon Thieneman (Purdue)
We have the Oregon Ducks ranked at two. Although Heisman Nominee Dillon Gabriel is leaving, the Ducks still have a strong QB in former UCLA Bruin Dante Moore to replace him who will also be aided by WR Stewart who had a breakout season last year and also helped the Ducks go undefeated and we already know that Coach Dan Lanning is out for revenge.
3: Texas
Key returning players: running backs Quintrevion Wisner and CJ Baxter, wide receiver Ryan Wingo, edge Colin Simmons, linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and safety Michael Taaffe
Key transfers: defensive tackles Cole Brevard (Purdue) and Travis Shaw (North Carolina), and linebacker Brad Spence (Arkansas)
At our number three spot, we have the Texas Longhorns, this should come as no surprise. The Manning Era will begin in Austin and head coach Steve Sarkisian will get back National Freshman of the year Simmons at Defensive End as well as star linebacker Anthony Hill. The Horns will also have previously injured RB Baxter to help make the Offense a lot more productive as well.
4: Ohio State
Key returning players: wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, and safety Caleb Downs
Key transfers: running back CJ Donaldson (West Virginia), offensive tackles Ethan Onianwa (Rice) and Phillip Daniels (Minnesota)
We have this year’s National Champions Ohio State ranked at our four spot. Although they will be losing a bunch of talented players such as RB TreVeyon Henderson and QB Will Howard, they will still have one of the best Offensive Players in Smith and one of the country’s best Defensive Players in Downs. Back-to-Back championships remain a serious possibility, even if head coach Ryan Day loses to Michigan again.
5: Penn State
Key returning players: quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, center Nick Dawkins, defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, safety Zakee Wheatley and cornerback A.J. Harris
Key transfers: wide receivers Kyron Hudson (USC) and Devonte Ross (Troy), and guard TJ Shanahan (Texas A&M)
Ranked at our number five spot we have Penn State who will have nearly all of their best NFL prospects to return back to the team for another year such as the trio of Allar, Singleton, and Allen who will be returning. Although head coach James Franklin is infamous for his record in big games, he’ll have another shot at rewriting the narrative next season.
6: Notre Dame
Key returning players: running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, wide receivers Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse, linebacker Drayk Bowen and safety Adon Shuler
Key transfers: wide receivers Malachi Fields (Virginia) and Will Pauling (Wisconsin) and defensive back DeVonta Smith (Alabama)
We have the Irish at our number six spot and although they fell short in the National Championship, head coach Marcus Freeman is just getting started. Although they won’t have the leadership of QB Riley Leonard, the coaching staff is excited about freshman CJ Carr. The Irish were young on both lines by season’s end and should be better in the trenches on both sides of the ball, with several elite talents joining them in the offensive and defensive backfields.
7: Clemson
Key returning players: quarterback Cade Klubnik, wide receivers Antonio Williams and Bryant Wesco Jr, linebackers Sammy Brown and Wade Woodaz, defensive linemen T.J. Parker and Peter Woods and offensive tackle Blake Miller
Key transfers: edge Will Heldt (Purdue)
Ranked for our number seven spot is the Clemson Tigers. head coach Dabo Swinney, faced many criticisms from fans last season for not utilizing the college transfer portal. Either way though, returning QB Klubnik will be a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate as he returns after throwing for 3,700 yards and 36 touchdowns in an Atlantic Coast Conference title-winning season. Clemson also obtained former Penn State Defensive Coordinator Tom Allen.
8: Miami
Key returning players: running backs Mark Fletcher Jr. and Jordan Lyle, offensive tackles Markel Bell, and Francis Mauigoa, guard Matthew McCoy, defensive end Rueben Bain Jr., and cornerback OJ Frederique Jr.
Key transfers: quarterback Carson Beck (Georgia), wide receiver CJ Daniels (LSU), cornerback Charles Brantley (Michigan State) and safety Zechariah Poyser (Jacksonville State)
We have the Hurricanes ranked in our number eight spot. Although Heisman Nominee Cam Ward will be declaring for the draft and Georgia Transfer Beck is still recovering from his injury, Miami still has a pretty solid team, especially with Junior Offensive Lineman Mauigoa. Head coach Mario Cristobal has done well to stack the rest of the roster to survive the many departures that this team had.
9: Arizona State
Key returning players: quarterback Sam Leavitt, wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, running Back Kyson Brown, safeties Myles Rowser and Xavion Alford, linebackers Keyshaun Elliott and Jordan Crook, cornerback Javan Robinson and defensive end Clayton Smith
Key transfers: running back Kanye Udoh (Army), wide receiver Jalen Moss (Fresno State), and cornerback Kyndrich Breedlove (Purdue)
At our number nine spot, we have the former Big 12 Champions in Arizona. Although the Sun-Devils will be missing a valuable asset in Cam Skattebo, head coach Kenny Dillingham acquired Army transfer Udoh to replace him. Eight starters return from a defense that allowed 19.2 points per game. QB Leavitt will also be getting back his favorite target in Tyson, as he is returning back from injury.
10: Alabama
Key returning players: running back Jam Miller, wide receivers Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard, center Parker Brailsford, offensive Tackle Kadyn Proctor, defensive end LT Overton, linebacker Justin Jefferson and cornerback Zabien Brown
Key transfers: wide Receiver Isaiah Horton (Miami), guard Kam Dewberry (Texas A&M) and linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green (Colorado)
And last but not least at our final spot, who else better to put rather than the Crimson Tide? This year no coach in the country faces more pressure than Kalen DeBoer after bombing his debut season in Tuscaloosa. The first challenge that he will face will be who to choose for Jalen Milroe’s replacement. Backup Ty Simpson, onetime Washington transfer Austin Mack and five-star prospect Keelon Russell will battle for the job. The good news however is that most of the players who could have turned pro opted to return, especially on a defense that finished tied for 10th nationally in yards per play allowed.
Honorable mentions: LSU, Tennessee, BYU, Illinois, and Iowa State.
