With spring practice in the books and the transfer portal closed (although it’s never completely shut with players still signing with new schools), the college football calendar is finally slowing down — for a few weeks at least.
It’s a good time for the second edition of the 2025 Way-Too-Early Top 25, which has about as much turnover as Clemson‘s roster and not nearly as much as Texas Tech‘s since the first rankings on Jan. 20.
There’s a new No. 1 with Penn State jumping from No. 3 after defending College Football Playoff national champion Ohio State lost a boatload of players to the NFL draft, along with both of its coordinators.
The Nittany Lions are followed by Clemson, Texas, Georgia and Ohio State.
Tennessee fell out of the rankings after losing quarterback Nico Iamaleava to the portal. The Volunteers were No. 19 in the initial rankings. Boise State, previously No. 24, is also no longer ranked.
Texas Tech and Oklahoma, which have been quite busy in the transfer portal, check in at No. 16 and No. 25, respectively.
Here’s the second version of the 2025 Way-Too-Early Top 25:
2024 record: 13-3, 8-1 Big Ten
Previous ranking: 3
Key returning players: QB Drew Allar, RB Kaytron Allen, RB Nicholas Singleton, C Nick Dawkins, DE Dani Dennis-Sutton, S Zakee Wheatley, CB A.J. Harris
Key transfer portal 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)
2025 outlook: After finally turning the corner under coach James Franklin in 2024, the Nittany Lions look loaded for bear this coming season. With Allar, Allen and Singleton returning, Penn State should have one of the most balanced offenses in the FBS, especially if Allar takes the next step as a downfield passer. Adding Pena, Ross and Hudson was critical; Penn State’s receivers didn’t have a reception in a 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in a CFP semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl. Pena, a slot receiver, had 84 catches for 941 yards with nine scores in 2024.
Ross was one of the top receivers in the portal after hauling in 76 passes for 1,043 yards with 11 scores last season. Penn State’s most important offseason addition might be new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who helped guide Ohio State to a CFP national title last season. He’s the highest-paid…
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