2025 Returning Starters Power Ranking

Jake Wimberly

Ross Gaskin Contributing:

Below is our 2025 college football power rankings based on each teams returning starters. What we did was take our top 25 teams in our power rankings, multiplied how many returning starters they have by 3, and then added that number to the original number. We then readjusted the new numbers to make a new top 25 power ranking.

We do not usually make returning starters a main vocal point for whether or not a team will succeed. However, it can be a huge reason why a team can find the same or more success the next season, and vice versa. For example, Clemson rose up the ranks once their returning starters were added in, and we also project them to have an amazing season. On the flip side, once the returning starters for Ole Miss were added in, they fell down the list even though we project them to have a great season as well.

There are two teams that I do feel need to be mentioned who will not be on the power ranking as they were not previously in our to 25. Those teams are Arizona State, who had the most returning starters with 17, and Illinois, who the second most with 16. Arizona State’s power number would go from 94.11 to 145.11, which would put them at #15. Illinois’ power number would go from 95.50 to 143.50, which would put them at #17. Again, these teams are not in this top 25 due to the fact that they were not on the original top 25.

Editors Note: All photos courtesy of 247sports.com