2025 Top 10 CFP Dark Horses

Jake Wimberly

Ross Gaskin Contributing:

1. Texas A&M

The Aggies were one of the better teams in the SEC last season and as we head into 2025, they will have a great combination of a great roster and a schedule that should produce a lot of wins while also not being super easy. They have a great young QB who will have plenty of weapons at his disposal including an unbelievable RB in Le’Veon Moss. Their defense will also be very stout as stars Taurean York, Scooby Williams, Marcus Ratcliffe, and more will be returning.

2. Oklahoma

The Sooners did not have the season they expected in their first season in the SEC, but a new QB could lift Oklahoma higher than some may think. John Mateer had a great season in 2024 with Washington State, but he is now a Sooner. Along with Mateer, Oklahoma has a loaded team on both sides of the ball that could take over any game at any time. The only thing holding them back is that their schedule is extremely tough, but if they make it out with 9-10 wins, they could very well make the playoffs.

3. South Carolina

Beamer Ball is taking over the SEC and the South Carolina Gamecocks have been steadily establishing themselves as a top tier team in college football. They have an electric young QB, LaNorris Sellers, who is geared up to have a special year with plenty of weapons to distribute to. However, it is that incredible defense that will be led by their star, DE Dylan Stewart, that is the main selling point of this team. The Gamecocks will have to fight a tough schedule, but they have the talent to be a 10 win team.

4. Florida State

I know that Florida State had an unbearable 2-10 season in 2024, but stick with me because they have a ton of potential to make massive improvements. Mike Norvell did a solid job at rebuilding the team by bringing in a great QB, Thomas Castellanos, and other new weapons as well. Florida State also did a good job at retaining some great talents while also adding some new guys through the portal. Florida State’s schedule is one of the toughest in the nation, but do not be shocked if the Seminoles are back on track in 2025.

5. Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech may not have had the best season in 2024, but they have a stacked team that could emerge as one of the best in the ACC in 2025. The Yellow Jackets duo of QB Haynes King and RB Jamal Haynes are expected to run all over any defense they will face, and they have quite a few heavy hitters on the defense. Georgia Tech also has a very favorable schedule that could produce enough wins to get them to the conference championship and possibly the playoffs.

6. Louisville

Louisville is coming off a fantastic 2024 season and Head Coach Jeff Brohm and his Cardinals seemingly have not skipped a beat. Louisville will have such a dynamic offense as they have a USC transfer QB, Miller Moss, and not 1, not 2, but 3 rising sophomore RB’s who all combined for 2,013 yards and 21 TDs. They also have some young DAWGS on defense, but will be missing some key pieces that could cause a few issues. Louisville will have a great season, but they have a lot of potential to be a playoff team.

7. Kansas State

The Kansas State Wildcats had a solid season last year, but they are about to skyrocket as they have one of the most talented young QBs in the nation, Avery Johnson. Last season, Johnson threw for 2,712 yards and 25 TDs while also rushing for 605 yards and 7 more TDs. The Wildcats are stacked with talent all over the field, and they have a favorable schedule that should produce a lot of wins. I expect K-State to be a top tier BIG 12 team and possibly in the CFP.

8. BYU

BYU finished 2024 as the 2nd best team in the BIG 12 and they are geared up for even more in 2025. The Cougars have plenty of firepower on that offense like QB Jake Retzlaff, RB LJ Martin, and WRs Chase Roberts and Darius Lassiter. Their defense, on the other hand, is pretty depleted, but they do have two LBs, Isaiah Glasker and Jack Kelly, who are fantastic. Those two combined for 121 tackles, 24.5 TFLs, 8.5 sacks, and 4 INTs. If BYU can fill some holes in their defense, expect massive results out of the Cougars in 2025.

9. Illinois

Illinois had a good 2024 season, but Head Coach Brett Bielema and the Fighting Illini will be looking for more heading into the new season. They are in a great place right now as they have almost every single starter returning this season including QB Luke Altmyer, CB Xavier Scott, LB Gabe Jacas, and their entire O-line. There is so much competition within the BIG 10 and it will be tough for Illinois, but they have the roster to do something special and shake up college football.

10. UTSA

For a G5 team to make the playoffs, they have to be perfect and dominate everyone they play, and I think UTSA is a team that could do that. They have a great QB, Owen McCown, who passed for 3,424 yards and 25 TDs while rushing for 340 yards and 3 more TDs. They also have plenty of young talent all over the field including WR Devin McCuin and DB Owen Pewee. UTSA has one of the toughest G5 schedules in the nation, but if they could get 10+ wins from that, they could possibly be the one G5 team to earn a CFP spot.