NCAA College Football: 10 Teams Who Will Exceed Expectations In 2025

Here are 10 teams who are going to exceed all the expectations in the 2025 College Football season:

10. Oklahoma Sooners

QB John Mateer and RB Jayden Ott are two of the most talented offensive players to come through Norman in quite some time. If the offensive line holds up, the Sooners will be rolling.

9. Syracuse Orangemen

Head Coach Fran Brown has done a terrific job of recruiting players to upstate New York. This looks like the season that Syracuse takes the next step up in the ACC.

8. Tulane Green Wave

Tulane just announced that former BYU standout QB Jake Retzlaff will be transferring to become their starter. Retzlaff will join a number of other high profile transfers to give Tulane a chance to win 10 games this season in a depleted American Conference.

7. Duke Blue Devils

Head Coach Manny Diaz had nine wins in his first season in Durham and now he brings in Tulane transfer QB Darian Mensah to run his offense. If Diaz can get the offense to match the intensity of his defense, could be a huge surprise in the ACC.

6. Florida Gators

This looks like a do-or-die season for Head Coach Billy Napier whose Florida team has been disappointing in the competitive SEC. QB DJ Lagway could contend for the Heisman and RB Montrell Johnson, Jr. should get all the touches he can handle. WR J. Michael Sturdivant comes over from UCLA to give Lagway a top receiver to throw to.

5. Texas A&M

The Aggies are going to hand the offense over to dual-threat QB Marcel Reed which should lead to a ton of points being scored in College Station. Even better is that transfer WR KC Concepcion (NC State) should thrive in an offense where he will be the main recipient of targets.

4. South Carolina

QB LaNorris Sellers is arguably the most underrated player in the country. If their defense can step up and make a few big plays, Sellersshould be able to keep the Gamecocks rolling on offense.

3. Illinois Fighting Illini

Starting QB Luke Altmyer returns behind an experienced offensive line. Moreover, Illinois has a relatively easy schedule which should help them have a real chance at winning 8-9 games this season.

2. Houston Cougars

Don’t sleep on the Cougars as Head Coach Willie Fritz brought in two major transfers: Texas A&M QB Conner Weigman and Rice RB Dean Connors to spark Houston’s offense. 

1. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Texas Tech brought in the second-ranked transfer portal class adding major players on defense. If the transfers can gel together with QB Behren Morton and the offense the Red Raiders might have a shot of making the CFP.