College football fans, buckle up—this season is shaping up to be one for the ages. Just as the summer heat starts to fade, anticipation is building for a College Football Playoff (CFP) field loaded with powerhouse programs, rising contenders, and a few surprises that could shake up the sport’s hierarchy. And, as if that weren’t enough, the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry is hitting a fever pitch, drawing comparisons to the legendary Alabama-Auburn showdowns of the early 2010s. With predictions rolling in and old grudges simmering, the 2025 college football season is already promising high drama and unforgettable moments.
On August 29, 2025, analysts released their much-anticipated picks for the 12 teams expected to battle for the national title in the expanded CFP. The list reads like a who’s who of college football royalty: Penn State, Texas, Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Oregon, Iowa State, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, and Tulane. Seven of those hail from the SEC and Big Ten—no surprise, perhaps, given the conferences’ dominance last year. But this season, Texas A&M joins the SEC’s playoff party, looking to make a statement with a punishing ground game and a defense that new head coach Mike Elko is determined to tighten up.
Miami, meanwhile, is being pegged as a team ready to finally get over the hump, thanks to projected September victories over Notre Dame and Florida. If the Hurricanes live up to the hype, they’ll be back in the national spotlight, rekindling memories of their glory days. Over in the Big 12, Iowa State is tipped to make its first-ever CFP appearance as conference champions, while Tulane is expected to represent the Group of 5 after Boise State stumbled early against South Florida.
But every year needs a sleeper, and this time, it’s Baylor. The Bears, led by Dave Aranda and returning a wealth of experience from last season’s 8-5 squad, are seen as dark horses with a real shot at the Big 12 title. "This shoutout will look glorious or ugly by the end of Week 2 as the Bears open their 2025 campaign home against Auburn and at SMU. But even if Baylor starts 0-2, it can work itself back into the playoff mix by staying in the Big 12 title race. The Bears rank third in the Big 12 in returning production after going 8-5 last year. Dave Aranda has his best team and they'll reach the conference championship game in December," wrote Jackson Fuller for the Southwest Times Record.
So, who’s expected to rise above the rest? The predictions have Penn State and Texas squaring off in the CFP Championship on January 19, 2026, in Miami. If you’re a Nittany Lions fan, you might want to start making travel plans. The analysts see Penn State knocking off Oregon in the quarterfinals and then outdueling Alabama in the semifinals, with quarterback Drew Allar living up to his sky-high billing. "Drew Allar takes care of the football and makes enough plays with his legs to send Penn State to the national title," the preview notes.
On the other side of the bracket, Texas is forecast to handle Miami in the quarterfinals and then face Georgia, who will have eliminated both Notre Dame and Clemson. The Longhorns, led by the much-hyped Arch Manning, are predicted to shine in a classic semifinal, setting up a blockbuster title tilt with Penn State.
And what about the final? The pick is bold: Penn State over Texas. "James Franklin winning a national title ends all James Franklin jokes. There isn't a better roster in the country this season than Penn State, who brings back a pair of dominant running backs and starters all over the defense. The poaching of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from Ohio State will prove to be a championship-winning offseason move, and Drew Allar lives up to the way-too-lofty expectations coming out of high school by guiding the Nittany Lions to the promised land," Fuller wrote. That’s high praise, but it’s hard to argue with a team that seems to have all the pieces in place, especially after landing Knowles in the offseason.
While the playoff race is heating up, the off-field drama is just as intense—especially in the Midwest. The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry is being called the new Alabama-Auburn, with all the passion, controversy, and, yes, a little bit of Southern-style lunacy. As Matt Hayes of USA TODAY Sports Network put it, "It’s like we’ve opened some surreal pigskin vortex, a black hole to the 2010 days of Iron Bowl lunacy. Ohio State and Michigan, everyone, look a whole lot like Alabama and Auburn."
This rivalry has it all: national championships, allegations of cheating, high-profile coaches, and fan bases that live and breathe football. The 2023 season saw Michigan claim a national title amid the Connor Stalions advanced scouting scandal, while Ohio State, determined not to be left behind, assembled a $20 million roster headlined by quarterback Will Howard, the MVP of the national championship game. Hayes drew a direct line between the Midwest madness and the Southern soap opera of a decade ago, writing, "Alabama won a national title in 2009, and Auburn got so desperate, it – ahem, allegedly – paid top-dollar to sign quarterback Cam Newton and ride his uber talents all the way to its first national title since 1957. Michigan won a national title in 2023, and Ohio State got so desperate that it pushed all-in on a $20 million dollar roster that included starting quarterback Will Howard."
The rivalry’s latest twist? Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, a loud-and-proud Michigan alum, was reportedly banned from Ohio Stadium for the August 30, 2025, season opener between No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Ohio State. Depending on whom you ask, the ban was either an act of spite or a simple matter of media credentials, but the tension is palpable. "You say thems the rules, I say the spite is strong at Ohio State. You don’t really think Ohio State has forgotten about last season in The Shoe, do you?" Hayes quipped, referencing the postgame celebrations and ongoing bitterness over Michigan’s 2023 title.
The NCAA’s handling of the Stalions scandal and Michigan’s self-imposed penalties has only poured fuel on the fire, with Ohio State fans and boosters feeling slighted and eager for payback. The off-field drama isn’t likely to subside any time soon, especially as both programs remain at the top of the college football heap.
As the 2025 season kicks off, the battle lines are drawn—on the field and off. With a loaded CFP field, a sleeper or two lurking in the wings, and rivalries reaching a boiling point, college football fans are in for a wild ride. Whether Penn State can finally break through, Texas lives up to the hype, or Ohio State and Michigan write another wild chapter in their storied feud, one thing’s for sure: the road to Miami will be anything but dull.