There’s a strong possibility that the upcoming preseason AP Top 25 will signal a shift in the college football scene. For the past decade, only four teams—Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, and Georgia—have claimed the top preseason spot. However, this trend may change in a few months.

Texas is currently favored to start at the top of the rankings, as seen in 247Sports’ latest post-spring top 25. Meanwhile, CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello has Ohio State at No. 1 in his own rankings, while Penn State could potentially reclaim that position as noted by Joel Klatt in his post-spring analysis.

Teams such as LSU, Oregon, and Notre Dame are also in the conversation. Clemson, having fallen out of the national title discussions since the emergence of NIL, earned recognition as a top contender in 247Sports’ too-early Top 25 voting.

This year’s projected contenders reflect a level of fluidity not seen in the last decade. Although Ohio State, Georgia, and Alabama remain dominant, it no longer seems a given that one of these powerhouse programs will snatch the national championship.

The landscape in college football is feeling a bit less predictable than before.

Parity to a Degree

While NIL and the transfer portal have narrowed the competitive gap, the crux of the issue remains the baseline talent level, primarily impacted by high school recruiting.

Teams like Arizona State and Texas Tech have seen significant talent upgrades due to portal activity, yet, every national champion since 2013 has maintained a roster where at least 50% comprised four-star recruits or better. This illustrates that while the path to the title might be more open, meeting the foundational talent requirement is as crucial as ever.

For instance, Texas, rated No. 4 in the 2024 Team Talent Composite, is now reeling from recent NFL Draft losses of two key defensive tackles. This situation can be tricky when you’ve lost several other contributors as well, forcing them to rely heavily on the transfer portal.

Each year, the recruiting landscape is subject to change, intensifying competition from previously overlooked teams and signaling a departure from the monopolization of the national title race by a few programs.

The run-up to the 2025 season suggests the dawn of a new era in college football that could lead to a refreshing change in traditional power dynamics.