ESPN's final 2025 Preseason SP+ rankings place Ohio State at No. 1, despite losing key players from their championship team. Alabama is No. 2, followed by Georgia. Texas, the top-ranked team in the AP and USA Today polls, is fifth. Other top-ten teams include Penn State, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Michigan. The rankings consider offensive and defensive efficiency, projected win totals, and strength of schedule, offering a predictive, not resume-based assessment of team performance.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.