College Football Playoff Predictions: Who’s Most Likely to Make the Field?

09/07/2025

The new season is here, and everyone's already talking about the College Football Playoff picture. ESPN's experts dropped their early top-12 predictions, and while they don't all agree, a clear group of front-runners is starting to emerge.

The Heavy Favorites

Across the board, six teams keep showing up in the top slots:

  • Ohio State – The Buckeyes are sitting at No. 1 on most boards, looking every bit like the early team to beat.

  • LSU – Brian Kelly's Tigers are right behind, getting a ton of respect after a strong start.

  • Penn State – The Nittany Lions are climbing, usually in the top three across expert picks.

  • Georgia – The Bulldogs are still in the hunt, with plenty of playoff experience to back it up.

  • Miami – Don't sleep on the Hurricanes; analysts are buying into their talent and upside.

  • Oregon – The Ducks round out the top group, consistently landing in that top-six window.

Teams in the Mix

After the big six, things get interesting. Depending on which analyst you ask, teams like Texas, Notre Dame, Clemson, Tulane, Florida State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Utah, Arizona State, and Iowa State sneak into the conversation. They may not all make the final four, but they'll play spoiler and could shake up the bracket.

What It Means

Bottom line: if the playoff field was set today, expect to see Ohio State, LSU, Penn State, Georgia, Miami, and Oregon at the top. But with conference play heating up, one slip-up can open the door for a team like Texas or Clemson to crash the party.

The Playoff is about momentum and timing—September favorites don't always survive November.

4 Downs 3 Counts Take

At 4D3C, we're watching how the Big Ten plays out (Ohio State vs. Penn State is already shaping up as a playoff elimination game). LSU looks built for the long run, and Oregon's speed is going to test everybody. The wild card? Miami—if they stay hot, the Canes could be the shocker of 2025.

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