Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, left, quarterback Cade Klubnik (2), and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley in the game with South Carolina during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Saturday, November 30, 2024. ORG XMIT: IMAGN-883589 (Via OlyDrop)
Romello Height rushes the passer during the Texas Tech football team's spring game, Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Sep 28, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin stands on the field during a warmup prior to a game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-883080 ORIG FILE ID: 20240928_jhp_bm2_0006.JPG
Oct 5, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer gestures on the sidelines against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-883136 ORIG FILE ID: 20241005_gma_ra1_0459.jpg
Jan 1, 2025; Pasadena, CA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) catches a pass and heads to the end zone to score a touchdown in the first quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
Jan 6, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; A general view of the National Championship Trophy during media day before the College Football Playoff national championship between the Michigan Wolverines and the Washington Huskies at George R Brown Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: IMAGN-745699 ORIG FILE ID: 20240106_jcd_al2_0158.JPG
Nov 30, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Maryland Terrapins during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium. Penn State won 44-7. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-883595 ORIG FILE ID: 20241130_gma_bm2_0520.jpg

The start of the 2025-25 college football season is finally here! Well, almost.

Week 0 kicks off in Dublin, Ireland with No. 22 Iowa State taking on No. 17 Kansas State in what's now branded as the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. But there's so much more football beyond Week 0, obviously, and we're looking way ahead.

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It's time to make some extremely (in)accurate predictions on what we expect for the next few months. Our college football experts break down the Power Four champions, the 12-team College Football Playoff field and more below.

We can't actually predict the future, but that's never stopped us from trying. So let's get into it.

2025 ACC champion predictions

Michelle Martinelli: Clemson

The Tigers look like they could be GOOD good this year with early Heisman Trophy candidate Cade Klubnik returning. It'd be great if Miami, SMU or someone else can keep the conference title race competitive, but Clemson might have a huge talent-gap advantage.

Christian D'Andrea: Duke

The Darian Mensah hype train will go from Amtrak to Japanese bullet this season.

Bryan Kalbrosky: Miami

I'm picking Carson Beck and Mario Cristobal, who have varying degrees of national championship experience, to win this conference.

Blake Schuster: Clemson

I really want to back Miami, but asking Carson Beck to fill Cam Ward's shoes is a tall order. Clemson has all the pieces and experience to make quick work of the conference.

Prince J. Grimes: Clemson

Clemson has the best quarterback in the conference and a ton of returning players from last year's 10-4 team.

Cory Woodroof: Clemson

Football gods help us for the Dabo-isms we're going to get this season.

2025 Big 12 champion predictions

Martinelli: Arizona State

This chaotic conference is anyone's to win. Kansas State, Arizona State, Baylor, Texas Tech and Utah are in a five-way tie for the top preseason odds to win the Big 12, and that's got chaos and unpredictability written all over it.

D'Andrea: Texas Tech

Spending millions of dollars on players worth millions of dollars worked wonders for the Red Raiders' softball team.

Kalbrosky: Utah

In a conference this wide open, I'm going to go with the coach I trust the most, and that's Kyle Whittingham. Expect Utah to exceed expectations.

Schuster: Kansas State

There are cupcake schedules, and then there's Kansas State playing only two preseason-ranked teams — Iowa State in Dublin for Week 0 and home against Texas Tech in November. Avery Johnson might be a dark-horse Heisman Trophy contender the way things are lining up.

Grimes: Texas Tech

The Red Raiders just brought in the country's second-best class of transfers.

Woodroof: Arizona State

#TeamKenny

2025 Big Ten champion predictions

Martinelli: Ohio State

I don't want to pick the Buckeyes, especially when Penn State has maybe its best team in years. But you're not Charlie-Brown-and-the-footballing me with the Nittany Lions, and Oregon might take a little step back.

D'Andrea: Penn State

After seeing his former team earn a victory over a top-5 opponent last season, James Franklin decides it's time to see what all the fuss is about. Also, his team is really, really good.

Kalbrosky: Oregon

While the Ducks lost quarterback Dillon Gabriel to the NFL Draft, former five-star recruit Dante Moore should do a wonderful job filling his shoes on a team that has loaded up with talented recruits and transfers.

Schuster: Penn State

James Franklin got over the hump last year by beating SMU in the playoff. Now, he's got Drew Allar in Year 2 of Andy Kotelnicki's offense. Giddy up.

Grimes: Ohio State

It's Jeremiah Smith szn.

Woodroof: Michigan

The Wolverines always sneak up on you when you least expect them.

2025 SEC champion predictions

Martinelli: Texas

This is a boring answer — talked myself out of a way-too-bold LSU pick — but I think after working out some early season kinks, the Longhorns will be a force in the SEC.

D'Andrea: Vanderbilt

VANDY! WE'RE [EXPLETIVE] TURNT!

Kalbrosky: Alabama

I'll roll with the Tide, who enter the season with Ty Simpson and Ryan Williams as legitimate Heisman hopefuls.

Schuster: Texas A&M

The Aggies raining on the Arch Manning parade is the most chaotic outcome and, therefore, the most likely.

Grimes: Alabama

It's only Year 2, but Kalen DeBoer probably can't afford another down season.

Woodroof: Georgia

You can't keep a good Dawg down for long.

2025 Heisman Trophy winner predictions

Martinelli: Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt

He was phenomenal last year getting the Sun Devils to the CFP, and without Cam Skattebo this year, he has a chance to really pad his stats. Also worth mentioning that only once since 2009 has the preseason Heisman favorite actually won, so history is very much against Arch Manning.

D'Andrea: Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia

If Diego Pavia can believe in himself so hard he beats Alabama, he can believe in himself so hard a 5-foot-10 quarterback wins the Heisman.

Kalbrosky: Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith

After watching him in person at the Rose Bowl earlier this year, I feel quite confident that Jeremiah Smith is one of the best players at his position I'll ever see.

Schuster: Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love

It's been a decade since the last tailback won the Heisman. Love will snap that streak by quite literally carrying Notre Dame back to the playoff.

Grimes: Texas QB Arch Manning

Fine, I'll throw Arch out there. He already has narrative on his side, and I think he'll largely live up to the hype, even if Texas ends up a little disappointing as a whole.

Woodroof: South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers

#SellersSZN

12-team College Football Playoff field predictions for 2025-26

Martinelli: Clemson, Ohio State, Arizona State, Texas, UNLV, Penn State, Alabama, Oregon, Georgia, Illinois, Notre Dame, Kansas State

D'Andrea: Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt, Navy

Kalbrosky: Alabama, Miami, Oregon, Utah, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, LSU, Arizona State

Schuster: Clemson, Ohio State, Texas, Kansas State, Penn State, Navy, Notre Dame, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas Tech, Oregon, Texas A&M

Grimes: Clemson, Texas Tech, Ohio State, Alabama, Penn State, Georgia, Texas, Notre Dame, Miami, TCU, Oregon, LSU

Woodroof: Clemson, Texas, Georgia, Oregon, Arizona State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Ohio State, Michigan, Navy, Penn State, South Carolina

College Football Playoff national champion predictions for 2025-26

Martinelli: Texas over Clemson

The Longhorns will struggle early in the season, but they’ll find a dominant rhythm by October. I want to be wrong about Clemson here, but if the playoff bracket falls the Tigers' way, they could have a relatively manageable path to the title game.

D'Andrea: Vanderbilt over Vanderbilt

Diego Pavia will find a way. He's crafty.

Kalbrosky: Oregon over Ohio State

Dan Lanning will have his revenge.

Schuster: Clemson over Texas

Yeah, I don't like it, either.

Grimes: Penn State over Alabama

I don't know, I just think this would be a funny way for the season end.

Woodroof: South Carolina over Clemson

LaNorris Sellers FTW.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: 2025 college football predictions: CFP field, conference champions, Heisman and more

Reporting by Michelle R. Martinelli, For The Win / For The Win

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