That was a fun weekend, wasn’t it? Overtime thrillers, walk-off field goals and flea flickers galore. It even extended into Sunday, as two coaches - UCLA’s Deshaun Foster and Virginia Tech’s Brent Pry - were fired just three weeks into the season.
With so much going on, it’s time for us to take stock. And with a quarter of the season down, we’re starting to learn a lot. Like, who are each team’s X-factors for the rest of the season? Best players are overrated, after all. As we preview this week’s Top 25 rankings, how about we check in on which player is going to mean the most to each program as they chase down the ultimate prize.
2025 Week 4 Top 25
Ohio State (3-0) LW: 1
X-Factor: Bo Jackson, RB. Yes, Julian Sayin is a cop-out answer as a first-time starter. Instead, I’m going with the surging tailback that is taking Columbus by storm Jackson - no relation to the other, more pixelated Bo Jackson - is currently seizing the Ohio State top tailback position and is the Buckeyes’ leading rusher after two games against weak competition. If he can keep that up in conference play, the Buckeyes have a contender-worthy offense.LSU (3-0) LW: 2
X-Factor: Braelin Moore, C. Getting Moore back from injury is a great way to get the LSU rushing attack started. The Nuss Bus is hitting some speed bumps and Caden Durham hasn’t had many holes to run through. Hopefully, Moore’s healthy return is enough to stabilize the young offensive line and get the Tiger offense truly rolling.Miami (3-0) LW: 3
X-Factor: Ahkeem Mesidor, DE. It’s clear that the Miami defense is the weaker link here, and that defense’s success hinges on its pass rush. Reuben Bain is great, but he’ll draw lots of attention. So it’s up to Mesidor to pick up the slack. He currently leads the Miami defense with two sacks, 0.5 ahead of Bain. So far, so good.Georgia (3-0) LW: 5
X-Factor: Gunner Stockton, QB. It’s obvious, but a clear answer. Stockton is the go-to guy on offense, leading the Dawgs’ charge through the air and on the ground. The Georgia defense doesn’t seem to have their typical elite level of play, so the pressure rests on Stockton’s shoulders.Penn State (3-0) LW: 4
X-Factor: Trebor Pena, WR. No, we haven’t seen Penn State play much of anybody yet, but as we’ve seen in years past, the wide receiver room has work to do. Pena is being deployed in a variety of ways - out wide, in the slot, in the rushing game. If anyone’s going to shine and give Drew Allar a true number one target, Pena’s the man.Florida State (2-0) LW: 6
X-Factor: Earl Little Jr., DB. The Florida State offense gets a ton of attention, but the defense has been stifling in large part to Little. The defensive back is leading the charge by pacing the Seminole defense with 11 tackles from his safety spot to go with a pick and a pass defensed. He’s got a nose for the ball and can turn games on their head if given the chance.Oregon (3-0) LW: 8
X-Factor: Dakorien Moore, WR. The true freshman has shown a solid connection with quarterback Dante Moore already, averaging 16.0 yards per catch and hauling in a touchdown. With the injury to Evan Stewart robbing Oregon of their clear-cut top wideout, Dakorien and Dante have left Ducks fans clamoring for Moore.Iowa State (4-0) LW: 7
X-Factor: Carson Hansen, RB. Rocco Becht is great and clearly the first option in this offense. But he needs help. Hansen wasn’t that effective last year, and 2025 is no different. He’s averaging 4.7 yards a carry, which isn’t the worst, but his EPA/rush ranks as simply average. Not quite good enough.Texas A&M (3-0) LW: Unranked*
X-Factor: Trey Zuhn, LT. Texas A&M has had some serious line health issues and now the depth is being stressed. Zuhn, the blindside blocker for Marcel Reed, is a key lynchpin. He’s been nursing injuries, missing time against both Utah State and Notre Dame. If Zuhn is to miss extended time, the Aggies are in trouble.
*I forgot to rank Texas A&M last week. They should’ve been in the 15-20 area, but a lack of oversight prevented that from happening. Oops.Texas (3-0) LW: 9
X-Factor: Arch Manning. I’m not worried about Texas’s defense, the Longhorns have a lot of elite players and have played well all season. It’s Manning I’m worried about. His first action against a quality defense, Ohio State, didn’t go well. Even his last game against UTEP of all programs was underwhelming. Can he turn it on once SEC play opens up?Utah (3-0) LW: 12
X-Factor: Devon Dampier, QB. We saw in the first half that Dampier is not completely unflappable. The poor weather in Laramie and a mistake-plagued half kept Wyoming in the game. Granted, the Utes were able to take over in the second half, but the script is out. Shut down Dampier and you shut down Utah entirely. Let’s see if anyone can follow that recipe to success.Auburn (3-0) LW: 13
X-Factor: Jeremiah Cobb, RB. Jackson Arnold has been a revelation, but he’ll need help. In an RPO-heavy scheme like the one Hugh Freeze employs, you need to have a strong rushing threat next to Arnold. Cobb has been that so far, with two consecutive 100-yard rushing games. Freeze is betting on Cobb to keep that going.Oklahoma (3-0) LW: 14
X-Factor: Sammy Omosigho, LB. John Mateer will get all the headlines. Omosigho is the key to Brent Venables's defense holding up. The junior was all over the field against Temple, like he has been all over the season. Omosigho has stuffed the stat sheet so far, leading the team in tackles and passes defensed and tying for the team lead in sacks.Illinois (3-0) LW: 15
X-Factor: Luke Altmyer, QB. The Illinois quarterback has a flair for dramatics and struggled at times with turnovers last year. Through three games, the Illini have a clean turnover sheet. Obviously, Altmyer and company won’t be able to keep that going, but it shows he’s turned over a new leaf. If it continues into Big Ten play, Illinois will achieve that preseason contender billing.Georgia Tech (3-0) LW: 21
X-Factor: Kyle Efford, LB. One of the nation’s most unheralded linebackers, Efford has game-breaking ability. We just haven’t seen it quite yet. Still, he’s played outstanding to date. The Yellow Jacket offense is what it has been for years, so the defense will have to be the surprising one. Efford is the one to lead the charge, if it’ll come.Ole Miss (3-0) LW: 17
X-Factor: Trinidad Chambliss, QB. Austin Simmons entered the year with all the hype. Then he started fine, not spectacularly. And got injured. Enter Chambliss, who took over the game against Arkansas and may be the better starting option moving forward. Lane Kiffin has his hands full with a full-fledged quarterback battle that will make or break this season for the Rebels.Texas Tech (3-0) LW: 18
X-Factor: Romello Height, EDGE. All the defensive attention will be on the edge opposite Height, David Bailey, and the Red Raiders’ two strong linebackers. That means it’s time for Height to step up. He’s show he can be a good player, but still seems to be a bit of a disappointment due to his high recruiting billing. Personally, I think he can unlock another level in this defense.USC (3-0) LW: 20
X-Factor: Waymond Jordan, RB. A Lincoln Riley offense will almost always be measured by its passing attack. This USC team needs help on the ground and that’ll have to come from Jordan. He tore through Purdue - I know, not a hard thing to do - and is averaging 7.3 yards per carry. That’ll give enough support to Jayden Maiava.Tulane (3-0) LW: 25
X-Factor: Jake Retzlaff, QB. It’s silly to put Retzlaff here, but he truly belongs. I’ve talked a lot about how Retzlaff got to the Big Easy in the Season Preview, which makes his early-season play even more surprising. As he gets more comfortable in the offense, Tulane is going to head to the moon. Or, tragically fall into the depths of a four-way quarterback battle nightmare. No in between.Vanderbilt (3-0) LW: Unranked
X-Factor: Diego Pavia, QB. Could it be anyone else? This team will go as far as Pavia can will them. I mean, he won a court battle to even suit up this year for crying out loud!Louisville (2-0) LW: 22
X-Factor: Clev Lubin, DL. Jeff Brohm’s teams always focus on their offense first, as expected. Lubin has had a great start to the season, though. He’s got 14 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Someone has to step up on the Cardinal defense, it might as well be Lubin.South Florida (2-1) LW: 16
X-Factor: Mac Harris, LB. You know Byrum Brown and the Bull offense at this point. So let’s switch over to the defensive side of the ball. Harris is the leader of the defense, just like Brown leads the offense. He’s got 13 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble already as the primary run stopper. It hasn’t helped, as Miami gashed the Bulls on the ground, but he’s the first step in turning over a new leaf.Indiana (3-0) LW: Next Five Out
X-Factor: Louis Moore, CB. D’Angelo Ponds is an All-Big Ten player at one corner spot, and teams are going to look to avoid him at all costs. To have a decent secondary, Curt Cignetti is counting on Moore to keep playing out of his mind. He’s eclipsed Ponds in every stat and leads the Hoosiers with a pair of picks.TCU (2-0) LW: 23
X-Factor: Kevorian Barnes, RB. TCU is all gas and no brakes, all about what they can score and not caring what they let up. Josh Hoover and the passing attack is the focus here, but Barnes is a lightning quick back that can teleport down the field in a snap. Get him going and TCU can beat anyone.Michigan (2-1) LW: Next Five Out
X-Factor: Damon Payne, DL. Wink Martindale’s defense hinges on a strong defensive line and Payne is the boom or bust guy. He’s only got five tackles in three games, but has all of the potential in the world. If Martindale gets Payne rocking, Michigan will have another elite defense. If not, Michigan may have some rush defense issues.
Don’t know what to make of what you’ve seen so far? The SID Sports Season Preview has you covered to see what was expected and what needs more proof to truly believe with full previews of all 136 teams and nine conferences.
Next Five Out: Baylor, SMU, Missouri, Clemson, Tennessee
Baylor keeps on doing what’s expected, scoring a lot of points and playing suspect defense. If the Bears keep rolling, they’ll be a Big 12 competitor through the season. I've honestly not been impressed by SMU this season. Kevin Jennings hasn’t had the offense rolling and the defense has taken an expected step back. Missouri, however, is looking better than expected. Beau Pribula and Ahmad Hardy are a lights-out combination, they just need more on defense. Speaking of needing more, what’s up with Clemson? The Tigers are on paper a title favorite, but Dabo Swinney’s squad has looked as flat as ever. Need to tighten that up. Tennessee will be okay, especially if the Vols can just keep doing what they did against Georgia. Hitting one field goal has Tennessee vaulting up the polls instead of here. Plus, Joey Aguilar is an absolute dog.
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I think it'll be fun to include a top 25 ranking in Net EPA/Play in the comments of this. It means nothing, because there is no strength of schedule adjustment, and plenty of room for bias because some teams have played just two games, but it will mean more and more as the season comes along, so here's where we start:
25) Nebraska
24) Memphis
23) Mississippi State
22) Alabama
21) ECU
20) Navy
19) Toledo
18) Ohio State
17) Minnesota
16) Miami
15) Penn State (with the weak competition, only 15th is massively concerning to me)
14) Illinois
13) North Texas
12) Arkansas
11) Vanderbilt
10) Oklahoma
9) Arizona
8) Washington
7) Missouri
6) Indiana
5) Florida State
4) Oregon
3) Utah
2) BYU
1) LOL USC
Once again, these rankings are not especially important right now. LSU is not in the top 25 at all, because they've had some competition already. Nor is Georgia, and etc., but pay attention once things get going and teams get schedules with more FBS opponents in them, and pay special attention to teams with multiple FBS opponents who still appear in this top 25, like Oregon or Utah.
Penn State's slow starts are troubling. If it continues against Oregon in two weeks, we'll be hearing the same old talking points from James Franklin about, "We have to do better. I have to do better." Hey James, you have two weeks starting right now to get better.