Race to the top: Who's gearing up for a conference title run?
Digging deeper into each conference's title race
Note: This is an accompanying piece to the SID Sports Season Preview. There, you’ll find full team previews for all 136 FBS teams, conference predictions from a panel of college football Substackers and more.
Football is kicking off in just a few short days. And that means it’s time to prognosticate and look ahead at the season.
As always, most everyone is focused on the College Football Playoff and which 12 teams are getting seats at the table. That starts in the conference title races, of which the top five conference champions by College Football Playoff rankings get automatic bids into the big dance.
Which teams are in the hunt for that? Let’s break down each race, looking at one X-factor for each preseason contender.
If you want full breakdowns on each program, check out the SID Sports 2025 Season Preview. There’s full two-page previews of all 136 programs there.
ACC
Clemson: Clemson is the clear favorite, earning 13 of 16 first-place votes in the Season Preview polling and claiming the Preseason Number One slot in my inaugural rankings.
What could go right? Tom Allen, defensive coordinator from Penn State, can resurrect the Tiger defense to what it was under Brent Venables and what we saw from Allen’s Nittany Lions last year.
What could go wrong? Garrett Riley’s offense takes a step back and Cade Klubnik isn’t ready to carry a team.
Miami: No first place votes for the Canes, but they ranked second on most ballots.
What could go right? Corey Hetherman gives Miami a passable defense so the offense doesn’t have to win 12 or more shootouts.
What could go wrong? Carson Beck’s offseason shoulder surgery leads to a rough start and the Canes find themselves in a hole.
SMU: Rhett Lashlee’s Ponies were a surprise last year and got a first place vote in our preseason poll.
What could go right?: Kevin Jennings flushes a three-interception performance against Penn State in the CFP last time out and returns to form.
What could go wrong?: The defense falters from last year’s high marks and things turn into shootouts more often.
Georgia Tech: Call Georgia Tech the dark horse of the ACC, as the Yellow Jackets placed fourth with a first-place vote.
What could go right?: Haynes King stays healthy and pilots a strong offense.
What could go wrong?: Edge rusher transfers don’t work out and the defense loses their strong edge, forcing the offense to win games they’re not prepared to.
Big Ten
Ohio State: The Buckeyes are heavily expected to repeat in 2025, claiming nine of 16 first place votes.
What could go right?: The supporting cast, especially top-notch receivers and elite defenders Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs, do enough that Julian Sayin doesn’t have to be the guy immediately.
What could go wrong?: Ryan Day’s coordinator hires don’t work out. Brian Hartline 2.0 is the same as Brian Hartline 1.0 at offensive coordinator and Matt Patricia does Matt Patricia things on defense.
Penn State: Is this James Franklin’s year? The Nittany Lions earned three first-place votes and took the crown in the official Big Ten media poll.
What could go right?: All the returning production and Jim Knowles merge together to make this the nation’s most dangerous roster.
What could go wrong?: Drew Allar is the same Drew Allar we’ve seen and he can’t push the Nittany Lions over the hump. That and James Franklin does James Franklin things.
Oregon: Last year was quite an entrance for Dan Lanning’s Oregon, but two votes have the Ducks leaving Indianapolis with a Big Ten title.
What could go right?: The defense is among the nation’s best top to bottom, making it next to impossible to score on the Ducks.
What could go wrong?: Dante Moore is the same overmatched quarterback we saw at UCLA two years ago and the Oregon offense sputters.
Michigan: Scandals be damned, the Wolverines are competitors, even if they didn’t net any preseason first-place votes.
What could go right?: Bryce Underwood lives up to the hype and leads the offense back to respectability, making the Wolverines a clear contender.
What could go wrong?: The defensive front, missing last year’s stars, takes a step back and forces Underwood to try to win games on his own as a true freshman.
USC: A curious placing, but things could align for Lincoln Riley to finally break through. True, they didn’t earn any first place votes.
What could go right?: Riley and Jayden Maiava re-ignite the passing attack with two top wideouts in Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane.
What could go wrong?: Maiava is middling and true freshman Husan Longstreet isn’t ready to take over.
Illinois: It’s sleeper time! The Illini got a first place vote in our poll, but it’ll take some help.
What could go right?: Gabe Jacas, Xavier Scott and company are lights-out on defense and the Illini feast on a lack-luster conference slate.
What could go wrong?: Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin were bigger pieces of the puzzle than we thought and quarterback Luke Altmyer can’t play hero ball like last season.
Indiana: You don’t need to Google Curt Cignetti anymore as everyone knows who he is. Plus, his Hoosiers got one first place vote.
What could go right?: Fernando Mendoza steps in and hits his stride immediately, leaving no drop off from Kurtis Rourke last season.
What could go wrong?: Outside of two studs (edge rusher Mikai Kamara and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds), the Indiana defense can’t hang with the league’s top offenses.
Big 12
Arizona State: Last year’s darlings are this year’s projected champions, with five of 16 first place votes.
What could go right?: The second-best mark in returning production means Arizona State doesn’t skip a beat from last year’s magical run.
What could go wrong?: Close games turn to losses and the Sun Devils fall behind in the conference race.
Kansas State: The Wildcats have the same amount of first place votes as Arizona State, but the point breakdown pushed the Sun Devils ahead of Chris Kleiman’s squad.
What could go right?: The thin Wildcats returning receiving corps steps up in a more quarterback-friendly scheme for Avery Johnson.
What could go wrong?: An all-or-nothing defense comes up empty more than last year, allowing more big plays.
Texas Tech: Can you buy a title? Let’s find out. Two of our voters seem to think so.
What could go right?: Joey McGuire and Cody Campbell’s defensive spending spree pays off and Texas Tech actually makes stops on that side of the ball.
What could go wrong?: A portalled-in offensive line doesn’t mesh and gives up too much pressure.
Utah: Utah had a downright bad season last year, but three voters are putting everything on a bounce-back year.
What can go right?: Utah’s luck flips from being one of the nation’s most unlucky in terms of injuries, turnovers and close game results into an average or better team.
What can go wrong?: Devon Dampier isn’t able to repeat the success he had in a 5-7 New Mexico season last year against tougher Big 12 competition.
Baylor: From the hot seat to a potential sleeper pick, Dave Aranda’s Bears netted the final first-place vote.
What can go right?: A returner-heavy offense blows the brakes off of everyone they come across.
What can go wrong?: Aranda’s uber-aggressive defense comes up empty and can’t get important stops, like we’ve seen pop up at times in years past.
Iowa State: No first place votes, but voters still feel strongly about how the Cyclones will look in 2025.
What can go right?: The defensive front seven, now all healthy along with some transfer imports, steps up, generating tons of pressure and effectively stopping the run.
What can go wrong?: A combination of ineffective running backs and losing their top two receivers knocks Rocco Becht and the offense as a whole down a few pegs.
SEC
Texas: Yeah, Texas is officially back, running away with 11 of 16 first place votes.
What could go right?: Steve Sarkisian gets his wrecking ball defensive line back behind Colin Simmons and Trey Moore.
What could go wrong?: Arch Manning isn’t ready yet and the offense goes through similar spurts of ineffectiveness like we saw under Quinn Ewers.
Georgia: Kirby Smart’s teams are always in the thick of the SEC race and this year is no different. They only got two first-place votes, but don’t discount the Dawgs.
What could go right?: The transfer receivers, headlined by Zacharaiah Branch, ensure Gunner Stockton has plenty of high-level targets that will get open against anyone.
What could go wrong?: A defense with only three returning starters isn’t the elite unit we all expect it to be and is just (gasp!) above average.
Alabama: It’s not Nick Saban’s level of expectations anymore, but vibes are still high for Kalen DeBoer’s Tide with two first-place votes.
What could go right?: Ty Simpson is a better fit for DeBoer and new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb’s offense, with the three crafting one of the nation’s best attacks.
What could go wrong?: The takeaways disappear and Alabama allows more points.
LSU: Is it now or never for Brian Kelly? One voter expects a breakthrough with the Tigers bringing one first place vote to Death Valley.
What could go right?: The transfer-heavy defense plugs the holes we saw last year and big plays allowed go down.
What could go wrong?: Garrett Nussmeier’s fall shoulder injury is a bigger deal than we thought and Michael Van Buren Jr. isn’t ready to take the load.
Want to go deeper? Check out previews on all 136 teams, each conference, a full 136 team ranking and more in the SID Sports Season Preview!
American
Tulane: The Green Wave are expecting to roll over the American, with five first-place votes to lead the conference.
What can go right?: The gamble of letting Jake Retzlaff walk on pays off and he leads the Green Wave to the promised land after some growing pains.
What can go wrong?: Jon Sumrall’s linebackers and secondary aren’t up to the task and allow too many big plays in the passing game.
Memphis: Ryan Silverfield has brought the Tigers close the past few years, but hasn’t fully broken through. Four voters think this is the year.
What can go right?: Brendon Lewis adds a new dimension to the offense that makes it somehow even better than before.
What can go wrong?: A defense with just one returning starter ranks among the nation’s worst.
UTSA: The Roadrunners have Power Four size, but can that translate to wins? Three voters are all aboard the Meep Meep train.
What can go right?: Owen McCown and his five top returning targets stay hot and form one of the American’s most dangerous passing attacks.
What can go wrong?: No returners on defense and the loss of Jimmori Robinson force an offense into unwinnable situations.
Navy: Two voters are rallying behind Blake Horvath and the Midshipmen to repeat last year’s outstanding season.
What can go right?: Horvath and the triple option go off.
What can go wrong?: A few weak links at tackle on the offensive line lets opposing teams blow up the option behind the line.
Army The race between Army and Navy is as tight as ever, with the Black Knights also earning two votes.
What can go right?: Strong trench play on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball set the tone early.
What can go wrong?: Without Captain America Bryson Daily, Dewayne Coleman can’t be the Falcon or Winter Soldier Army needs to take the nation by storm like last season.
Conference USA
Liberty: In the words of
, “This is Liberty’s conference to lose.” 11 of 16 voters backed the Flames.What can go right?: A strong rotation of backs ensures the Flame offense stays on fire, even as the quarterback situation gets sorted out.
What can go wrong?: The rush defense was gutted and the pass defense was just average last year, and now both fall below average.
Western Kentucky: One of five CUSA teams to earn one conference championship vote.
What can go right?: The same thing as every season: they throw for a gazillion yards and can’t be stopped.
What can go wrong?: Replacing both coordinators leads to serious growing pains and the Hilltoppers find themselves in a deep ditch come November.
Jacksonville State: The Gamecocks didn’t get any first-place votes, but placed third overall ahead of four teams with first-place votes.
What can go right?: Defensive-focused coach Charles Kelly and corner Tre’Quan Fegans lead a defense that covers up potential offensive deficiencies.
What can go wrong?: Ranking dead last in returning production means the team has no identity.
Louisiana Tech: One last hurrah in the CUSA before bolting to the Sun Belt could turn into a win? One voter thinks so.
What can go right?: Sophomore Evan Bullock builds on a solid true freshman campaign to take the conference by storm.
What can go wrong? The same thing as the rest of Sonny Cumbie’s tenure: they’re just flat out bad.
MTSU: One voter is all in on the Blue Raiders jumping from 3-9 to conference champs.
What can go right?: Derek Mason improves the defense as a whole, with the Blue Raiders stingy against the run and average against the pass.
What can go wrong?: The offensive line once again ranks among the nation’s worst in preventing havoc, leaving Nicholas Vattiato out to dry.
UTEP: It’s all-in on potential for the Miners, who brought in a surprisingly strong influx of talent to earn a first-place vote.
What can go right?: Malachi Nelson shows why he was a former five-star heralded as a program savior.
What can go wrong?: The offensive line is among the nation’s worst.
Sam Houston: Can the Bearkats weather a coaching change to take the title? One first-place vote shows there’s some belief.
What can go right?: Hunter Watson thrives in Phil Longo’s offense
What can go wrong?: The Longo scheme and a bad defense leads to the offense having to do literally everything.
MAC
Toledo: Jason Candle’s Rockets are the clear-cut top team on paper, earning seven of 16 first place votes.
What can go right?: The defense weathers the loss of Darius Alexander and continues to be the class of the MAC.
What can go wrong?: Toledo inexplicably forgets how to play football in two to three conference games, digging a massive hole.
Miami (OH): You can always count on Chuck Martin competing in the conference and three voters have the RedHawks winning it all.
What can go right?: Dequan Finn recaptures his MAC MVP form and takes over the conference yet again.
What can go wrong?: The offensive line can’t hold up and the offense as a whole takes a hit.
Buffalo: Pete Lembo worked some magic last year and two voters are in on that continuing.
What can go right?: The defensive front is the best in the MAC in terms of both pass rush and run stopping behind Red Murdock.
What can go wrong?: Ty’Quan Roberson is ineffective and the Bull offense is one-dimensional.
Ohio: Only one voter is calling a repeat for the Bobcats, but a coaching change stands in the way.
What can go right?: Putting Sieh Bangura next to Parker Navarro makes Ohio the league’s most potent rushing attack.
What can go wrong?: The defense’s front seven doesn’t pan out in a transfer-heavy transition.
Northern Illinois: The Huskies hung their hat on upsetting Notre Dame last year, but could Thomas Hammock’s squad do more this year? They didn’t get any champion votes.
What can go right?: Despite a coordinator change, Rob Harley keeps the NIU defense where it was last year.
What can go wrong?: A lack of any playmakers renders the offense ineffective.
Bowling Green: Under Scot Loeffler, the Falcons were trending upwards. One voter thinks Eddie George will keep that going.
What can go right?: A strong offensive line lets Drew Pyne work and the Falcons have a good, balanced offense.
What can go wrong?: A completely rebuilt defense isn’t up to the task and the FCS transfers don’t make the impact George is hoping for.
Western Michigan: It’s not the MAC if one directional Michigan team doesn’t compete, right? One voter pegs the Broncos as the one to beat.
What can go right?: A good tight end in Blake Bosma and decent receiver options make up for a shaky on paper quarterback situation.
What can go wrong?: The Broncos routinely lose in the trenches on both sides of the ball, as their resets on both lines don’t work out.
Mountain West
Boise State: The Broncos are galloping away from the pack with 13 votes, even without Ashton Jeanty.
What can go right?: The Bronco defense ranks among the nation’s best - not just the Group of Six.
What can go wrong?: Maddux Madsen can’t repeat the high-level efficiency numbers we saw last year without the threat of Jeanty taking over.
UNLV: Last Chance U at the FBS sounds fun, right? Two voters think Dan Mullen’s Netflix-like approach will push the Rebels past Boise State.
What can go right?: Over half of the 16 blue-chippers Dan Mullen brought in - namely, quarterbacks Anthony Colandrea and Alex Orji - hit it big in Sin City.
What can go wrong?: The completely new offensive line doesn’t grasp the scheme or build enough chemistry, leaving bad holes for the defense to exploit.
Fresno State: Only one voter is in on the Bulldogs, who are undergoing a transition period of their own.
What can go right?: E.J. Warner looks like his pops, NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, and cuts down the pick and is more efficient overall.
What can go wrong?: The defense, aside from corner Al’zillion Hamilton, can’t stop a paper bag.
Sun Belt
James Madison: Is this the year the Dukes finally break through? 11 voters have them winning the East and the Dukes have the top vote total in the conference.
What can go right?: Even if Alonza Barnett III isn’t healthy, Matthew Sluka can keep the offense humming.
What can go wrong?: I hate to fall back on an injury, but if anyone from the offensive line misses any time, there will be serious issues.
Georgia Southern: Clay Helton’s built a solid contender, good enough for three voters to pick the Eagles ahead of the Dukes in the East.
What can go right?: One of the conference’s best secondaries sets up a no fly zone over Statesboro.
What can go wrong?: Quarterback J.C. French isn’t able to cut the turnovers out of his game.
Texas State: The Sun Belt West is a tight race, but Texas State narrowly takes the six-vote tiebreaker based on overall points.
What can go right?: A home-grown line augmented by solid transfers keeps the Bobcat offense moving forward.
What can go wrong?: The quarterback battle carries on too long and nobody can establish a rhythm under center.
Louisiana: Louisiana is neck-and-neck with the Bobcats in the West, but just lost out on overall points.
What can go right?: Walker Howard shows why he was a former top-50 prospect and lights up the Sun Belt.
What can go wrong?: The pass rush disappears once again and the Ragin’ Cajuns are left playing from behind.
Appalachian State: Despite a coaching change, two voters are in on the Mountaineers to make some Mountain Magic.
What can go right?: Dowell Loggains’s NFL pedigree and a solid stable of weapons add up to create a strong offense, no matter who wins the quarterback battle.
What can go wrong?: An inexperienced secondary can’t keep up and coverage breakdowns turn into big chunks of yards and scores.
South Alabama: Major Applewhite has done well in Mobile, and one voter picked them in the tight West race.
What can go right?: Defensive coordinator Will Windham can fix the holes in the defense that appeared at the end of the season.
What can go wrong?: The transfer portal losses on offense are simply too much to overcome and a top-10 offense by EPA is a far cry from where the Jags end up.
Troy: Two voters have their eyes on Gerad Parker turning around a subpar first season.
What can go right?: Unheralded transfers combine with quarterback Goose Crowder to form a strong Trojan rushing attack.
What can go wrong?: Once again, Troy has no pass rush or run disruption on their defense.
Southern Miss: One voter is all-in on Charles Huff essentially moving the bulk of last year’s Sun Belt Champion Marshall to Hattiesburg.
What can go right?: Braylon Braxton and the top levels of Marshall’s offense last year do what they did last season and take the conference by storm.
What can go wrong?: A weak defensive front turns into a weak defense as a whole.
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