Way-Too-Early College Football Upset Picks for 2025

The month of March is typically reserved for college basketball, with the NCAA tournament dominating the headlines. The event usually has several upsets, which is a big reason for its popularity.

Speaking of upsets, how about we try to pick out some college football ones? It's far too early to be doing this, but it's fun to take a peek forward and try to predict the shock results before the season. 

Let's run through some way-too-early upset picks for the 2025 season.  

Ohio State enters 2025 looking to defend its national title crown. But this will be a rebuilding year for the Buckeyes, as most members from its 2024 national title team are headed to the NFL. Ohio State also has to replace both of its coordinators, as Chip Kelly is headed back to the NFL and Jim Knowles is now at Penn State.  

Although the Buckeyes will be rebuilding this season, Ohio State is expected to be a playoff contender once again. Big names like safety Caleb Downs and receiver Jeremiah Smith return, and Ryan Day is expected to start highly-touted Alabama transfer Julian Sayin at quarterback. 

Texas loses quarterback Quinn Ewers, but plenty of pieces return, like running back CJ Baxter, receiver Ryan Wingo, safety Michael Taafe, defensive end Ethan Burke and linebacker Anthony Hill. And 2025 will be the first season that star quarterback Arch Manning will be the Longhorns' full-time starter. 

Of course, this game being in Columbus means that OSU is expected to be the favorite here. But I like Manning and Texas to pull off a huge upset to start the 2025 season off with a bang. The good news for the Buckeyes is that their playoff hopes are still in front of them with a loss here. 

Clemson has a nine-game winning streak over the Yellow Jackets, dating back to 2015. And although Clemson is expected to be in the mix for the playoff once again in 2025, don't sleep on this early-season ACC matchup. Georgia Tech gets the Tigers in Bobby Dodd Stadium this year, and have the talent to pull off an upset. 

The Yellow Jackets return starting quarterback Haynes King and running back Jamal Haynes, receiver Malik Rutherford and several key pieces along the offensive line. Tech's defense will be pretty young, but true freshman safety Tae Harris could get meaningful reps early. 

Yellow Jackets head coach Brent Key will be looking for a signature ACC win in 2025. Upsetting the Tigers at home would give him just that. Clemson's ACC title game hopes should still be in even with a loss here, as well. 

Illinois won 10 games last season for just the fifth time in school history, in a great third season for head coach Bret Bielema. But entering 2025, the Fighting Illini will look to make some noise inside the Big Ten. 

Illinois returns 76 and 78 percent of its returning production on offensive and defense respectively, per ESPN's SP returning production rankings.  brings back starting 

The big names include quarterback Luke Altmyer in 2025, who threw for 2,717 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. Running back Aidan Laughery also returns. On defense, big names like linebacker Leon Lowry, defensive linemen James Thompson return. Also back is defensive back Xavier Scott, who led the team with four interceptions last season. 

USC, meanwhile, has massively failed to perform under head coach Lincoln Riley, who is 26-14 over three seasons. The Trojans will have a new quarterback again in 2025, in UNLV transfer Jaden Maiava. USC returns just 46 percent of its returning production from last season.  

Last year's game between these two wasn't close whatsoever, with the Longhorns winning 49-17. But this year's game looks a lot more intriguing, as the Gators navigated one of college football's hardest seasons last year and won eight games. 

Florida returns stars like quarterback D.J. Lagway, running back Jaden Baugh and wide receiver Eugene Wilson III on offense. On defense, defensive linemen George Gumbs Jr., Tyreak Sapp, and Caleb Banks all return, as well as four guys from the secondary in safeties Jordan Castell, and Bryce Thornton, cornerback Devin Moore and defensive back Sharif Denson. 

The Gators also get this one at home, and Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will be a tough place to play for new Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning to play in. While I think this one is really close, I like Florida to win in a high-scoring game at home.

This one will be a huge signature win for head coach Billy Napier in a critical Year Four in Gainesville. 

Kansas hasn't beaten Kansas State in football since 2008, even though the Jayhawks got quite close last season, losing 29-27. The Jayhawks got out to a 1-5 last season, but finished 4-2 on the year. I expect Kansas to come out much more consistent in 2025, as head coach Lance Leipold enters year five.  

But although it's been 16 years since Kansas last beat Kansas State. 2025 could be the Jayhawks' year. Kansas gets the Wildcats in Manhattan this year, and the Jayhawks will be breaking in their brand new renovated stadium in 2025. 

Returning quarterback Jalon Daniels is eager to win this one as he enters his fifth season with the Jayhawks. Also returning are several starters along the offensive line. If Daniels can stay healthy, he could have his best season yet at Kansas. 

Kansas State is expected to be a contender inside the Big 12 as well this season, bringing back quarterback Avery Johnson and running back Dylan Edwards. I do think this game will be close, but I like the Jayhawks at home for this one.   

Alabama has won the last two games in this series, and the Tide has dominated this rivalry recently. In fact, Alabama has won 12 out of the last 24 meetings between these two. 

But heading into 2025, it looks like LSU has a chance to get a win in this one. While this game is in Tuscaloosa, the Tigers enter 2025 appearing to be in better shape rebuilding-wise than Alabama. 

LSU brings back starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier from last season. In his first year as a starter last year, he threw for 4,052 yards with 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Also back is starting running back Caden Durhamn, and leading receiver Aaron Anderson. 

Alabama gets back just 63 percent of its overall returning production, needing to replace Jalen Milroe at quarterback, as well as several big names on defense like leading tackler Jihaad Campbell and defensive back Malachi Moore.  

While I do think Kalen DeBoer is a great coach and can do well in Tuscaloosa, his seat is already warm. The Tide finished his first season 9-4 with a bowl loss to Michigan to close out 2024. A loss to LSU depending on how the rest of the season goes could make DeBoer's seat go from warm to hot.  

Deion Sanders enters Year Three at Colorado having to replace his son Shedeur Sanders at quarterback, in addition to two-way star Travis Hunter. Although the Buffs have to replace a lot of its receiving corps from last year, Colorado gets back offensive linemen Jordan Seaton and Cash Cleveland. Sanders also added transfers Zy Crisler and Aki Ogunbiyi from the portal, as well. 

At quarterback, the Buffs appear likely to start 4-star QB prospect Julian Lewis under center. He steps on campus as the No. 10 ranked signal-caller from 2025 out of Carrollton, Georgia. 

On defense, Colorado added a ton of transfer players, such as Alabama transfer Jaheim Oats and linebackers Martavius French and Kylan Salter. 

For Arizona State, the Sun Devils actually return 79 percent of its returning production, good for second nationally. The biggest names returning include quarterback Sam Leavitt, wide receiver Jordyn Tyson and tight end Chamon Metayer. 

I expect the Sun Devils to be a Big 12 title threat once again in 2025, but with a stumble on the road at Colorado in this late November game. Who knows, maybe we'll see some chaotic late-season Big 12 tiebreaker scenarios like we did last year as a result.