B/R's Updated CFB Top 25 after Spring Portal Window

Change is a constant in college football.

While confetti rained down on Ohio State at the national championship in January, the rest of the CFB world quickly began peeking ahead to the 2025 campaign. But we all knew change was coming.

There was the December transfer window. There were NFL draft departures. There have been coaching changes, spring practice and April's transfer period.

And now, rosters are essentially locked in for 2025.

Following all of that movement—all of that change—Bleacher Report is refreshing our Top 25 to guide the rest of the offseason.

1. Texas
2. Ohio State
3. Clemson
4. Georgia
5. Penn State
6. Notre Dame
7. Oregon
8. LSU
9. Arizona State
10. Illinois
11. Ole Miss
12. Miami
13. Alabama
14. Iowa State
15. Michigan
16. BYU
17. South Carolina
18. Kansas State
19. Texas Tech
20. Tennessee
21. SMU
22. Florida
23. Baylor
24. Oklahoma
25. Indiana

To the surprise of what should be zero people, the nation's top conference is absolutely stacked with strong programs in 2025.

So, naturally, it's a debate-filled mess to predict.

Texas is a consensus elite contender, and Georgia isn't far behind. After them, however, the opinions begin to diverge.

How much do you trust Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss to avoid the ugly letdowns that happened last year? How well do Florida and South Carolina deal with brutal schedules? Is this finally the year Texas A&M puts it together? Where do Tennessee and Oklahoma fit in? Are we sleeping on Auburn or Missouri?

That's a lot of questions. I am certain my answers are different than my coworkers, friends, the friendly dude at the bar—and, presently, you.

Have we reached the point of the offseason where Illinois can no longer be called a "sleeper" team. It seems like a popular thing now.

Nevertheless! This is a fascinating team.

The spring departure of top running back Josh McCray to Georgia stings. Tethered with the Illini working to replace top receivers Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin anyway, there is real concern about skill-position production. If that's enough to scare you off Illinois, it's understandable.

But, man, this could be a 2024 Indiana-type schedule. Illinois hosts Ohio State and avoids Penn State, Oregon, Michigan and even Nebraska and Iowa.

I'm not crowning the Illini right now; trips to Indiana, Washington and Wisconsin certainly should be competitive.

If you're looking for a next-tier Big Ten contender, though, you could do far worse than an experience-filled U of I program that returns a solid quarterback in Luke Altmyer and a good defense while playing this slate.

Don't see your favorite team? Ah, yes, it's because I hate them.

In seriousness, the last 10-plus spots of every Top 25 are intensely subjective. There are dozens of teams with a reasonable argument for inclusion.

You might believe in Auburn or Louisville, who brought in big-name transfers at quarterback. Perhaps you think highly of TCU or Texas A&M, or maybe you are drawn to the steadiness of Iowa or Utah. The breakout year for Nebraska or resurgent season from USC might be just around the corner.

Within the Group of Five conferences, Boise State and UNLV stand out. You'll find supporters for Navy, Tulane, South Florida and James Madison.

The list, of course, goes on.

Despite what it may seem like, however, the season will arrive soon enough. And once again, that inevitable change will impact college football again.