The difference between these predictions and the top-25 ranking is that the bracket predictions more heavily weigh the future games to be played on the field, predicting the outcome. That said, let's take a look at the first bracket projection for the 2025 season.

Week 1 of the 2025 college football season features a loaded slate, including LSU at Clemson, Notre Dame at Miami and Alabama at Florida State, among others. LSU-Clemson could be a top-five matchup, as could the biggest headliner: Manning and Texas visiting Ohio State in a matchup of the 2024 national champion and our early 2025 favorite.

College Football Playoff, the first ever 12-team tournament in the history of the sport, is complete. The Ohio State Buckeyes have won the National Championship. Unfortunately that means we all have to wait nearly seven months before watching the next college football game.

Here's the complete schedule for the College Football Playoff for the 2025-26 season, including game dates, how to watch and teams. This is the second year of the 12-team playoff.

With the 2024 college football season in the books, we immediately pointed the discussion to 2025 with Mark Schlabach's Way-Too-Early Top 25. And before the conversation drifts to the NFL draft or the latest power grabs in store for the Big Ten and SEC,

And there you have it. The Ohio State Buckeyes have won their second College Football Playoff National Championship, their first since winning the inaugural one

ESPN kept it simple by picking all of the home teams in the first round. Basically, until proven otherwise, home field advantage is a real thing in the first round of the 12-team playoff. By the way, Michigan beating Ohio State, essentially, back to back weeks in Ann Arbor? The scenes!

Way-too-early expert NCAA predictions and projections for college football's 12-team playoff matchups for 2025-26.

This year, Boise State was the non-power representative for the College Football Playoff. Next year, it will be Tulane, but it will be a very different situation than the Broncos'. Boise State got a bye and was actually ranked inside the top-12. That won't be the case next season.

Ohio State has made history! The Buckeyes have claimed their ninth national championship, defeating Notre Dame 34–23 in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff National Championship. From an underdog No.