Covers College Football Staff Picks, Best Bets, and Bold Predictions for 2025

The college football season kicks off tomorrow, with one of the most wide-open fields we've seen in years.

That parity is reflected in our college football predictions for 2025, where we love an ACC powerhouse, aren't completely SEC-crazy, and expect disappointment for two of the Big Ten's biggest programs!

National Championship winner

Expert	Winner
Andrew      Caley	Clemson +1200
Douglas      Farmer	Penn State +750
Chris      Vasile	Clemson +1200
Jared      Hochman	Texas +550

Andrew Caley, Senior Analyst: The Clemson Tigers have an easy path in the ACC. They have one of the most experienced and talented QBs in the country in Cade Klubnik and, maybe more importantly, are going to be beasts in the trenches. The offensive line is one of the best in the country, while the d-line has future first-round NFL draft picks in TJ Parker and Pete Woods.

Douglas Farmer, Analyst: Only one person at Covers has correctly predicted the national champion in each of the last four preseasons. Drew Allar and the Penn State Nittany Lions are in charge of making that five straight.

The best offensive line in the Big Ten, the best defensive line in the Big Ten, the best quarterback in the Big Ten, and a diabolical offensive coordinator should be a recipe for a first-round CFP bye. Plenty of folks will continue to criticize Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin for not beating a top-five team in nearly a decade, but they overlook the lucky breaks Notre Dame needed to survive last year’s Playoff semifinal. This Penn State should be better than that Penn State — and twice as motivated. 

Chris Vasile, Analyst: Clemson is getting a ton of love to make the playoffs, and for good reason. With Klubnik returning, Tom Allen running the defense, and a manageable schedule that avoids Miami while hosting Florida State and SMU, they have the talent and depth to compete for the national title.

Jared Hochman, Content Manager: I feel there's so much effort to avoid buying into the Arch Manning hype... that the betting favorite has somehow become underrated? The reality is that, regardless of Manning, the Texas Longhorns are a terrifying roster. The offensive weapons in RBs Quintrevion Wisner and CJ Baxter — plus WRs Ryan Wingo, Emmett Mosley V, and Parker Livingstone — are scary, while the defense could be even scarier.

Now, a thin offensive line is the biggest question mark, but if Manning meets even half of what his expectations are, they're rightfully a championship favorite — and if Manning hits the top-end of his potential...

Heisman Trophy

Expert	Winner
Andrew      Caley	John Mateer +2500
Douglas      Farmer	Cade Klubnik +900
Chris      Vasile	Cade Klubnik +900
Jared      Hochman	Jeremiah Smith +1200

Caley: OU head coach Brent Venables brought in up-and-coming OC Ben Arbuckle from Washington State to run his offense — and star QB John Mateer came as a package deal with him. Mateer threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns against seven interceptions, while adding another 826 yards and 15 scores on the ground, last season for the Cougars.

If he can replicate that in Norman with a team expected to contend in the SEC, then Mateer will get Heisman votes.

Farmer: Cade Klubnik discovered a lethal deep ball last season, completing 46.6% of his passes that traveled 20+ yards in the air for 16 touchdowns and 1,212 yards. With his top three receivers back, that habit should be further emphasized. Klubnik could throw for 3,500 yards and 40 touchdowns before Heisman votes are tallied.

Vasile: Klubnik is in the perfect situation to win the Heisman. Returning all three top receivers, coming off a major leap in production last year, and facing a statement game vs. LSU early, he could easily surpass 40 touchdowns and flirt with 4,000 passing yards.

Hochman: Yes, I know a non-quarterback has won only three of the last 15 Heismans, but with no clear-cut top QB in the nation, it's hard to ignore the clear top offensive player in the country, which is the absolute freak that is wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

The 6-foot-3, 223-lbs receiver posted 1,315 yards and 15 TD as a true freshman last year, and while there is some uncertainty with redshirt sophomore Julian Sayin under center, a first-time starting QB can also tend to lock in on the No. 1 option — we could see Smith force-fed ALL the targets, which he will turn into a Heisman-worthy resume.

College football best bets

Expert	Winner
Andrew      Caley	Oklahoma to make CFP +490
Douglas      Farmer	Buffalo to win MAC +500
Chris      Vasile	LSU to miss CFP -162
Jared      Hochman	Liberty o9.5 wins -114

Caley: Last season gave us a glimpse of what a Venables defense could look like with Oklahoma Sooners' resources; they finished 11th in defensive success rate — and are returning eight starters. Now, all Venables needs is an offense to match... he’s giving it his best shot by adding OC Ben Arbuckle and Mateer from Washington State, plus former Cal star running back Jayden Ott.

The Sooners have a tough schedule, but if the offense is even close to competent, this defense could wreak havoc on a conference full of inexperienced quarterbacks.

Farmer: The best offensive line (and defensive line) in the MAC should have the Buffalo Bulls no higher than +400 to win the conference, if not +300. The Bulls will be favored in all but one regular-season conference game, and even the season finale against Ohio would be about a pick’em right now. 

Vasile: In Brian Kelly, we don't trust. This LSU Tigers team opens the year with a true road game against Clemson, which I have as a loss. It also travels to Mississippi, Alabama, and Oklahoma to end the season. That's at least three losses, with another one or two sprinkled in the mix throughout the year. I don't see it with this Tigers team despite having Garrett Nussmeier under center.

Hochman: The CUSA is soft and, well, the Liberty Flames have gone full Charmin with its schedule. They avoid the next-best team in the conference, face both of the FCS newcomers this year (Delaware and Missouri State), plus four other programs that only became FBS in the last four years... AND a team still in the FCS. Liberty's toughest non-con opponent is James Madison, and it only faces three teams that were above .500 in FBS play last year.

College football bold predictions

Expert	Winner
Andrew      Caley	Navy to make CFP +1200
Douglas      Farmer	Ohio State to miss CFP +245
Chris      Vasile	Michigan finishes unranked
Jared      Hochman	Texas to go undefeated (reg season) +650

Caley: Blake Horvath might be the most dynamic quarterback in the country, and they have a defensive front that can pressure the QB as well as anyone in the AAC. The Midshipmen will run over the conference and earn a playoff berth.

Farmer: The good: The best offensive player in the country (WR Jeremiah Smith) and the best defensive player in the country (S Caleb Downs).

The bad: A first-time starting quarterback, a new offensive coordinator, and a very questionable hire at defensive coordinator.

Are those goods enough to outweigh the bads in the season opener against Texas, against Penn State and at that school up north? Ohio State is not the sure thing for the Playoff that the world seems to assume it is.

Vasile: Sure, Michigan has some good pieces, including highly-recruited QB Bryce Underwood, but the Wolverines' schedule is tough, and I don't believe they're built to handle it. One or two losses could snowball for a team that's dealt with off-field issues for the better part of three seasons now, so I think it all catches up with them here in a down season.

Hochman: Remember above when I asked what happens if Arch Manning delivers on his hype? Well, this will be the result. This future could die VERY quickly, as the Longhorns open their season at Ohio State, plus they also visit Florida and Georgia later in the year.

But again: This is one of the most talented rosters in the country, and if Manning plays at a Heisman level... they could go 12-0.

Pages related to this topic