There are plenty of games every year that are worth looking forward to in the college football season. Conference games can have a lot of big moments. Here are the top 10 conference games in college football in 2025.
Last season, Ole Miss defeated Georgia and nearly made the CFP. Austin Simmons showed flashes at quarterback last season. He’ll have Cayden Lee at wide receiver as well as a few transfers. The offensive line will need to mesh together to help the offense, although ranking third in scoring like last season is likely out of the question. Defensively, they return just two starters. Suntarine Perkins is a versatile linebacker who makes plays. Outside of him, the transfers coming in should help the defense, but again a step back should take place.
Georgia may have had a down year by their standards last season, but they still have a lot of pro talent, specifically on the defensive side of the ball. With Christen Miller on the line, CJ Allen at linebacker and Daylen Everette in the secondary, they have leaders at every level. The offense will need to run the ball better this year, but they have just one returning starter on the offensive line. Nate Frazier has talent at running back and the receiving core is upgraded, but Gunner Stockton will have a lot to prove at quarterback.
Can Ole Miss win two years in a row? They are projected to be a fringe CFP contender, while Georgia is looking to win another SEC title.
Garrett Nussmeier returned to LSU, which has really built the hype for the Tigers. The star quarterback will have so many skill position players to use like running back Caden Durham and wide receivers Aaron Anderson, Chris Hilton, Barion Brown and Nic Anderson. The offensive line will have plenty of new faces and will have to come along quickly. The defense was average last season, but they have more talent this season. Harold Perkins returns from injury and linebacker Whit Weeks really emerged last season. Cornerback Ashton Stamps can be one of the better palyers at his position in the country. Transfers along the defense should really help this team, including cornerback Mansoor Delane and edge rusher Patrick Payton.
Ole Miss has a lot of new talent coming together and this will be their first big test. They get the Tigers at home which makes things easier, but it will be a tall order to get the win.
With the SEC having several teams that can compete for a conference championship this season games like this can really help paint a good picture of who may win, even if it is early in the season.
Texas Tech hit the transfer portal hard this offseason and has expectations of competing for a Big 12 title. Behren Morton returns at quarterback after passing for 3,335 yards last season. Caleb Douglas and Coy Eakin return after being productive last year at receiver. The offensive line will need to mesh quickly with just one starter back from last season. Defensively, they have good edge rushers in transfers David Bailey and Romello Height. They return three starters in the back seven and there is a possible huge jump up in effectiveness coming this season.
Arizona State made noise by making the CFP last season. Quarterback Sam Leavitt is back after passing for 2,885 yards last season. Army-transfer Kanye Udoh is in to help fill the void left by Cam Skattebo at running back, while star receiver Jordyn Tyson is back. The offensive line has four starters returning, but more impressively, the defense has nine players back from their first unit. With an offense and defense that both ranked in the top 40, bringing back so much, a return to the CFP is very possible.
The Big 12 is wide open, but these are two of the favorites to win it. Can Arizona State win this game and set itself up well for a return to the CFP? Or will Texas Tech’s investment in NIL pay off?
Ohio State won the national championship last season and now is turning to a new quarterback in Julian Sayin who was a highly-touted recruit. He’ll have possibly the best player in college football in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith to throw to, along with so many other talented players. Two starters are back on the offensive line, but the unit should be solid. On defense, they will rely on players who got some experience last season, but didn’t start, and transfers. Linebacker Sonny Styles, cornerback Davison Igbinosun and All-American safety Caleb Downs are key players in the back seven who will create an impact.
Illinois won 10 games last season and returns 16 starters from that team, which is unheard of these days. Luke Altmyer played well at quarterback and is back behind an offensive line that is fully back. While they’ll need to find new pass catchers to step up, Illinois has plenty of potential offensively. The defense ranked 30th in scoring in 2024 and expectations are higher for this year. Edge rusher Gabe Jacas and cornerback Xavier Scott are key players.
Ohio State will have to travel for this game and it could end up being a tougher game than expected. Illinois could use a win here to help a CFP case if things go as planned.
The Buckeyes haven’t won The Game the last three seasons. It’s the best rivalry in the sport and while they won the national championship last season, they will really want to win this game. If they trust their talent a win should be within their grasp.
Michigan has a lot of moving parts this season. Bryce Underwood is stepping in at quarterback to start as a freshman. The indentity will still be to run the ball and Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall should both be productive at running back. Three starters return to the offensive line as well. On defense, six starters return from a team that allowed fewer than 20 points per game.
Ohio State will be favored in this game most likely, but they were favored in the last three games. The Game is always worth watching, but the Buckeyes will really want to get over the hump this season.
Alabama didn’t make the playoff last season, but they have plenty of talent to work with. The offensive line should be one of the best in the country, while Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard create a great duo at wide receiver. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Crimson Tide will be better suited to run Kalen DeBoer’s offense. The defense ranked 10th in points per game allowed and brings back seven starters, which projects them to be a top defense in the country.
Georgia lost to Alabama in a thriller last season and will want to avenge the loss. With the SEC race and only 12 spots for the CFP, this game will decide a lot no matter which way it is looked at.
Oregon lost a lot of talent, but they are reloading well. Dante Moore sat behind Dillon Gabriel last season, but is now taking over at quarterback. Makhi Hughes is a talented running back coming in from Tulane, while the receiver room has some talent, including freshman Dakorien Moore. The offensive line has one returning starter, but also has some transfers coming in to help. Defensively, they ranked 16th in points allowed last season, and have a nice blend of returnees and transfers. Matayo Uiagalelei can get after the quarterback, while Purdue transfer Dillon Thieneman is one of the best players at his position in the country.
Penn State made the CFP semifinals last year and may have a better relative overall roster this season. Quarterback Drew Allar and running backs Nick Singleton and Kyron Hudson could’ve been in the NFL Draft, but came back. The offensive line has four starters back, while the wide receiver room is vastly updated with the additions of transfers Kyron Hudson, Trebor Pena and Devonte Ross. Penn State’s defense returns six players from a unit that ranked in the top 10 in scoring. Defensive linemen Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant, along with cornerback A.J. Harris, have the chance to be impact players.
LSU has a tough schedule in total. With Clemson, Florida, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Oklahoma all on the schedule, a lot of games will have high stakes. Playing Alabama was rough last season and they will want to avenge that loss.
Alabama also has a tough schedule, specifically in the middle of the season. A return to the CFP after a year off may require a win over LSU.
While this will be important for SEC title implications, it also could decide who is in the CFP, just like it did last season.
Arch Manning is taking over at quarterback after playing solidly in a pinch last season. Running backs Quintrevion Wisner and CJ Baxter can give him a good running game to lean on. Ryan Wingo has the potential to become a star in 2025 after a solid freshman season. The offensive line will need to improve quickly with a lot of new faces on it. Defensively, the Longhorns have a good pass rush with Ethan Burke and Colin Simmons. The star on defense is Anthony Hill at linebacker, but Malik Muhammad is one of the best corners in the country in his own right. They ranked third in the country last season and they could do it again this season.
Last season, Georgia was able to beat Texas twice, once in the regular season and again in the SEC Championship Game. This season may not be so easy.
With how tough the schedules are, this late-season game may have added interest due to the CFP and SEC race.
Penn State has a talented roster that made the CFP semifinals last year, but they are still trying to notch a win over an elite program. James Franklin has received a lot of criticism for it. While they can win it all without winning this game, it will be a proof of improvement.
Ohio State has a tough schedule, but this may be the toughest game. These are two of the most talented rosters in the sport and it could decide a lot in the end.
All eyes will be on the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes in early November.
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