Piecing together a list of the best players in college football before the season begins is no easy task. It requires a mix of information, reporting and assumptions.
While some choices are easy (Jeremiah Smith is good, you heard it here first) and some projections are nearly universally agreed upon (hello, Arch Manning), there are enough wild cards to ensure that, by season’s end, this list will probably look at least a little silly.
Georgia, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Notre Dame and Alabama all start new QBs with little experience, so ranking those players near the top seems presumptuous. Odds are, though, at least a few will be Heisman Trophy contenders by season’s end.
Smith, Leonard Moore and Ryan Williams quickly established themselves as stars during elite freshman campaigns in 2024, but it’s a nearly impossible task to predict which first-year players will break out in 2025.
This time a year ago, few people had pegged Sam Leavitt, LaNorris Sellers or Blake Horvath as household names, but each proved to be among the best in the country by the conclusion of the campaign. Who will be this season’s surprises? If we knew, it wouldn’t be a surprise.
Our top 100 players represent something of a compromise. Five of ESPN’s college football experts (David Hale, Adam Rittenberg, Chris Low, Paolo Uggetti and Bill Connelly) weighed in, each using some variation of hard data and educated guesswork to compile a list. They then debated, refined and adjusted until coming to an agreement — or, perhaps, just giving up — on an official ranking.
It might not be perfect, but that’s the beauty of a new college football season: No matter what we expect in August, we’ll look back later to find we hardly knew anything at all. — David Hale
There’s a reason new Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold said throwing the ball to Singleton was “like throwing routes on air.” Singleton was one of the most coveted wideouts in the transfer portal after hauling in 104 passes for 1,468 yards with nine touchdowns in two seasons at Georgia Tech. The Atlanta native can flat-out fly. If Arnold adjusts to Hugh Freeze’s offense effectively, the Tigers might have one of the top receiver trios in the SEC in Singleton, Wake Forest transfer Horatio Fields and sophomore Cam Coleman. — Mark Schlabach
Wesco earned raves as a true freshman during camp last season, but he didn’t get a real shot at serious playing time until Week 5 against Stanford, when he racked up 104 receiving yards and a touchdown. From there, he blossomed into one of Clemson’s biggest threats on offense, racking up 36 catches for 574 yards from Week 5 on. — Hale
The 6-foot-3, 302-pound Jones is the linchpin of the Hawkeyes’ line who helped running back Kaleb Johnson have a breakout season in 2024. A converted defensive lineman, Jones has settled in well to the role and turned himself into one of the most consistent centers in the country. — Paolo Uggetti
In his first year in the SEC, Pavia led Vandy to its first bowl win in 11 years, its first win over Alabama in 40 years and its first win ever over a No. 1 team. He finished 2024 with 2,293 passing yards, 927 non-sack rushing yards and 28 combined touchdowns, and he enjoyed himself enough in the process that he sued for an extra year of eligibility — and won. So, he’s back! — Bill Connelly
One of the most consistent blockers in the country, Miller has been a fixture on Clemson’s offensive line since he was a freshman, racking up 41 career starts. He allowed four sacks all season, never more than one in the same game. — Hale
Moss says he is 100 percent recovered from a knee injury that sidelined him for the final four games of the 2024 season, and that’s good news for the Aggies. Before going down, Moss ran for 765 yards with 10 touchdowns in nine games. He ranked second in the SEC with 6.3 yards per carry. With Rueben Owens II returning from a foot injury that sidelined him for most of 2024, the Aggies should have one of the better one-two punches in the FBS. — Schlabach
The heart and soul of SMU’s defense, Nwokobia allowed just 75 yards, picked off three passes on 19 targets all season, while serving as a stalwart in run defense, racking up 100 tackles. More than just an on-field star, Nwokobia wears No. 23 for the Mustangs, an honor that goes to the player who best represents the leadership and fearlessness of SMU great Jerry Lavias, the first Black player in the old Southwest Conference. — Hale
The former Alabama transfer emerged as a star receiver for LSU last season, leading the team with 61 catches for 884 yards with five touchdowns. His biggest moment came late in the fourth quarter in the Tigers’ 29-26 victory against Ole Miss on Oct. 12. He caught a 23-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-5 with 27 seconds remaining to force overtime. Anderson also had eight catches for 100 yards in a 44-31 win against Baylor in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl. — Schlabach
Much is made of Tech’s transfers this offseason, but the return of Rodriguez for his senior year might be the Red Raiders’ most important defensive player. At 6-1, 235 pounds, Rodriguez is a formidable presence who was a first-team All-Big 12 honoree and was named preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year this year. — Dave Wilson
Here’s a list of heavily used running backs (175 carries or more) who forced more missed tackles per touch than Hardy in 2024: [null]. As a freshman at the UL Monroe, Hardy bulled his way to 1,351 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, dodging tacklers well and running through them when necessary. Now the Oma, Mississippi, native moves to the SEC, where he will immediately become a feature back for a Mizzou team coming off of back-to-back 10-win seasons. — Connelly
The school that produced Khalil Mack, and most recently Shaun Dolac, has another defender firmly on the national radar. Murdock had one of the more statistically dominant seasons in the country last fall, leading the FBS with seven forced fumbles, finishing second in tackles with 156 and 12th in tackles for loss with 16.5. After helping Buffalo to nine wins in coach Pete Lembo’s first season, he’s back to challenge for national honors. — Adam Rittenberg
Becht guided the Cyclones to a school-record 11 wins in 2024 and capped the season with an MVP performance in a 42-41 win against Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. This season will be his third as Iowa State’s starter, and he will enter the year with 6,690 career passing yards and 48 touchdown passes. He’ll have a revamped receiving corps to work with, but his experience should keep the Cyclones among the favorites in the Big 12. — Kyle Bonagura
The day he committed to Georgia Tech after transferring from Middle Tennessee, Rutledge wrecked his truck and suffered a severe foot injury that nearly resulted in an amputation. Instead, he started every game for the Yellow Jackets, earned first-team All-ACC honors and proved to be one of the most formidable interior linemen in the country. — Hale
Brailsford is the anchor of what could be a very good Alabama offensive line. After transferring from Washington, Brailsford had an 80.7 run-blocking grade, which ranked second among Power 4 centers, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). He had 63 knockdown blocks and allowed only a half-sack. — Schlabach
DB, Arizona State, senior 2024 stats: 40 solo tackles, 2 INT, 5 PD 2024 postseason ranking: NR
After stints at Texas and USC, Alford had a breakout season with the Sun Devils in 2024, playing a huge role in the upstart program’s run to the College Football Playoff. According to ASU, he allowed just nine receptions in coverage while playing 522 snaps — an incredible ratio that ranked among the very best defensive backs in the country. — Bonagura
S, Penn State, senior 2024 stats: 95 tackles, 50 solo, 1 FF 2024 postseason ranking: NR
Anyone who tracked Penn State’s postseason run noticed Wheatley, who played his best during some of the team’s biggest moments last season. He earned VRBO Fiesta Bowl Defensive Player of the Game honors against Boise State in the CFP quarterfinal after recording an interception and a fumble recovery. Wheatley then had an interception, a sack and 16 tackles against Notre Dame in Penn State’s narrow loss in the CFP semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. — Rittenberg
DE, Rutgers, senior 2024 stats: 52 solo, 13 sacks, 3 PD 2024 postseason ranking: NR
One of Rutgers’ biggest additions in the offseason, O’Neill comes from James Madison after a standout campaign with the Dukes. The 6-3, 255-pound end was a force to be reckoned with and set the pace for a stingy JMU defense that led the nation in turnover margins last year. — Uggetti
Many of the core players from Jedd Fisch’s 10-win Arizona team in 2023 remained in Tucson, but Coleman followed his coach to Washington and maintained his success with a new team and in a new league. An honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection in 2023, he earned third-team All-Big Ten honors last season at Washington, where he rushed for 1,053 yards and 10 touchdowns, despite logging more than 19 carries only twice. — Rittenberg
After an impressive true freshman season at James Madison, Ponds joined coach Curt Cignetti at Indiana and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as well as All-America recognition. He had two interceptions, including a 67-yard pick-six, against Washington and blocked a punt for a safety against Michigan State. His most productive games came against top competition, as he had three passes defended against Ohio State and an interception against Notre Dame. — Rittenberg
DE, Michigan, senior 2024 stats: 23 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 FF 2024 postseason ranking: NR
After two straight seasons of consistent production for the Wolverines’ defense, Moore heads into his senior season ready to once again be one of the key cogs in Wink Martindale’s unit. At Big Ten media days, Moore made news by joking that Ohio State’s title was not a “real win” because the Buckeyes didn’t beat Michigan. — Uggetti
After playing in 14 games and starting two as a freshman, Bolden is being counted on to become a leader in Georgia’s secondary. With safeties Malaki Starks and Dan Jackson departing for the NFL, the sophomore is now the Bulldogs’ last line of defense. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman team after finishing fifth on the team with 59 tackles in 2024. — Schlabach
In his first season as a full-time starter at K-State, Johnson flashed glimpses of his dual-threat stardom, most notably against Oklahoma State, when he threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more, passing for 259 yards and running for 60 yards. A former national top-100 recruit and a Kansas native, he is driven to return the Wildcats to the top of the Big 12 and beyond. — Wilson
Sarratt has produced everywhere he has been, from FCS Saint Francis to James Madison to Indiana, and played a big role in helping coach Cignetti flip the Hoosiers into an instant CFP contender in 2024. He finished sixth in the Big Ten in receiving yards in his debut season and third in yards per catch (18.1) but still chose to run it back for one more season with Cignetti rather than go pro. — Max Olson
Heading into his senior season, Fisher has been a tackle machine for the Hoosiers and is set to be a crucial part of their defense yet again. The 6-1, 231-pound linebacker was a first-team All-American last year. — Uggetti
After expected starter Charles Jagusah went down before the 2024 season, Notre Dame turned to Knapp, a true freshman, to anchor the line. All he did was help pave the way for a Notre Dame offense that ranked seventh nationally in rushing average, protect QB Riley Leonard’s blind side while surrendering just three sacks, and help the Fighting Irish march to a national championship game appearance. — Hale
At 6-4 and 236 pounds, you won’t miss Klare on the field, and for whoever does line up under center for the Buckeyes, Klare will quickly become a favorite target. The junior had a breakout season last year, and there’s a sense that this season could be even bigger for the Purdue product. — Uggetti
OL, Penn State, junior 2024 stats: 0 sacks allowed in 900+ snaps 2024 postseason ranking: NR
Ioane proved he was ready to play as a redshirt freshman with five starts at left guard in 2023, then took his game to another level last season as a 16-game starter who earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. He surrendered zero sacks over the course of the Nittany Lions’ run to the CFP semifinals, according to ESPN Research, and finished with just eight pressures allowed and three penalties on the year while playing the most snaps (957) of any player in the Big Ten. — Olson
S, Illinois, senior 2024 stats: 49 tackles, 6 PD, 4 INT 2024 postseason ranking: NR
Scott was targeted more than any other defensive back in the Big Ten in his second year as a starter, according to TruMedia, and he fared well in allowing just 28 catches on 63 targets (44%) and 4.9 yards per target with the second-most interceptions in the conference. The first-team All-Big Ten performer will help lead an Illini squad with big-time expectations for 2025. — Olson
DT, Penn State, senior 2024 stats: 42 tackles, 11 TFL, 3 sacks 2024 postseason ranking: NR
Durant isn’t just going to be a space eater in new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ scheme this fall. The two-year starter is a disruptor up front who has generated 26 pressures at defensive tackle over the past two seasons, most among all returning Big Ten linemen, according to ESPN Research. — Olson
A former top-60 recruit and Under Armour All-American from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Green started as a true freshman at Oklahoma, then transferred to his home-state school in 2024. He was an immediate hit in Columbia, allowing just three pressures with five blown run blocks in 13 starts and 776 snaps. With a new quarterback and reasonably new skill corps, Mizzou will be leaning on Green and the interior line to establish efficiency in 2025. — Connelly
After taking over as SMU’s starter in Week 4, Jennings ignited the Mustangs’ offense, leading them to a playoff berth. From Nov. 1 through the ACC championship game, Jennings proved to be one of the most explosive QBs in the country, accounting for more than 1,500 yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions, alongside an 81.4 Total QBR. — Hale
As the only returning 1,000-yard rusher in the SEC this season, Wisner is sacrificing his favorite meal — a 10-count McNuggets and McDouble from McDonald’s — to get in better shape. He’s a double threat for defenses after running for 1,064 yards with five touchdowns and catching 44 passes for 311 yards with one score in 2024. He had a career-high 186 yards in the Longhorns’ 17-7 victory against rival Texas A&M. — Schlabach
Is there a tougher QB in the country than King? Georgia Tech fans certainly don’t think so. King played through a painful shoulder injury last season that kept him from throwing more than a few yards downfield at times, and yet he still led the Yellow Jackets to their second straight winning season. He’s the sixth Power QB in the playoff era to account for at least 25 touchdowns, fewer than five picks and complete at least 70% of his passes. The other five were all later selected in the first round of the NFL draft. — Hale
Even though Jeremiah Smith will understandably take up much attention this season, don’t sleep on Tate. The 6-3, 191-pound wideout from Chicago had a strong season inside of Ohio State’s title-winning offense last year, and even though Will Howard is gone, Tate should be able to build on his 2024 campaign. — Uggetti
After playing four seasons at Kansas, Reed-Adams didn’t miss a beat after stepping into a starting role in Texas A&M’s offensive line. Pro Football Focus said Reed-Adams led all Power 4 guards in gap-blocking proficiency and was fourth in zone blocking. In 361 snaps in 2024, Reed-Adams surrendered only one sack and eight pressures, while helping the Aggies run for 195.5 yards per game, which was second best in the SEC. — Schlabach
A former four-star quarterback, Stowers signed with Texas A&M in 2021 but found himself as a tight end and utility man at New Mexico State in 2023, gaining 366 yards receiving, 108 rushing and 99 passing. He followed former head coach Jerry Kill to Vanderbilt in 2024 and became one of the SEC’s best tight ends, and with quarterback Pavia, he returns for one last dance in Nashville in 2025. — Connelly
S, Texas, senior 2024 stats: 40 solo tackles, 1 FF, 2 INT 2024 postseason ranking: NR
A former walk-on and a reigning second-team All-American, Taaffe has been a central figure in the Longhorns’ secondary over the past two seasons and returns in 2025 as one of most experienced defenders anywhere in the country. Taaffe finished second among Texas defenders with 78 total tackles a year ago, anchoring a dominant defensive back unit alongside NFL draft selections Jahdae Barron and Andrew Mukuba. With both gone this fall, Taaffe is set to lead a new-look secondary unit at Texas this fall. — Eli Lederman
The Broncos have a history of producing elite offensive linemen, and Casey should be the next in line after earning All-Mountain West honors in consecutive seasons. A gifted run blocker and pass protector, he led an offensive line that helped Ashton Jeanty rise to national prominence and protected quarterback Maddux Madsen. Boise State finished 12th nationally in fewest sacks allowed. — Rittenberg
The 6-4, 235-pound converted safety proved he’s one of the Big Ten’s best defensive playmakers in 2024, earning second-team all-conference honors as the leading tackler for the national champs, with big performances in some of the Buckeyes’ biggest games, including a career-high nine stops against Oregon, Penn State and Texas. He’s a 28-game starter and an invaluable leader with impressive traits and first-round pick potential. — Olson
Muhammad has played in all 30 games since arriving at Texas as a heralded recruit in 2023. In Year 3, he’s working hard to produce more turnovers in the secondary. Texas and BYU led the FBS with 22 interceptions last season, but Muhammad didn’t have one (and has just one in two seasons combined). He helped the Longhorns limit Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith to only one catch in Texas’ 28-14 loss in a CFP semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. Muhammad won’t have to wait long for another shot at the star receiver; the teams open the season against each other at the Horseshoe on Aug. 30. — Schlabach
LB, Old Dominion, senior 2024 stats: 2 solo tackles, 3 total tackles 2024 postseason ranking: NR
College football’s ultimate tackling machine, Henderson recorded a combined 324 tackles in 24 games in 2022-23. That’s an average of 162 tackles — only one other defender had even 160 in either season. After taking a medical redshirt last fall, the senior from Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania, returns to presumably load up on the hits again in 2025. — Connelly
LB, LSU, junior 2024 stats: 61 solo tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2 FF 2024 postseason ranking: NR
LSU is bringing Weeks back cautiously during preseason camp after he had surgery to repair a dislocated ankle he suffered against Baylor in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl. Weeks was second in the SEC with 125 tackles to go with 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles in 2024. He’ll get to play with his older brother, West, and younger brother, Zach, who are also linebackers at LSU this season. The last time the Tigers had three brothers on a team was in 2008 with the Taylors (Curtis, Brandon, Jhyryn). — Schlabach
LB, Texas A&M, junior 2024 stats: 35 solo tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT 2024 postseason ranking: NR
A former three-star recruit who was ranked the 183rd-best prospect in Texas in the class of 2023 by ESPN Recruiting, York has proved to be much better than advertised in two seasons with the Aggies. Last season, he led the team with 82 tackles to go with 9.5 tackles for loss. According to Pro Football Focus, he leads Power 4 linebackers with 59 run-defense stops since 2023. — Schlabach
DL, Texas Tech, senior 2024 stats: 22 solo tackles, 7 sacks, 5 FF 2024 postseason ranking: NR
The 6-3, 250-pound outside linebacker was a late addition to Texas Tech’s portal class after Stanford fired coach Troy Taylor. The California native brings a presence off the edge for the Red Raiders’ defense and experience with 16 starts in 33 career games. He will be an NFL draft prospect as a pass rusher. — Wilson
After a couple of injury-plagued seasons, Miller finally showed flashes of the player he could be in 2024. He had five tackles, one pass breakup and one quarterback pressure in Georgia’s 23-10 loss to Notre Dame in a CFP quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. At 6-3, 310 pounds, the junior needs to be a difference-maker in the middle of the defensive front. — Schlabach
One of the nation’s most versatile players, Reid dominated in his first season after transferring from FCS Western Carolina, igniting Pitt’s offense as a runner and pass catcher while adding a touchdown in the return game. He was one of only two Power 4 players last season to rack up 10 or more total touchdowns while scoring as a runner, receiver and returner. — Hale
DL, Alabama, senior 2024 stats: 17 solo tackles, 2 sacks, 1 FF 2024 postseason ranking: NR
It took Overton a little while to get started at Alabama after transferring from Texas A&M, and he’s looking to convert quarterback pressures into sacks in 2025. Last season, Overton had 39 quarterback pressures but only two sacks in 13 games. He also had 42 tackles, three tackles for loss and one forced fumble. The Tide hope the former five-star recruit was only scratching the surface as a pass rusher. — Schlabach
The 6-2, 200-pound junior was lightly recruited out of high school and eventually committed to Indiana before flipping to TCU, where he set a school record for passing yards last season. His 3,949 yards in 2024 ranks second among returners behind LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier. He turned down big NIL offers from Tennessee, among others, to stay in Fort Worth. — Wilson
Robertson became the starter in the Bears’ third game last season and had a breakout year, helping Baylor save its season during a six-game win streak to finish the regular season. The 6-4, 220-pound senior will enter the season for the first time as a starter and is expected to be one of the best QBs in a QB-heavy Big 12. — Wilson
LB, Ole Miss, junior 2024 stats: 32 solo tackles, 10.5 sacks, 1 INT 2024 postseason ranking: NR
