Tim Brando will be back in the booth calling college football games this season for FOX. And with the season right around the corner, he decided to celebrate by putting out a preseason top 15.
Brando hopped on with Crain & Company, going through his list. A ton of different conferences are represented, having a total of six. One independent is in there as well, you can likely guess who.
Kickoff is almost here, with Week 0 scheduled to take place on Aug. 23. Until then, let’s check out which 15 teams Brando is high on entering the 2025 season.
Brando puts Ohio State in the spot they finished last season. Fresh off a national championship, he believes Ryan Day has another great opportunity ahead of them.
We will learn something about the Buckeyes quite quickly, with an important Week 1 game at home. Based on Brando’s preseason rankings, it’s a top-five showdown in Columbus.
After a few years down from the national championship-level standard, Clemson is ready to compete at the top once again. Brando slots them at No. 2 as the Tigers are the lone ACC team inside the top 15.
Cade Klubnik projects as one of college football’s top quarterbacks in 2025. Pair with a defensive unit full of potential NFL talent and Clemson is looking for a third national title under Dabo Swinney.
Recent seasons have seen the standard raised in South Bend. Oh, so close to getting back on top in 2024, Brando is high on what the Fighting Irish can be this season.
Similar to Ohio State, no quarterback has been determined quite yet. But the roster constructed has brought enough confidence to believe Notre Dame will keep rolling.
All the way down at No. 4, we find the first SEC team from Brando. He is rolling with the very popular LSU Tigers in a year where Brian Kelly is looking to deliver on high expectations.
Everyone inside the program has put a lot of emphasis on the season opener against Clemson. If they can go on the road with a win, LSU will be a lot higher than No. 4 in early September.
It’s a new era on the 40 Acres with a quite popular man taking over at quarterback. Texas has been knocking on the door the past two years, even as the program transitioned into the SEC.
Not many have recruited better than Steve Sarkisian in recent cycles. Now, finally breaking through is the next step with all the talent in place.
A popular preseason top-three pick, Brando drops Penn State down a few spots compared to national consensus. This is a team that returns a lot of players from last season’s College Football Playoff semifinalists.
Drew Allar will be at the forefront, looking to finally elevate in his third year as the starting quarterback. If he can do so, Penn State has a great chance to break a ton of narratives surrounding its head coach.
In terms of SEC teams, Georgia comes in third fiddle for Brando. Kirby Smart has previously played the underdog role to get his team motivated and may have some bulletin board material ready to go this season.
Looking at the schedule, tough games pop up almost every week for Georgia. Depth will be just as important as top-end talent in order to get through 12 games relatively unscathed.
Due to the absurdity of the Big 12, Iowa State might be flying under the radar. The Cyclones played in the Big 12 title game and could have earned the conference’s auto-bid last December.
Brando is stepping out there and declaring his affinity for Iowa State. Ranking 8th in the preseason poll would be the second-highest mark in program history.
Last season’s Big Ten champion comes in at No. 9. Similar to other elite programs, Oregon has done nothing but recruit at a high level over the past few years. Dan Lanning will be ready to go toe-to-toe with anyone.
Still, there are some unknowns when looking at key positions. Oregon will get some time to get everyone into rhythm before once again making a major push for a national championship.
A popular selection when discussing sleepers in the Big Ten, Illinois has been on the doorstep under Bret Bielema. Enough pieces are now returning where predictions are coming through for the Illini to be contenders.
Luke Altmyer will lead the offense and play opposite of a defensive unit that continually produces talent. A favorable schedule falls Illinois’ way too, giving them enough to rank inside the top 10 for Brando.
While Brando differs from the AP poll, having a G5 school this high is not usual. Cincinnati was the last non-power conference program to be within the top 11 in the preseason back in 2021. Before them, Boise State in 2011.
However, Jon Sumrall has people believing in the Green Wave. If the spot were to hold throughout the season, Tulane would be going to the College Football Playoff.
All aboard the John Mateer train. Brent Venables made sure to make some splashes in the NCAA transfer portal this offseason, landing the likes of Mateer and running back Jadyn Ott.
Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle is a big part of the equation too. If Oklahoma can play defense like they have under Venables, the Sooners are as dangerous as anyone.
After a magical CFP run, Boise State will attempt to once again represent the Group of Five. They will be without the biggest weapon of them all, though, Ashton Jeanty.
Even as Jeanty plays his football in Las Vegas, Brando likes what the Broncos could be. Two G5 programs inside the top 15 is as bold as a preseason ranking you will find.
Year Two of the post-Nick Saban era is one in which Kalen DeBoer needs to be better than Year One. Some puzzling losses kept the Crimson Tide out of the College Football Playoff despite starting so well.
A great defense should call Tuscaloosa home, along with talented skill position players. Brando is not ready to put Alabama too high, though, coming in at No. 14.
The job done in Tempe has been one of college football’s top stories. From NCAA sanctions to a conference championship, Arizona State is hoping just to run things back.
As usual, the Big 12 is projected to be as wide open as ever. Brando has two inside his top 15, possibly predicting another chaotic year inside the conference.
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