Latest news with #2025CollegeFootballPreview
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07-07-2025
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Nebraska Football: 2025 Cornhuskers Season Preview and Prediction
Nebraska Football: 2025 Cornhuskers Season Preview and Prediction originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Nebraska took an important step last season, ending a seven-year bowl drought. Year 3 was an important benchmark in Rhule's stops at Temple and Baylor, going 10-4 and 11-3, respectively. With veterans at key spots and important additions from the transfer portal, Nebraska should improve on its progress made in 2024. Advertisement [Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 College Football Preview print magazine. Order your copy today online, or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.] More Big Ten team previews: Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State Minnesota | Northwestern | Ohio State | Oregon | Penn State Purdue | Rutgers | UCLA | USC | Washington | Wisconsin Nebraska 2025 Season Preview and Prediction Previewing Nebraska's Offense for 2025 Dylan Raiola returns for a highly anticipated sophomore campaign after completing 67% of his passes with 13 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. Raiola showed flashes of his elite arm talent in 2024 and dropped weight this offseason to be more of a threat with his feet. Advertisement Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen will guide Raiola and the Cornhuskers attack full-time in 2025. Holgorsen's relationship with the Air Raid is a thing of the past, but unlocking big plays for the Husker offense will be near the top of the to-do list. Nebraska will feature running back Emmett Johnson as both a runner and receiver. Johnson was a favorite of Holgorsen's in November, when the back averaged more than five yards per carry and caught 23 passes in four games with Holgorsen calling plays. At wide receiver, Nebraska added Dane Key from Kentucky and Cal's Nyziah Hunter from the transfer portal. Jacory Barney Jr. caught 55 passes last season. Up front, Nebraska supplemented a deep group with Notre Dame guard Rocco Spindler and Alabama tackle Elijah Pritchett out of the transfer portal. Head coach Matt Rhule called the offensive line one of the 'highlights' of spring practices. Related: Big Ten Predictions for 2025 Cornhuskers QB Dylan Raiola | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Previewing Nebraska's Defense for 2025 New coordinator John Butler will force the issue with pressure and has been tasked with improving third-down and red-zone defense for a group that was a top-20 unit overall in 2023 and 2024. Advertisement Nebraska will miss Ty Robinson's 7.0 sacks and 12.5 tackles for a loss, but the Husker defense got a boost with the return of safety DeShon Singleton, who finished second on the team with 71 tackles, and Javin Wright, an athletic linebacker returning for a seventh season. Adding to the experience are transfer linebackers Marques Watson-Trent, the reigning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year for Georgia Southern, and versatile Dasan McCullough from Oklahoma. Nebraska linebacker Javin Wright | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Previewing Nebraska's Specialists for 2025 Nebraska's shaky special teams units are in the hands of former Tennessee special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler. Ekeler must improve a group that allowed 10 blocked kicks last season. Kicker John Hohl, 10-of-15 on field goals, returns. Improving the Husker punt return game (4.9 yards per return last season) will be a priority. Advertisement National Ranking: 28 More Big Ten team previews: Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State Minnesota | Northwestern | Ohio State | Oregon | Penn State Purdue | Rutgers | UCLA | USC | Washington | Wisconsin Related: Big Ten Football 2025 Predictions Related: College Football Rankings: Projecting the Top 25 Teams for 2025 Related: Athlon Sports 2025 College Football Preview Magazine Available Now This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
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07-07-2025
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USC Football: 2025 Trojans Season Preview and Prediction
USC Football: 2025 Trojans Season Preview and Prediction originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Lincoln Riley's fourth season at USC and second in the Big Ten is critical for a program that hasn't tasted the College Football Playoff. Riley likes the development of both lines and quarterback Jayden Maiava's potential with potentially elite wideouts in Lemon and Lane. After going 1-4 on the road in 2024, USC faces difficult trips to Oregon, Notre Dame, Illinois and Nebraska. The Trojans also must fare better in close games. Advertisement [Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 College Football Preview print magazine. Order your copy today online, or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.] More Big Ten team previews: Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern | Ohio State | Oregon | Penn State Purdue | Rutgers | UCLA | Washington | Wisconsin USC 2025 Season Preview and Prediction Previewing USC's Offense for 2025 Head coach Lincoln Riley wants to build at the line of scrimmage and has an offensive front with several homegrown prospects (Elijah Paige, Alani Noa) mixed with transfers (J'Onre Reed, DJ Wingfield). Paige earned Freshman All-America honors in 2024, while Wingfield's versatility and intelligence have stood out to Riley. Advertisement Quarterback Jayden Maiava went 3-1 after replacing Miller Moss and went through the offseason as the clear-cut starter. Riley saw 'a lot of tremendous plays' from Maiava in 2024 and now wants to see the junior balance aggressiveness with ball security. He will have two gifted targets in junior wide receivers Makai Lemon (764 receiving yards) and Ja'Kobi Lane (12 touchdowns). Boise State transfer Prince Strachan will also be part of the wideout rotation. Lake McRee once again leads the tight ends. After two successful SEC transfers at running back (MarShawn Lloyd, Woody Marks), USC turns to one of its own in Bryan Jackson, who shined in the bowl win against Texas A&M. New Mexico transfer Eli Sanders and junior-college transfer Waymond Jordan round out the group. Related: Big Ten Predictions for 2025 USC QB Jayden Maiava | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Previewing USC's Defense for 2025 USC has gotten much bigger along the line, which Riley expects to be a team strength. There's a good veteran core in Devan Thompkins, Braylan Shelby and Anthony Lucas, intriguing transfers like Keeshawn Silver and a splashy recruit in Jahkeem Stewart. 'Across the board, interior, on the edge, the size, the strength, just the quality of depth and competition, you definitely feel that,' Riley says. Advertisement Eric Gentry returns to lead the linebackers after concussions forced him to redshirt in 2024. First-year linebackers coach Rob Ryan will oversee a group that includes promising sophomore Desman Stephens II. The secondary has some question marks outside of safety Kamari Ramsey, but transfers DJ Harvey (San José State) and Bishop Fitzgerald (NC State) will be factors. Trojans coach Lincoln Riley | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Previewing USC's Specialists for 2025 USC will have a new kicker in Caden Chittenden, a Freshman All-American at UNLV, and a new punter in Sam Johnson, who replaces Ray Guy Award winner Eddie Czaplicki. Lemon handled kickoff returns in 2024 and might take over punt returns. Advertisement National Ranking: 34 More Big Ten team previews: Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern | Ohio State | Oregon | Penn State Purdue | Rutgers | UCLA | Washington | Wisconsin Related: Big Ten Football 2025 Predictions Related: College Football Rankings: Projecting the Top 25 Teams for 2025 Related: Athlon Sports 2025 College Football Preview Magazine Available Now This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
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Purdue Football: 2025 Boilermakers Season Preview and Prediction
Purdue Football: 2025 Boilermakers Season Preview and Prediction originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Purdue is in full rebuild mode under first-year head coach Barry Odom, who arrived to clean up a 1-11 mess after a successful two-year run at UNLV in which he won 19 games. The hurdles? They are many, including a daunting schedule that will challenge an overhauled roster. We'll see if the Boilermakers can win more than two games. Advertisement [Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 College Football Preview print magazine. Order your copy today online, or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.] More Big Ten team previews: Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern | Ohio State | Oregon | Penn State Rutgers | UCLA | USC | Washington | Wisconsin Purdue 2025 Season Preview and Prediction Previewing Purdue's Offense for 2025 Purdue may have gotten an answer at quarterback in late April after none of the three contenders impressed in the spring. Ryan Browne, last season's backup who also started two games in relief, transferred back to the place he called 'home' after a few months at North Carolina. Advertisement Running back is a rare position with a proven commodity: Devin Mockobee. He's back for his final season in an offense that wants to run the ball. Malachi Thomas arrives from Virginia Tech to provide a proven backup and change of pace. Questions loom at tight end. Is George Burhenn ready to emerge? He suffered a bad ankle injury in the spring. Even more questions loom at receiver. The staff imported five wideouts from the portal after five departed. The best of the bunch could be UCF's Chauncey Magwood or USC's Charles Ross. The best of the holdovers is likely De'Nylon Morrissette. The line must be totally rebuilt. The anchor may be UNLV transfer Jalen St. John. If he isn't the alpha blocker, Joey Tanona may be. Rangy tackle Bakyne Coly could be sitting on the precipice of a breakout. Related: Big Ten Predictions for 2025 Boilermakers RB Devin Mockobee | Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images Previewing Purdue's Defense for 2025 Who will rush the passer with Kydran Jenkins gone? CJ Madden is back after his 2024 season was limited to three games due to an ankle injury. The staff has landed two portal rushers in CJ Nunnally IV (Akron) and Breeon Ishmail (Michigan). Transfers TJ Lindsey (Auburn) and Marcus Moore (Bowling Green) anchor the interior. Jamarrion Harkless, Demeco Kennedy and Jamarius Dinkins need to play well inside. Advertisement Following a familiar theme, the staff took steps toward improvement at linebacker by adding transfers. The name to know: Sanders Ellis (FCS Tennessee State). Alex Sanford Jr. (Arkansas) and Mani Powell (UNLV) also will be factors. One holdover to watch is Winston Berglund. Transfers have gutted the secondary. Dillon Thieneman, one of a staggering 10 DBs to exit via the portal, bolted to Oregon. In response, the staff has added six portal defensive backs. Tony Grimes (UNLV) may be the top corner, while Crew Wakley (BYU) looks like the No. 1 safety. Purdue coach Barry Odom | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images Previewing Purdue's Specialists for 2025 Spencer Porath is back as the No. 1 kicker following a spotty debut. He'll need to be better after connecting on only 7-of-11 field-goal attempts. The staff fished Arkansas' Sam Dubwig from the portal to punt, although he never has punted in a college game. Advertisement National Ranking: 104 More Big Ten team previews: Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State Minnesota | Nebraska | Northwestern | Ohio State | Oregon | Penn State Rutgers | UCLA | USC | Washington | Wisconsin Related: Big Ten Football 2025 Predictions Related: College Football Rankings: Projecting the Top 25 Teams for 2025 Related: Athlon Sports 2025 College Football Preview Magazine Available Now This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
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NC State Football: 2025 Wolfpack Season Preview and Prediction
NC State Football: 2025 Wolfpack Season Preview and Prediction originally appeared on Athlon Sports. With two new coordinators, NC State is bound to look different on the field in 2025. The Wolfpack want to operate fast on offense, while getting sacks and tackles for a loss in bunches on defense. It'll be interesting to see which side of the ball emerges as this team's strength, but the offense, led by quarterback CJ Bailey, seems to have the upper hand so far. Advertisement [Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 College Football Preview print magazine. Order your copy today online, or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.] More ACC team previews Boston College | California | Clemson | Duke | Florida State Georgia Tech | Louisville | Miami | North Carolina Pitt | SMU | Stanford | Syracuse | Virginia | Virginia Tech | Wake Forest NC State 2025 Season Preview and Prediction Previewing NC State's Offense for 2025 NC State's offense will have a new feel this season under Kurt Roper, who was promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator in the offseason. It's been eight years since Roper called an offense, but he's tasked with improving a unit that was 62nd in scoring (28.5 points per game) a year ago. Advertisement Sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey will lead the attack after starting eight games in his first season of college football. He can build off last season with a core of playmakers around him, including senior tight end Justin Joly, sophomore wide receiver Noah Rogers and sophomore running back Hollywood Smothers. Joly was the Wolfpack's leading receiver with 661 yards and four touchdowns, while Smothers emerged as the top running back down the stretch, amassing 834 yards from scrimmage and eight scores. The expectation is that both will be featured pieces of Roper's up-tempo offense. Wolfpack QB CJ Bailey | Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images Previewing NC State's Defense for 2025 Like the offense, NC State's defense is breaking in a new coordinator in D.J. Eliot. The veteran defensive play-caller is looking to bring his pressure-based scheme to Raleigh, where getting after the quarterback is key to the unit's ability to wreak havoc. Advertisement Senior nose tackle Brandon Cleveland is set to anchor the defensive line, while redshirt seniors Sean Brown and Caden Fordham will lead the team's linebacker corps. Temple transfer linebacker Tra Thomas, who will likely spend most of his time at edge, impressed this past spring. The Wolfpack will boast a largely new secondary as the transfer portal took most of the starters. Former FCS Villanova transfer Devon Marshall emerged as a consistent cornerback for the Pack a year ago and is set to start. Watch for young defensive backs like redshirt freshmen Ronnie Royal III and Jaren Sensabaugh to make waves this fall. NC State LB Sean Brown | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Previewing NC State's Specialists for 2025 Punter Caden Noonkester, placekicker Kanoah Vinesett and long-snapper Aiden Arias are set for another season with the Pack. Noonkester averaged 43.6 yards per boot, dropping 18 inside the 20-yard line and launching 14 punts of 50-plus yards. Vinesett is entering his second season as NC State's starting placekicker. He was 18-of-24 on field-goal attempts with a long of 52 a year ago. He was a perfect 34-for-34 on PATs and was 14-for-16 on field-goal attempts under 40 yards. Advertisement National Ranking: 54 More ACC team previews Boston College | California | Clemson | Duke | Florida State Georgia Tech | Louisville | Miami | North Carolina Pitt | SMU | Stanford | Syracuse | Virginia | Virginia Tech | Wake Forest Related: ACC Football 2025 Predictions Related: College Football Rankings: Projecting the Top 25 Teams for 2025 Related: Athlon Sports 2025 College Football Preview Magazine Available Now This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
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Virginia Football: 2025 Cavaliers Season Preview and Prediction
Virginia Football: 2025 Cavaliers Season Preview and Prediction originally appeared on Athlon Sports. On paper, the Cavaliers have upgraded at quarterback and on both sides of the trenches. UVA also has a manageable non-conference schedule and avoids the top-four finishers in the ACC from last season. It's bowl or bust for coach Tony Elliott in Year 4 at Virginia. Advertisement [Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 College Football Preview print magazine. Order your copy today online, or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.] More ACC team previews Boston College | California | Clemson | Duke | Florida State Georgia Tech | Louisville | Miami | North Carolina | NC State Pitt | SMU | Stanford | Syracuse | Virginia Tech | Wake Forest Virginia 2025 Season Preview and Prediction Previewing Virginia's Offense for 2025 It's a changing of the guard for Virginia at the quarterback position. Anthony Colandrea and Tony Muskett are out, and North Texas transfer Chandler Morris has arrived to shepherd the UVA offense in a make-or-break season for head coach Tony Elliott. The Cavaliers ranked 16th in the ACC in scoring offense last season at 22.7 points per game — only Florida State was worse. Morris should be an upgrade at the most important position on the field, but what about the rest of the offense? Advertisement The Cavaliers lost their top two pass-catchers and leading rusher but added a few impact transfers at the skill positions — receivers Jahmal Edrine (Purdue) and Jayden Thomas (Notre Dame) and running back J'Mari Taylor (FCS North Carolina Central). They'll need returners like Xavier Brown, who averaged 6.1 yards per carry last season, and Trell Harris, who was a bright spot in the downfield passing game before going down with a knee injury, to take big steps forward in 2025. Most importantly, though, the Cavaliers must see improvement on their offensive line, the team's biggest weakness in the Elliott era. Virginia added some transfers up front, including UAB's Brady Wilson, but the Cavs lost Louisville transfer Monroe Mills to a spring knee injury and starting right tackle Blake Steen to the transfer portal. Cavaliers RB Xavier Brown | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Previewing Virginia's Defense for 2025 The Cavaliers will have to fill the massive shoes of two-time first-team All-ACC safety Jonas Sanker, but they are set to field perhaps the most experienced safety tandem in the country in Antonio Clary and Louisville transfer Devin Neal. Advertisement UVA went to work in the portal to improve its front seven, which ranked near the bottom of the league in sacks for the second year in a row. Mitchell Melton (Ohio State), Cazeem Moore (FCS Elon), Hunter Osborne (Alabama) and Fisher Camac (UNLV) arrive from the portal to reinforce the defensive line, and the Cavaliers bring back all of their key linebackers, including second-leading tackler Kam Robinson. The cornerback position may be an issue, but the pieces are there for UVA's defense to be much improved in 2025. Virginia coach Tony Elliott | Amber Searls-Imagn Images Previewing Virginia's Specialists for 2025 Virginia brings back all of its kickers and punters from last season and adds PFF All-America long snapper Bryce Robinson from Kennesaw State. UVA lost its primary returners but brought in James Madison transfer Cam Ross, who returned a kickoff for a score last season. Advertisement National Ranking: 69 More ACC team previews Boston College | California | Clemson | Duke | Florida State Georgia Tech | Louisville | Miami | North Carolina | NC State Pitt | SMU | Stanford | Syracuse | Virginia Tech | Wake Forest Related: ACC Football 2025 Predictions Related: College Football Rankings: Projecting the Top 25 Teams for 2025 Related: Athlon Sports 2025 College Football Preview Magazine Available Now This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
