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USA Today
10-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Georgia football ranked in Athlon Sports' preseason top five
The Georgia Bulldogs are once again expected to be one of the best teams in the nation. Athlon Sports' Steven Lassan released his official preseason rankings, and the Bulldogs ranked fourth on the list. Lassan prefaces that Kirby Smart and his squad come into the 2025 season with more question marks than past squads. Expected starter Gunner Stockton has just two games of experience (the 2024 SEC championship and Sugar Bowl) and one start. However, Georgia did make a strong effort to help him, adding top receiver transfers Noah Thomas (from Texas A&M) and Zachariah Branch (from USC). The Georgia running game also struggled in 2024 (second-to-last in the SEC in yards per game) and Georgia only has one returning offensive lineman from last year. However, Lassan believes that the talent in the backfield is too good to struggle again next year, believing that sophomore Nate Frazier will have a breakout season as a lead back. Josh McCray and Bo Walker could be interesting pieces behind Frazier, while Cash Jones adds another weapon to the passing game. Lassan also believes the defense is in transition as well. The Bulldogs lost tons of young talent through the transfer portal and several key starters to the 2025 NFL draft, but Georgia still has stars, such as Christen Miller on the defensive line, CJ Allen on the linebacker core, and cornerback Daylen Everette and safety KJ Bolden in the secondary. Overall, development will be the key to proving the No. 4 ranking true. Georgia ranks second in the SEC and fourth in the nation behind Ohio State, Penn State, and Texas, who earned the No. 1 spot. Georgia and Texas play each other on Nov. 15 in a potential de facto SEC championship. Athlon Sports' preseason top 25 rankings Follow UGAWire on Instagram or Threads for more Georgia football coverage!
USA Today
24-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where Clemson football landed in Athlon Sports' 2025 season ranking predicitons
Clemson defensive line pair named one of college football's 5 best dynamic duos for 2025 Athlon Sports has released its projections for the 2025 college football season, and Clemson is firmly positioned among the nation's elite. The Tigers are ranked No. 5 in Athlon's end-of-season rankings prediction, highlighting their potential to make a serious run at a national championship this fall. 'The Tigers returned to the top of the ACC last season and are poised for a run at the national title in 2025,' wrote Athlon's Steven Lassan. 'Quarterback Cade Klubnik and one of the nation's top receiving corps are back, while the defense is loaded behind new coordinator Tom Allen.' Clemson rounds out a Top 5 that includes Texas at No. 1, followed by Penn State, Ohio State, and Georgia. The Tigers are one of several programs in that top tier Athlon believes have a legitimate shot at finishing No. 1 by season's end. Just behind Clemson in the Top 10 are Notre Dame (6), LSU (7), Alabama (8), Oregon (9), and ACC foe Miami (10). Of Clemson's 2025 opponents, LSU and South Carolina are projected to be the toughest tests, ranked No. 7 and No. 12 respectively. LSU returns quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and brings in a strong transfer class, while South Carolina hopes LaNorris Sellers can help cover up some question marks after a deep postseason push last year. SMU also cracked the Top 25 at No. 22, making them another key challenge on Clemson's schedule. Several more of Clemson's FBS opponents were listed in the Top 60, including Louisville (26), Georgia Tech (34), Duke (41), Florida State (42), North Carolina (52), Boston College (56), Syracuse (57), and Troy (100). That makes for a competitive slate, even by ACC standards. The ranking reinforces the growing optimism around Dabo Swinney's program heading into the fall. With a proven quarterback in Klubnik, an experienced offensive line, a reloaded defense under Tom Allen, and a receiver group that's being talked about as one of the best in the country, Clemson looks poised to build on last season's return to the top of the ACC. With the start of the 2025 season now less than 70 days away, Clemson is once again entering the year with legitimate playoff aspirations and the talent to back them up. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Building a Dream Big 12 Football Road Trip for 2025
Spring practice and the ongoing battle over the House settlement in the courtroom grabbed most of the headlines in the world of college football this week. However, even with over 100 days until kickoff, the intrigue and early previews for the 2025 season never stops. The Big 12's '24 title chase featured four teams at 7-2 in league play, with three finishing a step behind at 6-3. With another close conference title race expected in '25, the Big 12 should have another entertaining battle on tap. To preview early storylines and teams to watch for '25, on this week's episode of 'Athlon U: The College Football Podcast,' Braden Gall and Steven Lassan discuss a dream road trip for the 2025 Big 12 schedule. Advertisement Rules of the Big 12 Dream Road Trip for 2025 (10:00) Why the Week 0 showdown in Ireland for Kansas State and Iowa State looms large for 2025 (12:10) What's at stake for Colorado's opener against Georgia Tech (13:30) Intrigue with Auburn visiting Baylor in Week 1 (14:30) The Border War returns! (15:20) Where the Big 12 has room to improve on its schedule (20:30) Is Oklahoma State's home game versus Baylor a must-win for coach Mike Gundy? (22:40) Arizona State's tough '25 road slate (31:00) The Holy War tops the list of must-see matchups (33:00) Is Kansas State at Kansas one of the Big 12's biggest games of 2025? (34:00) Why Texas Tech's stock is on the rise in 2025 (36:00) What's at stake in the Big 12 Conference Championship rematch between Arizona State and Iowa State (36:50) Is Texas Tech at Kansas State a Big 12 title game preview? (37:30) Why BYU at Texas Tech could be one of the biggest games in November (39:40) Is TCU at Houston a trap game for the Horned Frogs? (44:20) Could Colorado-Kansas State in Week 14 decide a spot in the Big 12 title game? (46:05) Arizona at Arizona State likely to be the best Big 12 rivalry matchup in Week 14 (47:30) Why the Big 12 is likely to be difficult to predict once again in '25 (49:00) Related: Big 12 Football: Predicting the Best Game Every Week in the 2025 Season Related: Big 12 Football: Way-Too-Early 2025 QB Rankings Related: Ranking the Big 12 Football Schedules for 2025
