The 2025 college football season has been a wild ride, and no one saw this coming. With just four teams remaining in the College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinals—Indiana, Miami, Ole Miss, and Oregon—the unpredictability of this season is on full display. But here's where it gets controversial: not a single one of these teams was a favorite to win it all in the preseason predictions. Let’s dive into the surprising journey of this season and explore why the experts got it so wrong.
As the season kicked off, national media outlets were buzzing with predictions. On3 compiled 50 preseason forecasts from top analysts, and the results were all over the place. Nine teams were touted as potential champions, with Penn State and Texas leading the pack with 12 predictions each. Clemson, LSU, and Alabama weren’t far behind, each receiving multiple votes. Even the reigning champion, Ohio State, was expected to repeat by a few experts. But here’s the part most people miss: only one of these predicted teams, Oregon, is still in the running. And this is where it gets even more intriguing—Oregon was only picked by two out of 50 analysts.
So, what happened to the preseason favorites? Let’s break it down:
- Penn State: Despite high expectations, the Nittany Lions stumbled to a 7-6 record, leading to the mid-season firing of head coach James Franklin. Talk about a fall from grace!
- Texas: The Longhorns finished 10-4 but failed to secure a CFP spot, leaving fans and analysts scratching their heads.
- Clemson and LSU: Both teams, despite their returning talent and transfer portal moves, ended up with disappointing 7-6 records. LSU even parted ways with head coach Brian Kelly during the season.
- Alabama: The Crimson Tide made it to the SEC Championship and won a CFP first-round game but fell short against Indiana in the quarterfinals.
- Ohio State: The Buckeyes went undefeated in the regular season but lost to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship and Miami in the CFP quarterfinals.
And this is the part most people miss: Indiana, Miami, and Ole Miss were completely overlooked in the preseason. Yet, here they are, defying the odds and battling for the national title. It’s a testament to the unpredictability of college football and a reminder that preseason predictions are often just educated guesses.
But here’s the real question: Did the analysts underestimate these underdog teams, or did something shift dramatically during the season? Was it coaching changes, player performances, or simply the unpredictability of the game? And this is where it gets controversial: Could the preseason predictions themselves have influenced team performances, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts?
As we head into the CFP semifinals, one thing is clear: the 2025 season has been a rollercoaster of surprises. Oregon, the lone preseason pick still standing, faces Indiana in the Peach Bowl, while Miami takes on Ole Miss. Who will emerge as the national champion? Only time will tell.
What do you think? Did the analysts get it wrong, or did the season simply take an unexpected turn? Share your thoughts in the comments below—let’s spark a debate!
