Three Final Big Stories Heading Into 2025 College Football Season

There are certainly more than 15 stories in college football this year. However, here are our stories 13-15. All these stories fall below the cut of national news, but they are important stories in college football. Which Florida team will emerge as the best Florida team? Can Boise State make the College Football Playoff again from the Group of Five ranks? Are there more changes coming to the College Football Playoff? One that last one, the safe bet is, yes, as long as there is an idea to make more money. Can you think of any more than these 15 stories?

Big Story #13: Which Florida Team is Best?

The playoff drought for the three biggest teams in the state of Florida: Florida, Florida State, and Miami is at 10 years. Couple that with the fact that some of the other schools in the state, like Central Florida and South Florida, have gotten very good. Florida State was 2-10 last season after getting snubbed from the playoff in 2023. Florida seemed poised for a coaching change after blowing games to rival Miami (Fla.) and Texas A&M

However, Quarterback DJ Lagaway has emerged as a Heisman Trophy contender, and the talent is there. The Gators should have the best team of Head Coach Billy Napier’s tenure. However, the Florida schedule is difficult. Miami almost ended the “Sunshine State’s” drought last season and will replace No. 1 overall pick, Cam Ward, with coveted Georgia transfer Carson Beck. Things might be looking up for at least two of the three programs in the state of Florida.

Biggest Of the Stories #14: Will Boise State Triumph Again?

Ashton Jeanty, the do-everything running back for Boise State, took his talents to the National Football League with the Las Vegas Raiders. He was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy last season. However, the group of five’s path to the CFP still goes through Boise State. The roster is still talented enough that the Broncos will be head and shoulders above the competition. Boise State opens with a test against South Florida and faces Notre Dame on October 4.

However, if the Broncos falter, there is a talented and deep American Conference ready to take the reins. South Florida, Army, Navy, Memphis, and Tulane will all be good this season.  In other conferences, the news is not that good. Massive attrition hit the Sun Belt Conference. James Madison is the preseason favorite, mostly because of winnable games against the likes of Louisville and Liberty. In the Metro Athletic Conference, Toledo, Miami (Ohio), Ohio, and Buffalo are projected to be bowl teams. If things break right for them, they could be in the CFP. Liberty and Western Kentucky could emerge from Conference USA.

Big Story #15: Are Changes Coming To the CFP?

The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff was a success in 2024. That said, there was already one change to the format, and there may be more this fall. The seeding process was already changed by the college conference commissioners. Instead of the conference championship getting the first four seeds, the seedings will mirror the rankings of the College Football Playoff Committee. Now, expansion to 14 or 16 teams is possible. How many teams do you think they will eventually expand to?

Conclusion

These three final big stories in college football for the 2025 season are important for college football, but probably not nationally. Which Florida team will emerge as the best is a good example of this. Whether Boise State will make the College Football Playoff this year is another. The last story about potential CFP expansion is potentially a national story. One thing is for certain: many of the big college football stories we list could be national ones.