Penn State enters the 2025 season as a preseason Top 25 favorite with a blueprint for a title run. Drew Allar returns as a big-armed, 6-5 quarterback who has shown steps forward in accuracy and decision-making, and he’ll operate behind an upgraded system under Andy Kotelnicki. A two-headed tailback duo and a transfer-infused wide receiver corps give Allar a versatile, dangerous offense, while a beefed-up offensive line shores up protection and run lanes. The program also tabbed the sport’s highest-paid defensive coordinator after a championship run, aiming to bolster a defense that has talent across the two-deep. The schedule looks marquee but balanced, with Oregon, Iowa, and Ohio State testing the Lions, while a favorable slate elsewhere should help them stack wins. If James Franklin can finally convert the Big Game chatter into big-game results, this could be the season Penn State finally translates talent, experience, and depth into a CFP push.

Fast facts emphasize a complete profile: a 2024 13-3 mark, top-10 finishing defense by yards allowed per play, a quarterback room with room to grow, and a receiving corps that finally fills the gaps through transfer additions Kyron Hudson, Devonte Ross, and Trebor Pena. Abdul Carter anchors the front seven, while the offense benefits from a deep line and a scheming OC returning familiarity with the system. The Lions’ path this season centers on consistency in big spots, clinical clock management, and winning the kinds of games that have eluded them in recent years. This is their moment to seize the CFP spotlight.

Derrick Harmon’s knee injury in the Steelers’ final preseason game casts a cloud over Pittsburgh’s defensive line depth, especially as the club opened a two-week window to its Week 1 matchup with the New York Jets. Harmon, Pittsburgh’s first-round pick in 2025, left the field on a cart after pressuring Panthers reserve QB Jack Plummer and getting tangled with an OL. No update has been released beyond ESPN’s Adam Schefter’s note that he’s out. Harmon’s path to the NFL began at Michigan State before blossoming at Oregon, where he totaled 45 tackles (27 solo), five sacks and two forced fumbles in his senior year, earning him a high-draft selection. The Steelers now face uncertainty about interior disruption and rotational expectations as they head toward the regular season.

Harmon’s Oregon standout season and Michigan State origins underscore the dual narrative around his pedigree and opportunity. The injury timing matters for the Steelers’ immediate plans, as the roster must replace or absorb a disruptive interior presence behind veterans. Carolina’s offense—the Panthers—present a test early in the schedule, especially with Plummer under center; the health of Harmon will influence how Pittsburgh allocates reps among defensive linemen and run-stoppers. With the Jets looming in Week 1, fantasy managers will watch for any clarity on whether Pittsburgh shifts more snaps to reserve DLs or tight-end-stopping fronts, while continue to gauge how long Harmon’s recovery might take.

In fantasy and betting terms, this development injects a measurable risk into the Steelers’ front-seven projections and could elevate the value of otherDLs on the Pittsburgh depth chart if Harmon is sidelined. Until further word arrives, coordinators will lean on veteran linemen and a developing rotation, making Week 1 a pivotal test for depth players and the Steelers’ ability to sustain pressure without their first-round rookie at the heart of the rotation.

Oregon’s fast start in the Big Ten has set a high bar for season No. 2, with Dan Lanning preaching relentless improvement and a “double down” mindset as the Ducks reload after losing a dozen NFL-bound seniors. Dante Moore steps in, replacing Dillon Gabriel as the likely starter, while a slate of newcomers—led by Isaiah World and Makhi Hughes—help retool the offense. The receiver room faces questions after Evan Stewart’s knee injury and Jurrion Dickey’s preseason suspension, but Oregon’s ceiling remains championship-oriented. The schedule features a marquee early test at Penn State and a home clash with Oregon State, all while the program leans into its established process and standards.

Last year’s perfect 13-0 mark and Big Ten title show what the Ducks can achieve when everything clicks. This season tests depth and development as the roster rebuilds, yet Lanning’s insistence on continuing the process—pushing for conference titles and beyond—frames every game. Oregon opens ranked No. 7 and eyes a repeat of peak form, aware that the league’s balance has shifted with wholesale player movement and program evolution.

USA TODAY’s ranking of the 25 best college football uniforms is a celebration of identity, history, and bold experimentation. Michigan sits at No. 1 with maize and blue, winged helmets, and a timeless aura that has defined the program for generations. Notre Dame and Ohio State follow, their iconic helmets and clean jersey silhouettes signaling prestige and consistency. The list weaves through programs known for tradition—Alabama, Penn State, Florida State—while spotlighting risk-takers like Oregon and Tulane, whose frequent palette changes and striking logos keep brands front and center. The piece ties uniform excellence to on-field ethos, recruiting allure, and moments etched into college football lore, underscoring how a look can become as recognizable as a playbook.

Beyond the top tier, several programs lean into distinctive motifs: Colorado’s Ralphie emblem and bold color blocks, Georgia’s classic yet steady presence, and Oregon’s Nike-driven experimentation that has reshaped the visual language of the sport. The narrative also nods to soul-satisfying details—the Ole Miss powder blue, USC’s Trojan decal, the Penn State clash with its understated elegance, and LSU’s Death Valley-ready white/black/yellow combos. In essence, the article argues that great uniforms are more than aesthetics; they are branding, intimidation, and fan culture rolled into one eye-catching package that resonates on the field and in fantasy lineups alike.

The ranking culminates with Michigan’s winged helmet as the gold standard in college football, a symbol that transcends era and style. As the sport leans into varied looks, managers and fans alike are reminded that a team’s kit can sharpen perception, shape opponent decisions, and provide a subtle edge in weekly attention and brand engagement—an often-overlooked factor in the modern game.

The Big Ten’s latest playoff idea would push the College Football Playoff toward as many as 28 teams, with seven automatic bids each for the Big Ten and SEC and additional bids for other leagues. The proposal even hints at unranked teams entering the mix, a move critics say would devalue the regular season and undermine credibility. Tony Petitti’s offseason appetite for bold formats has drawn sharp scrutiny, including past attempts at a 16-team plan. The SEC and ACC coaches currently favor a more measured expansion, with discussions centered on a 5+11 model and a continued reliance on at-large bids. Even if a compromise emerges, alignment among major conferences remains elusive, leaving the current 12-team format as a reference point. The debate spotlights not just postseason structure, but which teams and programs benefit most when the playoff field grows—and how much momentum a top program should lose to a broader invitation.