College Football 2025: Wild Card Teams to Watch | USC, Oklahoma & More
- The latest conference realignment has made college football margins slimmer, turning every conference schedule into a week-to-week grind. The difference between a playoff contender and a team...
- Last season saw programs exceed or fall short of expectations.
- Surprises are common in college football, but identifying them beforehand is challenging.
The 2025 college football season promises high drama. Conference realignments have intensified the competition, making every game crucial. We dive deep into the biggest college football wild card teams poised to make waves, including the USC Trojans, Kansas Jayhawks, and the Utah Utes. Discover which programs could defy expectations and contend for a playoff spot, examining their potential and the factors that could lead to either triumph or disappointment. News Directory 3 highlights the teams to watch. Which underdogs will shock the nation? Discover whatS next …
College Football’s Biggest wild Cards for 2025
Updated June 28, 2025
The latest conference realignment has made college football margins slimmer,
turning every conference schedule into a week-to-week grind. The
difference between a playoff contender and a team fighting for bowl
eligibility can hinge on injuries or bad luck in close games. Several
teams enter the 2025 season with widely varying potential.
Last season saw programs exceed or fall short of expectations. Arizona
state’s breakthrough and Indiana’s historic season were unexpected, as was
Florida State’s collapse.
Surprises are common in college football, but identifying them beforehand
is challenging. Examining some of the sport’s most unpredictable teams
offers insight into their potential to overachieve or disappoint.
Here are college football’s biggest wild cards heading into 2025.
Playoff odds are via FanDuel Sportsbook.
Utah Utes
Odds to reach CFP: +520
Utah’s five wins last season matched its fewest in the power conference
era, ending a bowl streak dating back to 2014. While a team going from
below .500 to the playoff in one year would be surprising, it’s possible
for a program with an upgraded offense led by dual-threat quarterback
Devon Dampier. With the entire starting offensive line returning, it’s
hard to bet against coach Kyle Whittingham, despite the possibility of
another season near bowl eligibility.
Kansas Jayhawks
Odds to reach CFP: +1200
With Jalon Daniels healthy,last season was supposed to be Kansas’
chance to shine. Instead, a 1-5 start prevented them from reaching a
bowl game. However, Lance Leipold’s squad finished strong with three
straight wins over ranked opponents. It’s hard to predict which Kansas
team will show up in 2025. It might very well be one of the best seasons in program
history, or just another year at the bottom of the Big 12.
Odds to reach CFP: +360
SMU proved its believers right last season with an ACC title game and
College Football Playoff appearance. However, with Rhett Lashlee losing
more than half of his starters, the Mustangs are in offseason limbo. With
only two defensive starters returning from the playoff squad and limited
Power four recruiting experience, roster depth will determine if another
playoff surge is possible.
Indiana Hoosiers
Odds to reach CFP: +630
Relying on the transfer portal creates boom-or-bust potential. Indiana
boomed in Curt Cignetti’s first year, but another special season in 2025
is uncertain. The addition of 23 transfers, including Fernando Mendoza,
gives the hoosiers hope. Returning starters Elijah Sarratt, Mikail Kamara,
Aiden Fisher, and D’Angelo Ponds must ensure roster turnover doesn’t limit
the program’s potential.
USC Trojans
Odds to reach CFP: +570
USC won six games in its first Big Ten season. Despite being a .500 team,
they were close to playoff contention. Reversing their one-score game
record could significantly improve their chances, but it’s not that
simple. the slim margins highlight the team’s potential for improvement.
What’s next
The 2025 college football season promises unpredictability,with these
wild card teams holding the key to potential upsets and unexpected
successes.