Our prediction for every conference champion in the 2025 college football season

Welcome to college football in this, the year of our Lord two thousand twenty and five. The first kick has been booted. The first snap executed. The first touchdown scored. Football is officially back, and we're nearly going crazy just trying to keep ourselves contained.

And, as is tradition with the beginning of the football calendar, we're throwing our hats into the ring in an effort to forecast the upcoming year with some semblance of accuracy. Today, we tackle the question on everyone's collective football mind: who will be the conference champions when it's all said and done?

Starting with the end in mind; I like it.

With five automatic qualifier spots in the College Football Playoff bracket up for grabs, winning the conference crown may be the ticket into the gridiron equivalent of March Madness. Once you're in the tournament, anything could happen.

Here's what we expect.

Conference Champion Predictions 2025

American Conference

Votes:
Memphis: 1
Navy: 1
Army: 1
Tulane: 1

The American will be a shootout this year, which I suppose is appropriate. We're completely split on who we believe will take the title in December. Seriously, dig your hand into the hat and grab a slip of paper. There's your champion.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Votes:
Clemson: 2
SMU: 1
Virginia: 1

The general consensus this season is that Clemson will be largely running unopposed. While they'll hold the most bets in Vegas, we thing there may be a lot more to the ACC than meets the eye. Take a look at SMU, last season's runners-up and sneaky addition to the final CFP table. Even Virginia, who may be down in recent seasons but could pop off this year.

Never forget that Florida State is still present and accounted for, despite recent hiccups. The ACC could be a bloodbath if Dabo Swinney can't keep his grip.

Big 12 Conference

Votes:
Kansas State: 2
Arizona State: 1
Iowa State: 1

Sure, K-State fell in a week 0 meeting in Ireland against another team receiving votes, but let's not get ahead of ourselves (he said while predicting a postseason result before week 1 has played a single snap). Never judge a team by its first game. Plenty can happen in the next 11. And Kansas State is still a deep and talented contender. Just last year, Arizona State nearly lost to Mississippi State and Texas State before actually losing to Texas Tech. They'd be dominant for the rest of the year.

But if this year's Big 12 is anything like the year previous, we may be on a collision course with pure chaos. BYU, Utah, Baylor, Texas Tech, ASU, and Iowa State are all chomping at the trophy. Buckle up.

Big 10 Conference

Votes:
Oregon: 2
Penn State: 2

Last year's champion and runner-up are deadlocked for our predictory crown. Is this the year Penn State finally breaks through and solidifies itself as a serious force in the Big 10, or are they in for another "better than the rest, but a notch below the best" type of season? James Franklin's career may depend on it.

Conference-USA

Votes:
Liberty: 4

Liberty, Liberty, Liberty, Liberty.

This league is the Flames' to lose. Plain and simple.

Mid-American Conference

Votes:
Toledo: 2
Miami (OH): 1
Ohio: 1

According to our calculations, the state of Ohio is about to dominate MACtion for the season. In one of the most exciting and least predictable leagues in the nation, we expect a hard-fought battle for the title, and Toledo has the edge (Ohio, not Spain).

Mountain West Conference

Votes:
Boise State: 4

Even without Ashton Jeanty, the Mountain West sure seems tilted in the Broncos' favor. Anything could happen, and the league is truly falling apart with the quickly arriving Pac-12 departure date. From the WAC to the MWC and soon to the PAC, Boise State is a football force on Smurf Turf. The league is theirs to lose.

Pac-12 Conference

Votes:
Washington State: 4

Picking from the two remaining members of this league feels a bit awkward. A bit clunky. But somebody's gotta win it. We pick Wazzu.

Southeastern Conference

Votes:
Texas: 3
Georgia: 1

The Longhorns have been a serious football team again since Steve Sarkisian took the helm. Last year, they reached the playoffs after a 3-point loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in the deciding game. The southern winds are changing, and Texas may be the kings of the SEC when the year's over.

Still, never count out the countless powerhouse programs housed within the walls of this league. Georgia, Alabama, LSU, and so many others could make a run at the throne.

Sun Belt Conference

Votes:
James Madison: 2
Texas State: 1
Coastal Carolina: 1

Another gunslinging league of high-octane football squads, the Sun Belt will be scoring plenty of points and clawing for the title. But in a group of high-powered offenses, James Madison may just stand supreme. That'll be the difference-maker.

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