TJ Inman

Rich CIrminiello's Picks for Week 1 College Football Games

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/top-25-college-football-quarterbacks-for-the-2025-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ranking the Top College Football Quarterbacks for 2025</a>
I might be the high on Florida’s <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dj-lagway/44049">DJ Lagway</a>. His numbers from this past season do not stand out, as he was in and out of the lineup and alternating with <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/graham-mertz/44092">Graham Mertz</a>. Still, the promise of Lagway persuaded Florida to keep Billy Napier for the 2025 season, and the fate of the Gators rests on the development and star turn of the talented young quarterback. Lagway has elite throwing ability, and if he can make consistently good decisions with the ball, Florida could make the College Football Playoff in 2025. He is a terrific talent, and I believe he'll be one of the nation's best quarterbacks in 2025.
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1. DJ Lagway - QB - Florida Gators

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Go Long with SportsGrid’s Free Weekly <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/picks">College Football Game Picks</a> and<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/player-props"> College Football Player Prop Bets</a>!
The Clemson Tigers hired Tom Allen as defensive coordinator, which could lead to a significant 2025 leap for sophomore linebacker <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/sammy-brown/37218">Sammy Brown</a>. The former five-star recruit got more snaps as the 2024 season wore on, and he flashed his elite instincts, tackling ability, and knack for showing up around the ball. With a full-time starting role expected for a top-ten Clemson team in 2025 and a defensive coordinator with a ton of success with linebackers, Brown is an expected All-American this coming season.

2. Sammy Brown - Linebacker - Clemson Tigers

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/cfb-top-10-oregon-ducks-returning-for-another-college-football-playoff-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top 10 Oregon Ducks Returning For Another College Football Playoff Run</a>
Oregon always runs the ball well, which will not change in 2025. What is going to change is stalwart <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jordan-james/29437">Jordan James</a> is gone. James had 233 carries during the 2024 season and averaged 5.44 yards per carry. Backup <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/noah-whittington/29363">Noah Whittington</a> returns after getting 118 carries this past season, and he already has more than 2,000 yards in his career in Eugene. Whittington is now expected to step into the role vacated by James, and he should see his carries nearly double as the lead back.

3. Noah Whittington - RB - Oregon Ducks

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/top-10-ohio-state-buckeyes-returning-for-another-championship-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top 10 Ohio State Buckeyes Returning For Another Championship Run</a>
The Ohio State Buckeyes won the National Championship for the 2024-2025 season. While the personnel will undoubtedly change, the Buckeyes will be loaded again for the 2025 campaign, with star wide receiver <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jeremiah-smith/38164">Jeremiah Smith</a> leading the way. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/will-howard/38101">Will Howard</a> has exhausted his eligibility, leaving one of the most coveted quarterback jobs in the country open. The expected QB1 for the Buckeyes is redshirt freshman <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/julian-sayin/38120">Julian Sayin</a>. A former Alabama commit, Sayin impressed coaches in Columbus as soon as he stepped on campus. His ascendancy has been signaled by the departure of other would-be returning OSU quarterbacks (<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/air-noland/38091">Air Noland</a> to South Carolina in particular). Sayin has a quick release and is highly accurate, and he will quickly be one of the most productive quarterbacks in the Big Ten.

4. Julian Sayin - QB - Ohio State Buckeyes

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/top-10-wrs-for-the-2025-college-football-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ranking the Top College Football Wide Receivers for 2025</a>
The USC Trojans lost some key pieces to the transfer portal, and Lincoln Riley enters the 2025 season in a precarious position. The departure of other offensive weapons leaves a hole for 6’4” target <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jakobi-lane/36451">Ja’Kobi Lane</a> to enter. Lane came on in a big way at the end of the 2024 season and ended up with 43 receptions for 525 yards. He made his most significant impact in the red zone and had 12 touchdown receptions during the season, easily the top number for USC. With more targets, Lane could be an All-Big Ten wide receiver.

5. Ja'Kobi Lane - WR - USC Trojans

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Matriculate down the field with SportsGrid’s FREE Top<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/picks"> College Football Picks</a> and<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/player-props"> College Football Player Prop Picks</a> every week! 
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/colin-simmons/41208">Colin Simmons</a> is already a household name in Austin, but the young Texas pass rusher will be a national star as soon as next season. Simmons played a part-time role in 2024 and still managed to lead his team with nine sacks. He has all of the physical tools required for an elite edge defender, and I’d be stunned if he was not an All-American in 2025 and a top-ten draft pick as soon as he is draft-eligible.

6. Colin Simmons - EDGE - Texas Longhorns

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/lanorris-sellers/33348">LaNorris Sellers</a> is just scratching the surface of what he can be. As a redshirt freshman, Sellers threw for only 2534 yards and 18 touchdowns, but he managed to complete 65.6 percent of his passes, a figure that is higher than expected. His danger to defenses comes in the other part of his game, and he is a nightmare to tackle when he starts to get outside of the pocket. Sellers ran for 674 yards and seven touchdowns, and there were a few games this season when he looked like the most dynamic player in college football. South Carolina won some big-time portal battles and will be a top-25 team to begin the 2025 season.

7. LaNorris Sellers - QB - South Carolina Gamecocks

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/top-10-running-backs-for-the-2025-college-football-season-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ranking the Top College Football Running Backs for 2025</a>
The 2024 season did not turn out as planned for the Kansas State Wildcats. They hoped to have a dominant rushing attack with quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/avery-johnson/18504">Avery Johnson</a> and a pair of good running backs, but the Cats could not translate the 6.08 yards per carry they achieved to Big 12 title contention. They finished 9-4 after beating Rutgers in a bowl game. One cog of that running game (<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dj-giddens/18501">DJ Giddens</a>) is off to the NFL, which opens an opportunity for the explosive <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dylan-edwards/39426">Dylan Edwards</a> to ascend to stardom. Edwards averaged 7.38 yards per carry on 74 attempts after transferring from Colorado. He’s also an outstanding receiving back, and I believe he’ll lead the Big 12 in rushing.

8. Dylan Edwards - RB - Kansas State Wildcats

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Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/"> SportsGrid</a>.
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/ryan-williams/19406">Ryan Williams</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jeremiah-smith/38164">Jeremiah Smith</a> were freshman wide receivers who achieved stardom in 2024 and significantly impacted the college football season. Fellow freshman <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/cam-coleman/48491">Cam Coleman</a> was considered the third of that elite trio of recruits. Still, he was denied the same level of attention as Auburn’s poor quarterback play and a nagging injury limited his impact and production. The Auburn Tigers have loaded up for the 2025 season, adding additional weapons on offense and landing quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jackson-arnold/21212">Jackson Arnold</a> from Oklahoma. If they get improved quarterback play, Coleman will belatedly introduce himself to the nation as an elite receiver.

9. Cam Coleman - WR - Auburn Tigers

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/top-10-offensive-linemen-in-college-football-for-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ranking the Top College Football Offensive Linemen for 2025</a>
Let’s give some love to Bret Bielema’s Illinois Fighting Illini. According to some early polls, the Illini are a preseason top-ten team, and they return a veteran group that was on the verge of playoff contention in 2024. The offensive leader is veteran quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/luke-altmyer/22382">Luke Altmyer</a>. If the Illini have a strong 2025 season and make the College Football Playoff, Altmyer will get the attention he has thus far been denied. Altmyer had 2,717 yards with 22 touchdowns and only six interceptions in 2024, and he should have another strong supporting cast in 2025.
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10. Luke Altmyer - QB - Illinois Fighting Illini

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/cfb-top-10-penn-state-nittany-lions-returning-for-another-college-football-playoff-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top 10 Penn State Nittany Lions Returning For Another College Football Playoff Run</a>
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/tyler-warren/49403">Tyler Warren</a> starred for Penn State as one of the best offensive weapons in college football. He is headed to the NFL, but the Nittany Lions believe they have a player on campus who can fill his shoes, replacing a decent chunk of his production. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/luke-reynolds/49429">Luke Reynolds</a> appeared in all 16 games and flashed his potential with nine catches for 111 yards and a score. There were a lot of reports during the team’s playoff run that Reynolds was developing nicely, and the team was excited about the player he could become.
2025-2026 National Title Odds: Penn State +800

11. Luke Reynolds - TE - Penn State Nittany Lions

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/ranking-the-top-5-college-football-safeties-for-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ranking the Top College Football Safeties for 2025</a>
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dylan-stewart/33435">Dylan Stewart</a> is not an unknown quantity after a terrific freshman campaign. He had 6.5 sacks and was a menace on a strong Gamecocks’ defensive line. The leader of that line, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kyle-kennard/33418">Kyle Kennard</a>, is headed to the NFL, and Stewart is expected to step up and become one of the best pass rushers next season. South Carolina is a borderline top-ten team heading into the 2025-2026 campaign, and there will be increased attention on Stewart.
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12. Dylan Stewart - EDGE - South Carolina Gamecocks

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The name alone makes <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/fluff-bothwell/42399">Fluff Bothwell</a> a player worth keeping an eye on. The transfer running back for Mississippi State is more than a cool name. He’s a big and bruising back who earned Freshman All-American status for his work with South Alabama and now joins an offense that is desperate for playmakers. Bothwell runs hard, and fans will enjoy getting to know him as he moves to the SEC.

13. Fluff Bothwell - RB - Mississippi State Bulldogs

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Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm knows how to orchestrate good offenses. While he gets a lot of attention for his team’s passing production, there is always a heavy lean on running backs to keep things clicking. The Cardinals found a good one in sophomore-to-be flex back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/isaac-brown/20210">Isaac Brown</a>. The Florida native has electric speed, averaged 7.11 yards per rush, and totaled 1,173 yards with 11 touchdowns in his freshman campaign. Louisville has some questions to answer as they try to compete at the top of the ACC, but Brown will be a key cog of an offense that should be good.

14. Isaac Brown - RB - Louisville Cardinals

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Under PJ Fleck, the Minnesota Golden Gophers have a strong history of producing good safeties and appear to have another one in <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/koi-perich/32182">Koi Perich</a>. Perich put together a season that earned him a few nods for defensive freshman of the year nationally as he racked up 46 tackles and a team-high five interceptions. The Gophers should be solid in 2025-2026, and Perich will be one of the best safeties in the Big Ten.
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15. Koi Perich - Safety - Minnesota Golden Gophers

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The LSU Tigers were expecting big things from <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/chris-hilton/51421">Chris Hilton</a> and the passing attack in 2025. Still, nagging injuries kept the talented young player from consistently seeing the field and limited his effectiveness. Hilton was healthy in the bowl game and went off for 113 yards and a touchdown on seven targets from <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/garrett-nussmeier/51357">Garrett Nussmeier</a>. The “Nuss Bus” is back for 2025, and Hilton will be a key cog of the LSU offense as they try to make a College Football Playoff run.

16. Chris Hilton - WR - LSU Tigers

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/lt-overton/19487">LT Overton</a> is a physically imposing defensive lineman who began his career at Texas A&amp;M before transferring to Alabama before the 2024 season. He did not produce as many sacks (two) as Kalen DeBoer was hoping for, but the Crimson Tide had to have been pleased with his impact. He led all Alabama defensive linemen with 503 snaps in 2024 and has the physical tools to significantly increase his production in his final year of eligibility.

17. LT Overton - DL - Alabama Crimson Tide

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The Michigan Wolverines have a well-proven track record for producing strong rushing attacks led by hard-nosed running backs. The rushing attack was a bit of a disappointment in 2024, but things started to come together at the end of the season. The play of <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jordan-marshall/45256">Jordan Marshall</a> was a major source of optimism moving forward. He drew favorable comparisons to former star Blake Corum and flashed with 100 yards against the Alabama defense once he was given a chance to shine. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/justice-haynes/19397">Justice Haynes</a> has been added via the transfer portal, but Marshall will get work.

18. Jordan Marshall - RB - Michigan Wolverines

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Notre Dame has yet another star safety in South Bend. Despite beginning the season behind a few veterans, redshirt freshman <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/adon-shuler/46081">Adon Shuler</a> proved too good to keep off the field. Shuler emerged as a standout in the Irish pass defense and played a fantastic game against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl before repeating the performance against Penn State. Shuler has the length and athleticism consistently found in elite safeties, and he’ll be one of the sport’s best at that position in 2025.

19. Adon Shuler - Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/will-rogers/32612">Will Rogers</a> began the season in Seattle as the starting quarterback for the Washington Huskies, but the player who flashed his potential every time he was given a chance was freshman <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/demond-williams/63965">Demond Williams Jr.</a> The former four-star prospect made some mistakes, but his blend of arm strength and mobility with his legs adds a significant wrinkle to Jedd Fisch’s offense. He was excellent in the Sun Bowl against Louisville, with 374 yards, 48 rushing yards, and five total touchdowns. Williams will be the starter in 2025, and Washington added some receiving weapons to support his ascension.

20. Demond Williams Jr. - QB - Washington Huskies

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Notre Dame’s secondary will be one of the best in the nation, and sophomore <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/leonard-moore/46093">Leonard Moore</a> might be the best cornerback in the country. He was an unheralded recruit who played as a true freshman and excelled with the fourth-highest man coverage grade on Pro Football Focus. The top two corners from 2024 are gone, so Moore steps into the spotlight.

21. Leonard Moore - CB - Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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Defensive end is an extremely valuable position, and South Carolina knew very quickly they had a special one in <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dylan-stewart/33435">Dylan Stewart</a>. As a freshman, Stewart got off to a monster start and was a force for the rest of the season. Defenses started to focus on him, but he still managed to rack up 6.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. South Carolina ponied up to keep him in Columbia, and the Gamecocks are a playoff contender in 2025.

22. Dylan Stewart - EDGE - South Carolina Gamecocks

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Kansas State had a relatively disappointing 2024 season as <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/avery-johnson/18504">Avery Johnson</a> battled injuries, but they have a trio of key players returning for the 2025 season and will be Big 12 contenders again. On the defensive side, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/austin-romaine/18528">Austin Romaine</a> had a dynamite sophomore season with 96 tackles and the fourth-best run defense grade on Pro Football Focus. Romaine is a fantastic linebacker, and the Wildcats will be a fun team to watch this coming season. I’m betting on Romaine to mount an All-American campaign.

23. Austin Romaine - Linebacker - Kansas State Wildcats

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The top tight ends in the sport moved on after the 2024 season, but plenty of talent remains at the position. Talented athlete <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/eli-stowers/50085">Eli Stowers</a> was switched from quarterback to tight end by the Vanderbilt staff, and it paid big dividends as Stowers led the Commodores with 49 receptions for 638 yards and five touchdowns. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/diego-pavia/34431">Diego Pavia</a> is back, and Stowers will be his top target. Plus, the system Vanderbilt runs is tilted towards his skillset. He is the top name at the position heading into the 2025 season.

24. Eli Stowers - TE - Vanderbilt Commodores

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Betting on the Ohio State Buckeyes to produce big numbers for wide receivers is a very safe proposition. Emeka Egbuka is off to the NFL, leaving a hole at the No. 2 spot behind superstar <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jeremiah-smith/38164">Jeremiah Smith</a>. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/carnell-tate/38122">Carnell Tate</a> is the most likely candidate to step up and seize that role. Tate had an excellent 2024 campaign, averaging 14.1 yards per reception and pulling in 52 passes for 733 yards. With Smith getting much attention, Tate will have his chance to beat defenders in single coverage.

25. Carnell Tate - WR - Ohio State Buckeyes

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/cfb-top-10-indiana-hoosiers-returning-for-another-college-football-playoff-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top 10 Indiana Hoosiers Returning For Another College Football Playoff Run</a>
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/mikail-kamara/42281">Mikail Kamara</a> came with Curt Cignetti from James Madison and was a revelation in 2024 as he helped lead the IU defensive line and played a big part in the Hoosiers making a run to the College Football Playoff. Kamara was one of the best defensive linemen in the Big Ten, racking up 15 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as one of the most disruptive forces in the sport. The Hoosiers and Kamara came out of nowhere in 2024. They won’t catch people off-guard this coming season, and Kamara should be in the spotlight as one of college football’s best linemen after making the NFL wait for another season spent in Bloomington. He could be a dark-horse candidate for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

26. Mikail Kamara - DL - Indiana Hoosiers

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Ole Miss went “all-in” for the 2024 season, investing a ton of money in defensive reinforcements in the transfer portal, believing they could challenge for the SEC Championship. Things did not go as planned, and the Rebels missed the College Football Playoff. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jaxson-dart/48278">Jaxson Dart</a> is now in the NFL Draft but Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss have a firm belief they have a rising star at quarterback ready to step into the void.
As a freshman, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/austin-simmons/48379">Austin Simmons</a> completed 19 of 32 passes with two touchdowns, and he clearly has Kiffin's trust. The “Portal King” did not opt to pursue anyone at the position in this year’s transfer portal. Simmons is still only 19 years old, and he will be entering his third season in Kiffin’s system in Oxford. He’s a good athlete, and coaches believe his ceiling is incredibly high.

27. Austin Simmons - QB - Ole Miss Rebels

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The Tennessee Volunteers made the College Football Playoff in 2024, but it would be fair to assert that the passing game was disappointing. The wide receiver room has experienced a lot of turnover, with multiple players exiting via the transfer portal. Still, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/mike-matthews/38712" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike</a><a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/mike-matthews/38712"> Matthews</a>, a former five-star prospect entering his second season in Knoxville, had only seven catches for 90 yards last season. That said, Matthews will be given the opportunity to take a big step forward in a very receiver-friendly system. Tennessee will need him to make good on his potential and have a big 2025 season.

28. Mike Matthews - WR - Tennessee Volunteers

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Everyone knows about the absurd production from <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/ashton-jeanty/23544">Ashton Jeanty</a>. The Boise State great is headed for the NFL Draft and will star at the next level. That means there is a major hole in the BSU Broncos offense. The man who figures to step into that spot is <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/sire-gaines/23517">Sire Gaines</a>. Gaines only played in three games as a freshman before injuring his ankle and being lost for the season, but he had 200 yards from scrimmage on only 23 touches. The Broncos back has a ton of potential to become a star in 2025 and beyond.

29. Sire Gaines - RB - Boise State Broncos

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The quarterback for the Oregon Ducks is almost certain to put up big numbers. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/bo-nix/60112" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bo Nix</a> did it, and then <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dillon-gabriel/29382" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dillon Gabriel</a> stepped in, and the offense actually made a bit of a further jump. Offensive coordinator Will Stein is remarkably adept at putting his players in position to succeed, and Oregon has a dynamic group of skilled players to distribute the ball to. 
The next quarterback to take a turn in the spotlight is <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dante-moore/29407">Dante Moore</a>. Moore transferred into the program from UCLA before the 2024 season and spent a year learning in Eugene. The show is now his. There are major questions about whether or not he can live up to his five-star billing as a high school prospect, but the Ducks had enough belief not to seriously pursue anyone at the position in the transfer portal. We’ll see if Stein can work his magic.

30. Dante Moore - QB - Oregon Ducks

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The 2024 college football season is complete, but this sport never rests. Who are 30 players that will go from known commodity to national superstar in 2025?

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