The college football season for 2024-25 has officially concluded, so now it’s time to begin anticipating next season. Following the initial 12-team playoff, we have a clear understanding of the kinds of teams that may be offered bids.
Generally, if a team concludes the season with no more than two defeats and possesses a solid strength of schedule, it is likely to qualify for the postseason. Teams that triumph in their conference championship games are, of course, assured first-round byes, too.
In 2025, several contestants appear poised to compete for a playoff position. A few of these teams participated in the 12-team lineup last season, while others aim to secure invitations for the first time.
Let’s examine which playoff contenders for 2025 seem to have more favorable schedules than the rest. Important factors involve the expected number of Top 25 matchups, home/away distributions, and home-field benefits.
ACC and Big 12 Contenders

As we mentioned in the introduction, the specific dates for these games in the Big 12 have not been announced yet. On Monday evening, the ACC published its complete schedule.
Hurricanes de Miami
Mario Cristobal is optimistic that another quarterback from the transfer portal—specifically Carson Beck—will lead his team to the playoffs in 2025.
Miami’s 2025 itinerary includes two of its most challenging matchups at home, starting on Aug. 31 versus a rebuilding Notre Dame and facing Florida on Sept. 20. The Canes will face Florida State, SMU, Pitt, and Virginia Tech in their conference road games.
Miami is expected to be the favorite in all but one of those matchups, with the SMU game appearing to be the most competitive among the four. Otherwise, Miami is set to host conference games at home against Louisville, Stanford, Syracuse, and NC State.
Clemson University Tigers
Dabo Swinney and Clemson aim to return to the playoff in 2025. While the opener on Aug. 30 against LSU will be challenging, Clemson will host that game. Clemson will also host Syracuse, Duke, Florida State, and SMU at Memorial Stadium.
The road excursions feature matches at Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Boston College, Louisville, and South Carolina. It appears quite probable that Cade Klubnik and the Tigers will return to the playoffs in 2025, even if Clemson fails to reach the ACC championship game.
Iowa State Cyclones
The complete schedule for the Big 12 will be announced on January 31. The Cyclones aim to secure the Big 12 championship in 2025. Iowa State kicks off in Week Zero in Dublin, Ireland, facing Kansas State, a team the Cyclones have defeated for two consecutive seasons.
Iowa State’s home games in the conference include Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, and Kansas. The away games include Cincinnati, Colorado, Oklahoma State, and TCU. With Iowa State having quarterback Rocco Becht returning, a trip back to Arlington in 2025 shouldn’t pose a problem.
Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State is bringing back a wealth of talent in 2025, featuring quarterback Drew Allar, standout running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, along with standout defenders Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant. Moreover, PSU recently recruited defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from Ohio State, elevating him to the status of the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the nation.
Examining Penn State’s schedule suggests that another playoff run appears increasingly probable. The Nittany Lions’ non-conference lineup includes Nevada, FIU, and Villanova. Penn State hosts several of its most significant conference matches at home, including against Oregon on September 27 and versus Indiana on November 17. Penn State is likely to be strongly favored in its remaining home conference matches against Northwestern and Nebraska.
The Nittany Lions must travel to compete against UCLA, Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Rutgers. Clearly, the Ohio State matchup appears to be the most challenging, but Penn State has a break prior to that game, giving the Nittany Lions a potential edge against the retooling Buckeyes. A single defeat to OSU won’t eliminate Penn State from contention, either.
Don’t be shocked if Penn State sails into the Big Ten championship game in December.
Oregon Ducks

While Oregon appeared to be the frontrunner to clinch the title last season, Ohio State changed the scenario significantly with a decisive victory in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal. As head coach Dan Lanning prepares for a new quarterback in 2025—it seems it will be Dante Moore—a manageable schedule next year should aid him.
The Ducks will face non-conference rivals Montana State, Oklahoma State, and Oregon State, with all of these matches taking place at home. Oregon will host conference games at home against Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and USC. The Ducks ought to be the favorites in all of those, except possibly the one against Indiana.
Regarding Oregon’s away games, there are a few significant ones, but the Ducks could possibly drop one or two and still remain in the race for a playoff spot. The most significant game is on Sept. 27 at Penn State. Despite a defeat there, Oregon might still be fine. The Ducks’ upcoming away games are against Rutgers, Iowa, and Washington.
Despite a defeat against Penn State, Oregon is expected to secure a playoff spot in 2025, provided it doesn’t experience significant setbacks in other games.
Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia returned to the playoffs last season after securing the SEC title but stumbled against Notre Dame in the quarterfinals. As long as Kirby Smart remains in Athens, anticipate the Dawgs to contend for the playoff year after year.
The Dawgs’ non-conference slate includes Marshall, Austin Peay, and Charlotte. This year, the rivalry game with Georgia Tech will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta rather than at Bobby Dodd.
Georgia’s home conference schedule includes Alabama, Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Texas—hosting the Tide, Rebels, and Longhorns at home is significant for Georgia. The Dawgs will face Tennessee on the road on Sept. 13, but they are likely to be favored in their other SEC away games against Auburn and Mississippi State. Georgia aims to secure its fifth consecutive victory over Florida in Jacksonville on Nov. 1, but this rivalry clash is expected to be a tight contest.
Despite a defeat to Tennessee, wrapping up with one or two losses and making it to the SEC championship game certainly seems possible for Georgia in 2025.
Wolverines of Michigan

Michigan did not reach the playoff with first-year head coach Sherrone Moore, yet it was still a successful season in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines defeated Ohio State for the fourth consecutive year and stunned Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
However, Moore and Michigan are certainly aiming to return to the playoffs in 2025. The Wolverines begin their season at home against New Mexico State on Aug. 30 and then travel to face Oklahoma on Sept. 6, a matchup that promises to be intriguing. The Wolverines complete their non-conference slate with a home matchup against Central Michigan—likely to be called the Connor Stallions Bowl—on Sept. 13.
However, even if Michigan loses away to quarterback John Mateer and the Sooners, the Wolverines should be doing well. Michigan’s home conference matchups feature Wisconsin, Washington, Purdue, and Ohio State.
Michigan travels away to face Nebraska, USC, Michigan State, Northwestern, and Maryland. None of those teams were especially in contention for the Big Ten last year and appear to be overlooked for 2025 as well.
Having Ohio State at home is significant for Michigan. Should the Wolverines defeat Ohio State for a fifth consecutive occasion and finish their season with only one or two losses, they could find themselves back in contention for a Big Ten championship and/or a playoff spot.
Rebels of Ole Miss

Lane Kiffin’s skilled 2024 squad began the season with hopes of making the playoffs but ultimately found themselves outside the 12-team bracket following three tough defeats to Kentucky, LSU, and Florida.
As Ole Miss prepares for 2025 with the second-best transfer portal class in the country, it will also enjoy a relatively easy schedule. The Rebels will face non-conference teams Georgia State, Tulane, Washington State, and The Citadel, with all matches taking place in Oxford.
Ole Miss’ home schedule in the SEC includes Arkansas, LSU, South Carolina, and Florida. Clearly, the Tigers, Gamecocks, and Gators appear strong as they approach 2025, but Ole Miss playing host to those teams is significant.
The Rebels’ away SEC schedule features Kentucky, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Mississippi State. Ole Miss won against Georgia last season, so it’s uncertain how that matchup will play out. Despite a defeat to Georgia and another to either LSU, South Carolina, or Florida, a two-loss Ole Miss squad might still secure an invitation.