Welcome back to our comprehensive 2025 FBS preseason power rankings series! We've now revealed most of the teams in our series through our previous installments covering teams 136-101, teams 100-76, and teams 75-51. Now we get into the more interesting teams to monitor this upcoming season as we embark not only into the Top 50 teams in the entire country, but really take a close look at who could be the premium contenders for that G5 auto bid into the College Football Playoff.
This tier represents a fascinating crossroads where elite Group of Five programs with playoff aspirations meet average Power conference teams fighting for respectability. The variance in projections here tells compelling stories about which programs might exceed expectations.
TIER 2: G5 Playoff Contenders & Average Power Conference Teams
50) Colorado Buffaloes
- SP+ Record Proj: 4-8
- FPI Record Proj: 6-6
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 5-7
49) UCLA Bruins
- SP+ Record Proj: 5-7
- FPI Record Proj: 5-7
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 4-8
48) NC State Wolfpack
- SP+ Record Proj: 8-4
- FPI Record Proj: 6-6
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 6-6
47) Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- SP+ Record Proj: 5-7
- FPI Record Proj: 5-7
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 5-7
46) Duke Blue Devils
- SP+ Record Proj: 9-3
- FPI Record Proj: 5-7
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 6-6
45) Tulane Green Wave
- SP+ Record Proj: 10-2
- FPI Record Proj: 11-1
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 11-1
44) Minnesota Golden Gophers
- SP+ Record Proj: 8-4
- FPI Record Proj: 8-4
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 8-4
43) Florida State Seminoles
- SP+ Record Proj: 7-5
- FPI Record Proj: 6-6
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 7-5
42) Kansas Jayhawks
- SP+ Record Proj: 7-5
- FPI Record Proj: 9-3
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 7-5
41) Kentucky Wildcats
- SP+ Record Proj: 4-8
- FPI Record Proj: 4-8
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 3-9
40) Wisconsin Badgers
- SP+ Record Proj: 5-7
- FPI Record Proj: 5-7
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 4-8
39) Iowa State Cyclones
- SP+ Record Proj: 9-3
- FPI Record Proj: 5-7
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 9-3
38) Virginia Tech Hokies
- SP+ Record Proj: 6-6
- FPI Record Proj: 9-3
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 7-5
37) Boise State Broncos
- SP+ Record Proj: 11-1
- FPI Record Proj: 11-1
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 11-1
36) Utah Utes
- SP+ Record Proj: 9-3
- FPI Record Proj: 5-7
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 8-4
35) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
- SP+ Record Proj: 7-5
- FPI Record Proj: 10-2
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 10-2
34) Washington Huskies
- SP+ Record Proj: 7-5
- FPI Record Proj: 9-3
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 7-5
33) Baylor Bears
- SP+ Record Proj: 7-5
- FPI Record Proj: 8-4
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 7-5
32) Iowa Hawkeyes
- SP+ Record Proj: 6-6
- FPI Record Proj: 6-6
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 7-5
31) TCU Horned Frogs
- SP+ Record Proj: 9-3
- FPI Record Proj: 8-4
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 8-4
30) Arkansas Razorbacks
- SP+ Record Proj: 4-8
- FPI Record Proj: 6-6
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 5-7
29) Illinois Fighting Illini
- SP+ Record Proj: 10-2
- FPI Record Proj: 7-5
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 10-2
28) Louisville Cardinals
- SP+ Record Proj: 9-3
- FPI Record Proj: 8-4
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 9-3
27) Texas Tech Red Raiders
- SP+ Record Proj: 9-3
- FPI Record Proj: 10-2
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 9-3
26) Nebraska Cornhuskers
- SP+ Record Proj: 9-3
- FPI Record Proj: 11-1
- Ken Ford Record Proj: 10-2
Next up: Teams 25-1, where we'll examine the true elite of college football and potential national championship contenders for the 2025 season.