BY: KENNY VARNER Matt Rhule heads into his third year at the helm for Nebraska, and if history is any indicator, the Cornhuskers might be on the verge of a major leap forward. At Temple, Rhule improved from two wins to six and then ten by his third year. At Baylor, he went from one…

BY: KENNY VARNER The Minnesota Golden Gophers are coming off a solid 8-5 season, and with 10 returning starters—five on each side of the ball—they have a realistic shot at matching that win total again in 2025. The schedule sets up nicely, giving Minnesota a clear path to another bowl game. While they might not…

BY: KENNY VARNER The Michigan Wolverines took a step back last season, finishing 8-5. With a new head coach and significant personnel turnover, that kind of regression was expected. However, with 12 returning starters and a second year under head coach Sherrone Moore, Michigan is poised to return to the top 20—if not higher—in 2025.…

BY: KENNY VARNER Jonathan Smith is an excellent coach, as he proved during his time at Oregon State, and in his first year at Michigan State, he began laying the foundation for a new culture in East Lansing. The Spartans went just 5-7, but they overachieved given the circumstances. Now, in Year 2 under Smith,…

BY: KENNY VARNER Maryland Football: A Bleak Outlook for 2025 The Maryland Terrapins’ 2024 season fell apart in dramatic fashion, as they lost seven of their final eight games to finish with a disappointing 4-8 record. Even more troubling than the record itself was how uncompetitive the team looked during that stretch—only twice in those…

BY: KENNY VARNER The Iowa Hawkeyes have been a model of consistency under longtime head coach Kirk Ferentz, posting at least eight wins in nine of the past ten seasons—the lone exception being the shortened 6-2 campaign during the COVID year. This is a stable and respected program, but one still chasing a breakthrough appearance…

BY: KENNY VARNER Indiana Hoosiers 2025 Season Preview: Can They Do It Again? The Indiana Hoosiers will be one of the most fascinating teams to follow this season. Curt Cignetti led the Hoosiers to an 11-1 regular season and a College Football Playoff appearance in his first year at the helm. Say what you want…

BY: KENNY VARNER There’s a lot of buzz surrounding Illinois football heading into the 2025 season—and for good reason. The Illini are coming off a strong 10-3 campaign capped by a 21-17 Citrus Bowl win over South Carolina. With 16 returning starters, including breakout quarterback Luke Altmyer, the expectations are understandably high. Can Illinois carry…

BY: KENNY VARNER A new era has arrived in Winston-Salem. After 11 seasons, longtime head coach Dave Clawson has retired, and Jake Dickert—formerly of Washington State—has taken over the reins of the Wake Forest football program. While the cupboard is a bit bare with just two returning starters on offense and four on defense, there’s…

BY: KENNY VARNER The Iowa State Cyclones are one of the most intriguing teams in the country heading into this season. Coming off a school-record 11 wins in 14 contests, last year might have been the best season in program history. Quarterback Rocco Becht, a name still flying under the national radar, returns for his…