Even with the expanded format, so much has to go proper for groups to punch their tickets to the College Football Playoff. One issue could make or break a postseason push, just like the Miami protection did final season when the Hurricanes fell simply wanting their playoff debut. Forward of the 2025 season, each CFP contender has at the least one participant or place group that should step up and play to their potential to ensure that the group to ship on its playoff objectives.
A big contingent of this 12 months’s CFP hopefuls are set to interrupt in new quarterbacks, and acting at a excessive stage from the bounce is of the utmost significance. They’re apparent X-factors of their groups’ seek for postseason berths. Most circumstances go deeper than simply the quarterback spot, although. Their supporting casts are simply as related.
Take Penn State for example. Drew Allar has lengthy been a promising signal-caller, however the lack of reliability out extensive final season was a difference-maker within the Nittany Lions falling wanting a nationwide championship. The receiving corps is, thus, a significant X-factor in 2025.
Big Ten, SEC stalemate headlines College Football Playoff meetings with strength-of-schedule metrics in focus
John Talty
Utilizing spring playoff projections from CBS Sports, right here is one X-factor participant on every potential CFP group’s roster:
None of Ohio State’s 4 beginning defensive linemen from the nationwide championship squad returned for 2025. Changing veteran expertise within the trenches is without doubt one of the hardest duties in college football roster constructing, however the Buckeyes are uniquely positioned to assault that problem head-on. Every thing has been constructing to this second for Kenyatta Jackson Jr., whom the Ohio State coaches haven’t been shy about naming a group chief forward of his beginning debut. The previous top-100 recruit was one of many protection’s high reserves over the past two years, however whereas the expectation is that he thrives in an expanded position, he’s completely unproven because the main weapon within the move dashing scheme.
Trevor Goosby, OT
4 starters from final 12 months’s offensive line are out the door. That’s not an excellent scenario as Texas turns the web page to a brand new period at quarterback. Trevor Goosby can be integral in defending Arch Manning in his first 12 months because the starter, and he’ll achieve this on the blind facet as the following man up at left deal with. Goosby was splendid in his spot begins down the stretch final season, and he must be so over a bigger pattern measurement to ensure that the Longhorns offense to maintain rolling amid its turnover.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Trebor Pena, WR
Penn State was a dependable extensive receiver group away from a doubtlessly particular 2024 season. James Franklin addressed the dire want by way of the switch portal and overhauled the unit with newcomers together with former Syracuse standout Trebor Pena, who got here out of nowhere final season to guide the ACC with 84 catches in by far the most effective 12 months of his profession. If he can keep his standing as a go-to goal in opposition to more durable secondaries within the Massive Ten, he could also be simply what Allar and the offense must take the following step and create a well-rounded assault. Pena’s minimal observe report as a standout makes it barely tough to venture one other monster season, although.
Gideon Davidson, RB
The most effective-case situation for Clemson is that Gideon Davidson steps in as a real freshman, establishes himself as a standout and by no means seems again because the featured ballcarrier. That may remedy what might be the most important query mark on an in any other case loaded, balanced and skilled roster. The operating again room is such a large concern that the Tigers moved extensive receiver Adam Randall to doubtlessly function a high possibility. As sturdy because the passing sport figures to be, Clemson has to maintain defenses sincere with at the least a serviceable floor assault.
Jaden Greathouse, WR
Almost half of Jaden Greathouse’s manufacturing final season got here within the CFP semifinal and nationwide championship sport. He racked up 13 catches, 233 yards and three touchdowns in Notre Dame’s two greatest video games of the 12 months, and whereas his pattern measurement as a prolific receiver is restricted to these two outings, the breakout makes him the highest candidate to paved the way for the Preventing Irish in 2025. This offense wants a gentle goal to assist projected beginning quarterback CJ Carr thrive in his first 12 months atop the unit, as it may solely lean on star ballcarrier Jeremiyah Love a lot.
Qua Russaw, LB
The Alabama protection misplaced a few of its id final season because the move dashing scheme lacked explosiveness and didn’t characteristic the superstar-caliber edge rushers that had been cornerstones of the roster below Nick Saban. Somebody must take a step ahead in 2025 for the Crimson Tide to be greater than only a mid-tier defensive entrance. Enter Qua Russaw, who minimize his enamel as a redshirt freshman and must be the highest possibility on the “wolf” place in Yr 3. He managed only one sack a 12 months in the past, and Alabama wants extra from the previous No. 64 general recruit.
Dakorien Moore, WR
There can be a variety of strain on Dakorien Moore to supply as a real freshman. Oregon’s capacity to contend for an additional Massive Ten title largely hinges on him flourishing proper out of the gate. The Geese had been at all times going to depend on the No. 1 extensive receiver recruit, however his position solely received greater when high returning goal Evan Stewart sustained what’s feared to be a possible season-ending damage. That’s on high of the need to make life simple on a brand new beginning quarterback in Dante Moore.
Patrick Payton, DE
Patrick Payton regressed together with the remainder of the Florida State roster final 12 months, and LSU purchased low on the previously fearsome move rusher, who boasts a profession excessive of seven sacks. He’s simply one of many numerous investments within the Tigers’ top-ranked transfer class, and he may very well be the most important hit of the bunch if he reverses course and returns to the trajectory that made him one among school soccer’s most tantalizing linemen getting into the 2024 season. LSU — at +1700 to win the nationwide title in line with FanDuel Sportsbook — wants its protection to lastly maintain up its finish of the cut price if Brian Kelly is to succeed in the CFP for the primary time in his tenure. Lots hinges on Payton being the face of the entrance line if not your complete unit.
Miami Hurricanes
Xavier Lucas, CB
The defensive backfield singlehandedly value Miami a playoff berth final season with its lack of ability to comprise ACC passing assaults, and Mario Cristobal overhauled the unit with a blinding switch haul. Xavier Lucas was the top-ranked nook within the portal and serves because the face of this new-look unit, which seems deeper and extra proficient than the one which struggled final fall. A lot of the joy round Lucas continues to be rooted in projection contemplating he has only one 12 months of expertise below his belt and posted one interception and two move breakups at Wisconsin, so so much hinges on him taking the anticipated sophomore leap.
Gunner Stockton, QB
Of all of the playoff groups set to characteristic first-time beginning quarterbacks, Georgia’s scenario has arguably the murkiest upside. Gunner Stockton was a top-10 recruit at his place however is a longtime backup who solely modestly impressed in his aid of the injured Carson Beck final postseason. The Bulldogs notoriously received essentially the most out of much less heralded prospects at this place all through their reign atop the game, so maybe Stockton is the following in line in that regard. If he’s, then pencil Georgia again into the bracket. If he’s not, then the Bulldogs are probably a bubble group.
Chase Sowell, WR
Iowa State can be one of the vital skilled groups within the nation with its 14 returning starters, however its few departures had been notable. Most obtrusive had been the losses of two 1,000-yard receivers from among the finest groups at school historical past. That’s the place Chase Sowell steps in. The East Carolina switch posted back-to-back 600-yard campaigns and may be flying below that radar as an unheralded portal prospect. He might thrive on this Cyclones offense, and to be frank, he has to to ensure that Iowa State to get again to double-digit wins.
Blake Horvath, QB
The margins are so slim for Group of 5 groups with regard to playoff rivalry that every part has to go proper. For Navy, it begins and ends with Blake Horvath. He’s the star, the X-factor, the center and soul and the face of this program on its hunt to safe the G5’s auto bid. Horvath took the Navy offense to a brand new stage in his junior season when he grew to become the third quarterback at school historical past to rack up 1,200 dashing yards and 1,200 passing yards in the identical season, and he forces defenses to remain sincere in opposition to the move, making the triple possibility all of the extra threatening. A repeat efficiency in opposition to a manageable schedule might ship the Midshipmen to the CFP.