Georgia Claims Top Spot in Final ESPN Preseason SP+ Rankings

BRISTOL, CT – With the opening kickoff of the 2025 college football season just one week away, ESPN has published its final and highly anticipated preseason SP+ Top 25 rankings, providing a data-driven forecast of the nation's top programs. The University of Georgia Bulldogs secured the No. 1 position, closely followed by Ohio State and Oregon, setting the stage for what promises to be a competitive season.

The rankings, developed by ESPN's Bill Connelly, were released on Thursday and represent the model's final projection before the season begins. Unlike traditional polls based on human voting, the SP+ system is a tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency. It is a predictive model intended to be forward-facing, relying on three primary factors: returning production, recent recruiting, and recent history.

The Power at the Top

According to the final preseason update, Georgia stands alone at the pinnacle, a testament to its consistent recruiting and on-field performance. The Bulldogs are trailed by a formidable group of championship contenders. Ohio State claims the No. 2 spot, with fellow Big Ten powerhouse Oregon at No. 3.

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) and Big Ten dominate the top ten. Texas, entering its second year in the SEC, is ranked No. 4, with perennial contender Alabama at No. 5. The rest of the top ten includes Penn State (No. 6), Michigan (No. 7), Notre Dame (No. 8), Florida State (No. 9), and LSU (No. 10), reflecting the consolidated power within college football's two super-conferences.

Understanding the SP+ Model

For fans accustomed to the AP or Coaches Polls, the SP+ rankings can offer a different perspective. The model is not a resume-ranking system that rewards teams for wins and losses; rather, it attempts to measure the true strength and efficiency of a team. It analyzes metrics such as success rate and explosiveness on both offense and defense.

This analytical approach often highlights teams that may be underrated in traditional polls. For instance, the 2025 preseason model places teams like Kansas State (No. 14) and Iowa State (No. 21) in its Top 25, recognizing their underlying efficiency and returning talent, even if they lack the national brand recognition of other programs.

Conference Dominance on Display

The distribution of teams in the final SP+ Top 25 underscores the current landscape of college football. The SEC and Big Ten combine for 15 of the 25 ranked teams, illustrating their significant resource and talent advantage. The SEC leads all conferences with eight teams in the rankings, while the Big Ten has seven.

The Big 12 conference is represented by four teams, including Utah and Oklahoma State, while the ACC has three teams in the rankings, led by Florida State and Clemson. The inclusion of Notre Dame as an independent rounds out a list dominated by Power Four conference members.

What These Rankings Signify

While preseason rankings are ultimately speculative, the SP+ model has a respected track record for its predictive accuracy. It serves as a valuable baseline for analysts and fans, cutting through offseason hype to provide a more sober assessment of team potential.

These rankings set initial expectations and fuel debates as teams prepare for "Week 0" and "Week 1" matchups. For programs like Georgia and Ohio State, the numbers confirm their status as national title favorites. For others ranked lower, it provides a benchmark to exceed. As the season unfolds, the SP+ model will update weekly, recalibrating based on actual on-field performance. But for now, the data has spoken, and the countdown to kickoff has its final set of numbers to ponder.