Welcome to talkin’ season, y’all.

We’re still a week or so away from a ball being kicked. Which means now, more than ever, is the time to get some #takes off.

No games. No data. All vibes. Just good, old-fashioned hot takes.

Here are 7 semi-bold predictions for the 2025 college football season that most definitely will come true.

Pressure is mounting on a handful of SEC head coaches. Last offseason cycle, the SEC’s game of musical chairs was nonexistent, with no head coaching changes. That only increases the likelihood of coach churn for the next offseason window.

LSU’s Brian Kelly, Auburn’s Hugh Freeze, Oklahoma’s Brent Venables and Florida’s Billy Napier all have pivotal seasons coming up for different reasons.

Thus far, many feel like Kelly has squandered LSU’s talented roster. With lots of returning talent and a big transfer portal class, the pressure is on for Kelly to propel the Tigers to the College Football Playoff.

Hugh Freeze’s offenses have fizzled since he arrived on The Plains. He’ll likely need seven or eight wins to keep his job.

The same goes for Venables. He and new GM Jim Nagy took some big swings in the offseason, hiring a new OC in Ben Arbuckle and bringing in former Wazzu standout quarterback John Mateer. Venables likely needs eight wins or more to keep his job.

Napier’s Florida team had a strong finish to the 2024 season. And the continued development of budding star quarterback DJ Lagway works in his favor. But the Gators need to take the next step in 2025.

At least one of these coaches will not be retained for the 2026 college football season.

Texas Tech spent an almost unprecedented amount of money this offseason in gearing up for a Big 12 title push.

The Red Raiders were also perhaps the most aggressive transfer portal team in the entire country. According to the 247 Sports 2025 Transfer Portal Spring Rankings, Texas Tech comes in at the number one spot with 18 incoming transfers for the upcoming season.

Key acquisitions include defensive end David Bailey, Georgia Tech defensive end Remello Height and big gap eater Lee Hunter from UCF. Texas Tech also basically bought a brand new offensive line.

Expectations are sky high for McGuire to deliver in 2025. I’m predicting either the Red Raiders make the College Football Playoff, or he’ll be relieved of his duties.

I’ve been effusive in my praise for LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. I think Nussmeier has the tools (and now the roster) to put up a Heisman Trophy-caliber season.

LSU has a difficult schedule with games against Clemson, Ole Miss, Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida and Texas A&M. There are a lot of toss-up games on that list. But I think this upgraded roster will put LSU over the top.

If the Tigers can pull off a 9-3 or better record, Nussmier should be considered a Grade A Heisman candidate. All Aboard the Nuss Bus!

I’ve got a sneaky feeling that we’ll see a MAC team jump up and knock off a Big 10 team in Week 1.

The most likely upset matchups are Ohio vs. Rutgers, Buffalo vs. Minnesota and Miami (Ohio) vs. Wisconsin. I think all three MAC teams have a reasonable shot at pulling the upset. If I had to pick one, I might lean on Ohio knocking off Rutgers.

The Bobcats have a new head coach, but return dual-threat quarterback Parker Navarro, who scored 30 touchdowns in 2024. If the Bobcats can score early, I like Navarro and this unit to grind the game out.

Keep an eye on this space moving forward.

Predicting a new Big 12 champion year to year isn’t exactly a molten lava-level hot take. But predicting that former champ Arizona State finishes outside the Top 3? That feels spicy pepper hot.

Let me start by saying…I love Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham. Quarterback Sam Leavitt is a dawg. And the Sun Devils return a ton of starters entering 2025. So why am I not picking ASU to compete for a Big 12 title again this season?

I’m pushing my chips in on Texas Tech. I still possess a reasonable level of skepticism about Behren Morton and whether he can be the guy Texas Tech needs. But the Red Raiders have spent an obscene amount of money, and I think it’s going to pay off (no pun intended).

I’m also extremely high on both Utah and Kansas State. New Utah quarterback Devon Dampier is going to wreck fools running the football. And the Utes will still carry that signature defense down the stretch of a new season. Which brings me to Kansas State, by third horse darling.

I like Avery Johnson. I love the OC move the Wildcats made this offseason. And if the secondary can gel, I think the Wildcats are going to be bear to play against.

My predicted Big 12 finish order:

Pick your poison with retirements or firings; this next offseason will see an unprecedented level of head coach turnover.

Connect the dots, and consider the following coaches might retire:

Connect the dots, and consider the following coaches might get fired:

The list goes on. This leads into my molten lava take of the 2025 season…

This follows the same logic as my above point. I think the sport is poised for an unprecedented level of coach churn next offseason. Between firings and retirements, things are going to get craaaaaazy.

To top things off, I think we’ll get a Lincoln Riley to USC-level coaching move, and I’m predicting that Georgia head coach Kirby Smart steps away from the program.

Kirby Smart has won enough big games to last a lifetime. Between the unwieldy transfer portal and money flowing in all different directions, the sport is changing. Being a head coach is more difficult than ever.

I don’t think Kirby wants to necessarily be a coaching lifer. He also has a son who is an up-and-coming baseball star who will soon hit the high school ranks. I think Kirby Smart pulls a Dan Mullen, where he steps away for a few years to watch his son play ball and then comes back to coaching in some form or fashion.

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