The 2025 college football season wrapped up in dramatic fashion, leaving fans buzzing with opinions and plenty to debate. Indiana’s wild rise to national champs, the bigger College Football Playoff, and some surprising success stories from recent FBS newcomers—honestly, this year was anything but boring.
Let’s take a look at the big storylines that made this season unforgettable.
Indiana Hoosiers: From Underdogs to National Champions
The Indiana Hoosiers pulled off a run that feels straight out of a sports movie. Under head coach Curt Cignetti, Indiana finished a spotless 16-0 season—joining the 1894 Yale Bulldogs as the only other team to ever do that in Division 1 football.
They took down the Miami Hurricanes in the national championship, showing off grit and some clever play-calling when it mattered most.
Key Moments in the Championship Game
Indiana’s big win wasn’t just luck. There were a few plays that really turned the tide:
- Blocked Punt: A blocked punt returned for a touchdown got things rolling for the Hoosiers.
- Fernando Mendoza’s Touchdown Run: On 4th and 5, quarterback Fernando Mendoza broke free for a 12-yard touchdown run.
- Jamari Sharpe’s Interception: Defensive back Jamari Sharpe picked off Miami’s Carson Beck, basically sealing the deal.
Indiana’s gone 27-2 over the last two years. That’s wild, considering they were 3-9 just a couple seasons ago. Hard not to wonder if they can keep this magic going.
College Football Playoff Expansion: A New Era
This was the first year for the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. The new format gave more teams a shot, with automatic bids for the five highest-ranked conference champs.
For the first time ever, two Group of Six teams made the playoffs. That alone shook things up.
James Madison and Tulane’s Playoff Journey
James Madison and Tulane both grabbed their playoff spots and the spotlight. Their runs didn’t last long, though—each lost their first-round games by pretty big margins.
Still, just making it in was a big deal for those programs. It’s a step toward more parity, or at least that’s the hope.
Their performances might’ve pushed decision-makers to tweak the playoff format again. Starting in 2026, every Power Four conference champ will get a playoff spot, no matter where they’re ranked.
Vanderbilt Commodores: A Historic Season
Vanderbilt made some real noise in 2025. After upsetting #1 Alabama in 2024 and snagging their first bowl win since 2013, expectations were suddenly sky-high.
Quarterback Diego Pavia led the way, finishing second in Heisman voting. Vanderbilt notched their first-ever 10-win season—hard to believe, but true.
Key Highlights of Vanderbilt’s Season
Some moments that stood out:
- Strong Start: The Commodores kicked things off 7-1, their best start since 1941.
- Victory Over Tennessee: They capped the regular season with a 45-24 rout of rival Tennessee.
They just missed the playoffs, but honestly, what a ride. With this, every Power Four team has now had at least one ten-win season.
Newcomers to the FBS: Making Their Mark
Several programs jumped from FCS to FBS recently, and a few made a splash right away. Missouri State, for one, surprised a lot of folks with a 7-5 record and a bowl appearance in their very first FBS season.
Missouri State’s Surprising Success
Missouri State didn’t have much of a reputation in the FCS, but their FBS debut went way better than expected. They even played in the Xbox Bowl against Arkansas State.
They lost 34-28, but for a first-year FBS team, that’s nothing to hang your head about.
Other Notable Newcomers
Some other recent FBS arrivals made headlines too:
- Delaware: Finished 6-6, then won the 68 Ventures Bowl over Louisiana.
- Kennesaw State: Pulled off a huge turnaround, going from 2-10 to winning Conference USA with a 10-4 record.
It’s tough to sustain that kind of success at the top level—just ask anyone. Still, teams like James Madison and Appalachian State prove it’s possible. These stories definitely add some spice to college football.
Preseason Favorites Fall Short
One thing about college football: you never really know what’s coming. In 2025, several preseason favorites just didn’t live up to the hype.
Penn State and Clemson, both pegged for greatness, wound up meeting in the Pinstripe Bowl instead of the title game. Go figure.
Penn State’s Rollercoaster Season
Penn State started out with big dreams. Then came a loss to #6 Oregon, followed by back-to-back defeats against UCLA and Northwestern.
That stretch cost long-time coach James Franklin his job. The Nittany Lions managed to rally, winning their last three to get bowl eligible, and then beat Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Clemson’s Struggles
Clemson had a rough season. They kicked things off with a loss to LSU, then tumbled out of the Top 25 after dropping a game to Georgia Tech.
Still, the Tigers scraped together a 7-5 regular season. Then, unfortunately, they closed things out with a loss to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl.
For a more detailed recap of the 2025 college football season, check out the Johns Hopkins News-Letter.
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