Five Big Ten Teams Ranked in Final AP Top 25; Four Husker Foes Earn Spots in Poll

Nebraska went 1-3 against teams appearing in the final 2024-25 rankings

Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom holds the trophy following the Buckeyes' 34-23 win over Notre Dame for the College Football Playoff National Championship. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Big Ten is once again the cream of the crop in college football.

Following Ohio State's 34-23 victory in the College Football Playoff National Championship game Monday night, the Associated Press released its final top 25 rankings for the 2024-25 college football season. Five Big Ten Conference teams placed in the rankings, while the SEC led with seven spots.

The top-ranked Buckeyss and three other Nebraska regular-season foes earned top 25 honors in the final poll: No. 10 Indiana (11-2), No. 16 Illinois (10-3) and No. 25 Colorado. The Huskers finished 1-3 against that slate, with its lone win coming in early September over Colorado (28-10) at Memorial Stadium.

Nebraska running back Dante Dowdell (23) jumps over the pile for a first down against Colorado. | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

The Huskers fell in their other ranked matchups this season, dropping road tests to Indiana (56-7) and Ohio State (21-17) while falling at home in overtime to Illinois (31-24). The Oct. 26 final with the Buckeyes in Columbus was the eventual national champions' closest victory of the season.

NU has just one program on its 2025 schedule that is ranked in the final AP top 25, as Penn State (13-3) finished at No. 5. The Huskers will travel to University Park on Nov. 22.

The Big Ten did receive an honorable mention with Michigan receiving votes in the final rankings. Nebraska opens its 2025 Big Ten Conference slate with a home tilt against the Wolverines on Sept. 20.

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola looks to hand off during the second half against Ohio State. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Big Ten ended with five total teams in the top 25 as national champion Ohio State received all the first-place votes. Oregon (13-1) dropped to No. 3 after beginning the College Football Playoff as the top overall seed. No. 5 Penn State and No. 10 Indiana kept four Big Ten teams in the top ten, while No. 16 Illinois wrapped up the conference's appearances in the final poll.

The Southeastern Conference showcased its depth with seven spots. College Football Playoff contenders No. 4 Texas, (13-3), No. 6 Georgia (11-3), and No. 9 Tennessee (10-3) remained in the top ten while No. 11 Ole Miss (10-3) rose five spots. No. 17 Alabama (9-4), No. 19 South Carolina (9-4), and No. 22 Missouri (10-3) wrapped up the final spots despite poor finishes to their regular seasons.

The Big 12 finished with four teams, led by conference champion No. 7 Arizona State (11-3). No. 13 BYU (11-2), No. 15 Iowa State (11-3) and No. 25 Colorado (9-4) also appeared in the poll. The Atlantic Coast Conference matched the Big 12 as No. 12 SMU (11-3), No. 14 Clemson (10-4), No. 18 Miami (10-3), and No. 20 Syracuse (10-3) all ended in the top 25.

Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo's facemask is grabbed by Texas defensive back Andrew Mukuba during the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1. | Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Also appearing in the poll were No. 2 Notre Dame as an independent, No. 8 Boise State and No. 23 UNLV from the Mountain West, and No. 22 Army and No. 24 Memphis of the American Athletic Conference. Navy, LSU, Louisville, Michigan, Kansas State, Marshall, Ohio, Florida, TCU, and Texas A&M all received votes.

Nebraska begins its 2025 season in Kansas City against Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium. The date of the annual Red-White Spring Game has not yet been announced.

Associated Press Top 25

1. Ohio State
2. Notre Dame
3. Oregon
4. Texas
5. Penn State
6. Georgia
7. Arizona State
8. Boise State
9. Tennessee
10. Indiana
11. Ole Miss
12. SMU
13. BYU
14. Clemson
15. Iowa State
16. Illinois
17. Alabama
18. Miami (FL)
19. South Carolina
20. Syracuse
21. Army
22. Missouri
23. UNLV
24. Memphis
25. Colorado

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