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Three & Out: Top Teams to Switch Conferences, X-Factor Transfers, and College Football 25

Check out ‘Three & Out’ for a deep dive into top teams switching conferences, game-changing transfers, and the long-awaited return of College Football 25

Avatar photoJC Nevils| July 17, 2024 (Updated: July 24, 2025)
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By: JC Nevils


Summer camp is quickly approaching, which means the season is
right around the corner. With that comes preview lists galore along
with other breaking news. Here I touch on some teams who should
fare well in their new conferences, x-factor transfers, and the long
awaited return of the video game College Football 25.


Top Teams to Switch Conferences

1. Oregon

After a successful stint in the PAC-12, which was originally
the PAC-10, the Oregon Ducks finally made the move to the Big
Ten. They join Washington, USC, and UCLA to round out the
exodus. The best team out the bunch, though, are the Ducks. With a
head coaching change and a plethora of players transferring,
Washington won’t be the same. USC is scratching their heads at the
moment, and UCLA has been inferior for a while now. With the players they have coming back, along with QB Dillon Gabriel coming over from Oklahoma, Oregon
should fit right in.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, center, waits to take the field with his team for their game against Oregon State at Autzen Stadium Friday, Nov. 24, 2023.

2. Oklahoma

As one of the two teams to leave the Big-12, Oklahoma has
a historically great program that should have few problems adjusting
to the SEC. Yes, there will be some things to get used to, of course,
but I see them fitting in well. They have the winning program with the resources, and they are coming off a 10-win season.
With Brent Venables leading the way with his toughness, they should be just fine.

3. Texas

The Longhorns are coming off one of their best seasons in
recent memory, earning the Big-12 championship along with a
College Football Playoff berth for the very first time. Steve
Sarkisian
probably had his best coaching season yet leading Texas to
a 12-2 record, which also earned him his first double-digit winning
season as a head coach. With the money and resources, the tradition, and top players everywhere you look, Texas will be a player.

X-Factor Transfers

1. QB Cam Ward, Miami

After transferring from Incarnate Word to Washington
State, all Cam Ward did was torch defenders week in and week out.
In his final season, he had a total of 25 touchdowns to go along with
3,732 yards. This offseason, he decided to spend his last season with
the Hurricanes. With the way Mario Cristobal has recruited, Cam
should step right in and be the missing piece Miami needs.

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2. S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

Simply put, Caleb Downs is a ballplayer. He was not only
the best freshman in the country and the SEC last season, but he may
also be on the verge of being the best safety in the entire nation ,if isn’t already. He is just that good. Ohio State’s backend has been
subpar for the past two to three years, and Caleb should have no
problem nullifying that issue. Heck, they even have him getting
reps at running back.

3. DL Walter Nolen, Ole Miss

Coming out of high school, Walter Nolen was maybe the
top player in the nation, depending on who you asked or which
recruiting site you looked at. The dominant force out of Memphis
started off at Texas A&M under then-head Coach Jimbo Fisher, where he made his presence known early and often. He is a
prototypical defensive lineman with all of the tools to take over a
game whenever he wants. Now at Ole Miss he should fill a need and be the main guy on the way to becoming a top pick in the
draft.

Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen watches from the sideline during the Ole Miss Grove Bowl Games at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss., on Saturday, Apr. 13, 2024.

College Football 25

Well, ladies and gentlemen, we finally have come to the day when
NCAA College Football comes back to life. College Football 25
officially dropped and became available Monday afternoon. EA
Sports had put the game on the shelf for over a decade because of
licensing rights between the players along with other things. With that decision, the gaming community and everyday people who played occasionally were heartbroken.

For years, kids and adults with a passion for football played this game not only for fun but to fulfill a dream, as crazy as that sounds. Only in this game can you feel like the
head coach or player you’ve always wanted to be. Going through
the recruiting process or just having the “drip” on your player, as
they call it these days made you feel special. Then you have the
intense battles with family and friends, as well as the online competitions. Many memories were made. 

After what felt like the lonestest wait ever, we finally have it back. The trash-talking, long nights perfecting your team and playbook—all have returned. The trash-talking, long nights perfecting your team and playbook—all have returned. Also a major shoutout to NCAA Football 14 for holding
down the fort for years with updates to the game. It can now
peacefully rest.

For those who never stopped believing…

🔗: https://t.co/XThgmoRGBc pic.twitter.com/itADCk482F

— EASPORTSCollege (@EASPORTSCollege) July 15, 2024

Category: College Football, NewsTag: Brent Venables, Caleb Downs, Cam Ward, EA College Football, EA Sports, Jimbo Fisher, Mario Cristobal, Miami Hurricanes, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma Sooners, Ole Miss, Ole Miss Rebels, Oregon Ducks, Steve Sarkisian, Texas Longhorns, Walter Nolen
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