By Mark Pszonak
Every fanbase is excited or at least hopeful in May. That will gradually change as the season starts, and many fans will fall into a deep state of depression. Here are five fanbases that will be disappointed in 2025:
1. Florida
Florida fans are starving to be relevant again in the SEC, which hasn’t happened since the 2020 season. Since then, they have gone 25-26 overall and 12-20 in the SEC. 2025 is supposed to be different, with exciting quarterback DJ Lagway back with more experience and poise, however there are a couple issues. Despite all the excitement surrounding Lagway, in 2024 he threw 12 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He should improve, but will it be enough to make Florida relevant again? Lagway also needs to make a drastic improvement while playing against a brutal schedule. Beginning September 13th, the Gators have four consecutive games against LSU, Miami, Texas and Texas A&M and then later in the season they play Georgia, Ole Miss and Tennessee. Will Lagway improve quickly enough and will head coach Billy Napier be able to keep the buzzards away, which always seem to be circling him in Gainesville.
2. Michigan
After winning the National Championship during the 2023 season, the Wolverines hope that 2024’s disaster was just a blip on the radar. However, I see a second blip coming in 2025. There are still plenty of questions to be answered, and now the answers have to be found without veteran defensive players like Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant and Will Johnson, who have all made the move to the NFL. Last year the defense was able to keep the season afloat while the offense struggled throughout. This year, the offense will need to step up, with either a true freshman quarterback, Bryce Underwood, or veteran transfer Mikey Keene (Fresno State), who missed the spring with an injury. That isn’t the recipe for immediate success. An interesting test looms on September 6th at Oklahoma, with additional difficult trips to Nebraska and USC happening by October 11th.
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3. Ole Miss
Lane Kiffin has been successful in Oxford, but has not been able to get the Rebels into the highest tier of the SEC. And now, after a 21-5 run during the last two seasons, which included wins in the Gator Bowl and Peach Bowl, this is looking more likely as a disappointing season for Ole Miss. Most importantly, quarterback Jaxson Dart is now in the NFL. New quarterback Austin Simmons has the potential to be a future star, but it is unlikely that the future will be in 2025. What gives the Rebels hope is that once again they were extremely aggressive in the transfer portal, which leaves the potential for immediate success, plus the schedule is reasonable as they avoid Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas A&M. I don’t expect a disaster of a season, but a step back is likely while Simmons gets himself acclimated to the SEC grind.
4. Colorado
There seems to be a mixture of excitement and uneasiness in Boulder as we head towards the first non-Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter season since Deion Sanders’ arrival. The Buffaloes have been extremely reliant on their passing game, which likely won’t be an option in 2025. Because of this they desperately need the running game to emerge from its multi-season slumber while hoping that the defense continues to improve after a much better showing in 2024. The season opener against a potentially sneaky good Georgia Tech team will show a great deal, while conference games against BYU, Iowa State, Utah, Arizona State and Kansas State will all determine how the 2025 season goes for the Buffaloes. Overall, there are too many questions looming for this to be an impressive season in Boulder.
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5. Illinois
Head coach Bret Bielema believes that his program deserves more respect as we head towards the 2025 season. Coming off a 10-3 season that culminated in a bowl victory over South Carolina and with 16 of 22 starters back it is easy to understand his logic. However, I have doubts regarding the passing game. Quarterback Luke Altmyer is back, which is huge, but how about the wide receivers? The Illini lost Zakhari Franklin and Pat Bryant, their top two receivers who combined for 109 receptions for 1,636 yards and 14 touchdowns. Their replacements will likely be transfer Hudson Clement (West Virginia), who had 51 receptions for 741 yards and five touchdowns last season and Malik Elzy, who impressed during the spring but only had four receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown in 2024. The Illini will have to rely on their running game until the passing game clicks, which they needs to happen quickly since their first two Big Ten games are at Indiana and at home against USC. The good news is that aside from a huge home game against Ohio State, the Illini avoid Penn State, Iowa, Oregon, Nebraska and Michigan. It should be a good season in Champaign but not at the level many are thinking.
