Ohio State captured its first national championship since 2014 with a win over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff National Championship, but the Buckeyes' path to a preseason No. 1 ranking in 2025 won't be easy.

Ohio State had the most talented roster in the country. The first is a fact. The second is, technically, an opinion -- one shared by everyone on ESPN's committee selecting the top 100 players of the 2024-25 season -- but it'd be tough to come up with a compelling argument for someone else.

Here we have our way-too-early 2025 college football rankings. These rankings can and likely will change by time I map out my preseason Associated Press top 25 ballot in August. But for now, here’s my initial crack at a top 25 for the 2025 season.