Who’s keeping Missouri football’s defensive staff up at night? There’s still a long way to go — more than 100 days — until the 2025 college football season begins. But spring camps around the country have wrapped up. The transfer portal, in a majority of cases, is closed and rosters are more or less set. Now that all the turnover is more or less settled, who has the best offense among the 12 teams Mizzou faces in the regular season?
Barring complete calamity, the FCS-level Bears shouldn’t give Missouri any problems on Thursday, Aug. 28.
11: UMass
No homecoming horrors here. The Minutemen have less than half of their 2024 production returning next season, and a big transfer class shouldn’t change much for a struggling UMass program.
10: Louisiana
Ex-Ole Miss and LSU player Walker Howard is an intriguing addition at quarterback, but the Ragin’ Cajuns rank No. 107 in returning offensive production and haven’t been particularly active in the transfer portal.
9: Mississippi State
The Bulldogs should see a boost with Blake Shapen returning from an injury at quarterback, but losing top playmaker Kevin Coleman Jr. — to Missouri, no less — has not helped their case. The addition of talented South Alabama running back Fluff Bothwell gives Mississippi State a good centerpiece to work around, but the options look limited elsewhere.
8: Vanderbilt
Returning quarterback Diego Pavia and tight end Eli Stowers will form the crux of the
Commodores ’ offense next season, and that’s going to cause some teams some problems. Vanderbilt has a top-30 mark for returning offensive production, and transfer additions along the offensive line and wide receiver should bolster what’s already there.
7: Kansas
There appears to be some confidence in Lawrence about what the KU offense is capable of in 2025, but that will depend highly on the performances of Jalon Daniels at quarterback. He was pick-prone last season, and the Jayhawks can’t succeed without him at the top of his game. If Daniels can get there, he has a good running back in Daniel Hishaw, and Alabama transfer wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. is a solid addition. The KU offense will be no light task in the Border War reunion Sept. 6 in Columbia.
6: Arkansas
The biggest difference for the Razorbacks next season ought to be along its offensive line. Quarterback Taylen Green was on the run a lot last season and took a boat-load of sacks. Arkansas’ starting left tackle, center and right tackle are all potentially new transfers, which has continuity drawbacks but appears to be a net improvement in Fayetteville. There are still some questions at the skill positions, with transfers taking over at each of the starting running back and wide receiver positions. That’s a lot of turnover.
5: South Carolina
The Gamecocks have LaNorris Sellers back for a second year under center, and he figures as one of the top returning quarterbacks in the SEC. If he’s eligible, Utah State transfer Rashul Faison is seemingly a big addition at running back. Shane Beamer has to replace the entire interior of his offensive line, which is no small task. All three of USC’s projected starting wide receivers were on the 2024 team, but none of them had more than 400 receiving yards. Tack on that the Gamecocks lose OC Dowell Loggains to
Appalachian State , and there's some questions to answer.
4: Oklahoma
The Sooners are tough to assess. Oklahoma has the sixth-most returning offensive production in the FBS, but it’s the newcomers that make the Sooners the big movers on this set of rankings. Washington State transfer Jon Mateer is one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the country, and his Wazzu head coach, Ben Arbuckle, is in as offensive coordinator. Cal transfer Jadyn Ott is an excellent addition at running back, and the Sooners' offensive line looks deep, too. But, OU is also relying on some unproven talent. Arkansas Pine-Bluff transfer Javonnie Gibson and true freshman Elijah Thomas look set to start at wide receiver. Division-II Pittsburgh State transfer Will Huggins will start at tight end. It may all work. The quarterback certainly increases the potential for that. If it doesn’t click, it may cost Brent Venables his job.
3: Texas A&M
The Aggies have intriguing options and a lot of returning pieces, as 70% of their offensive production, which is 19th-most in the FBS, is coming back. That includes their entire offensive line. Texas Tech transfer wide receiver Kevin Concepcion is a potentially electric addition, and Mississippi State wideout Mario Craver gives the Aggies some real speed outside. But, can quarterback Marcel Reed find them, or will he continue to look limited as a passer? Texas A&M’s run game should be in a great spot, with Le'Veon Moss, Amari Daniels and Rueben Owens returning and Reed being an extremely mobile option under center.
2: Auburn
This is not the 2024 Auburn squad. The wide receiver trio of Georgia Tech transfer Eric Singleton Jr. and rising sophomores Cam Coleman and Malcolm Simmons is about as good as you’ll find. Virginia Tech transfer left tackle Xavier Chaplin is a major boost for the offensive line. Damari Alston has heaps of potential at running back after sitting behind star Jarquez Hunter. The biggest question concerns Jackson Arnold, who inherits a better situation on the Plains than he did in Oklahoma. Can he make a stride at his new home? If he can, Auburn’s offense is in an excellent position to be among the top units in the conference next season.
1: Alabama
Like Missouri, Alabama is still figuring out its starting quarterback for the 2025 campaign. All signs suggest Tyler Simpson is the frontrunner for new OC Ryan Grubb. There aren’t many holes across the offense, otherwise. The offensive line looks stacked. Freshman sensation Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard and Miami transfer Isaiah Horton are all top-end pass-catching options, and should form one of the best units in the conference. Jam Miller is back as the go-to option at running back. Quarterback is clearly the main question, but Kalen DeBoer’s second Crimson Tide offense looks complete everywhere else.
