It may seem a bit trivial to rank the independent and Pac-12 teams, given that there are only two teams in each group, but these four teams still need to be placed somewhere. While Notre Dame may be aligned with the ACC, it remains an independent team. With UMass moving to the MAC, UConn is now the only true independent left. Oregon State and Washington State are awaiting the next season when the Pac-12 will merge with parts of the Mountain West, including Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State. For now, here’s a quick overview of these four teams before spring football kicks into full gear across the country.
Independent and Pac-12 Football Rankings: A First Look at the 2025 Season
4. Washington State
Though it’s not a total rebuild with new head coach Jimmy Rogers from South Dakota State, the changes are significant. Wazzu lost a lot, including QB John Mateer to Oklahoma, but the return of QB Zevi Eckhaus is a big plus.
- 2024 Record: 8-5
- 2024 Final Ranking: 64, Preseason Ranking: 74
- Top Transfer In: Caleb Franci, S from South Dakota State
- Top Transfer Out: John Mateer, QB to Oklahoma
- Season Opener: Idaho
2. Oregon State
This could be a surprisingly good Beaver team in Year Two under Trent Bray. With veterans in place and the addition of QB Maalik Murphy from Duke, they should be in contention for a bowl game, especially with a favorable schedule.
- 2024 Record: 5-7
- 2024 Final Ranking: 85, Preseason Ranking: 77
- Top Transfer In: Maalik Murphy, QB from Duke
- Top Transfer Out: Andre Jordan, CB to UCLA
- Season Opener: (TBD)
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