And then there were three.

After the biggest College Football Playoff in the sport’s history, we’ve nearly reached the end of the road, for which both Boyz II Men and Penn State — loser of Thursday’s Capital One Orange Bowl — requires a moment for somber reflection.

Yes, getting into the Final Four marks hallowed ground in college basketball but, for the past decade, it was just the starting point in college football. This year, however, it’s something of a middle ground, a way station that was, for some, a new benchmark of success and for others, a stepping stone toward the ultimate goal.

To have played this far into January in any other year required an astounding season. To do it in 2024 simply meant there was either one last hill to climb or, for these programs, a pinnacle still beyond the horizon, tantalizingly close but, at least until the 2025 season, painfully out of reach.

Here’s a quick look at how things might be different next year. — David Hale

Penn State Nittany Lions

2024 record: 13-3

Round eliminated: Semifinals

Biggest question moving forward: A lot of the buzz before the game was centered on the idea quarterback Drew Allar could change course and declare for the NFL draft. It would represent a remarkable reversal after informing the coaching staff in mid-December he would return for his senior year. That decision led to backup Beau Pribula leaving the team before the playoff run began and transferring to Missouri. For now, it’s all speculation, but a firm understanding of Allar’s intentions need to be understood relatively soon to allow the coaching staff to prepare for the appropriate scenario.

If Allar is back, Penn State will be in a comfortable spot headed into the offseason, despite the normal roster churn. If he’s not, things will become more hazy. — Kyle Bonagura

Recruiting outlook: Franklin was plenty productive on the recruiting trail in 2025, landing signatures from 14 ESPN 300 prospects in ESPN’s 12th-ranked class. The early signing period flip of four-star in-state tight end pledge Andrew Olesh from Michigan marked a key recruiting win for the Nittany Lions, and Olesh — the program’s highest-rated signee — leads a monster tight end class bound for Penn State in 2025, joined by fellow ESPN 300 tight ends Brian Kortovich (No. 246) and Brady O’Hara (No. 279). Top-300 wide receivers Lyrick Samuel and Jeff Exinor Jr. represent two more exciting newcomers on offense as the Nittany Lions close their fourth straight top 15 class. — Eli Lederman

Biggest portal priority: Pribula’s departure was a tough loss for Penn State’s offense in the postseason. But for the Nittany Lions, there are more pressing needs in the transfer market than a No. 2 QB. They’ve added two productive playmakers to their wide receiver room in Devonte Ross (Troy) and Kyron Hudson (USC). Ross proved he can play in the Big Ten with his performance against Iowa this season, burning the Hawkeyes for 62- and 63-yard touchdown passes plus a 77-yard punt return score. Penn State also landed Enai White, a former top-50 recruit from Philadelphia who’s moving closer to home after three seasons as a reserve at Texas A&M. — Max Olson

Under-the-radar offseason priority: The Nittany Lions got a favorable draw with SMU and Boise State to get to this stage, but didn’t fare as well throughout the season against the sport’s heavyweights: Ohio State, Oregon and Notre Dame. They need to be able to dictate the style of game better in those types of games if they want to get over the hump. — Bonagura

Prediction for next season: There is every reason to believe Penn State will remain in a similar tier it was this year: a Big Ten title contender and playoff hopeful. Anything short of that will be a disappointment and anything beyond that will be a bonus. — Bonagura

Georgia Bulldogs

2024 record: 11-3

Round eliminated: Quarterfinal

Biggest question moving forward: Georgia’s offense was a mixed bag in 2024. At times, it was brilliant, but just as often, the Dawgs struggled to move the ball. Whether it was Carson Beck‘s interceptions or a stalled ground game or a bevy of drops by the receivers, there was ample fodder for complaints from fans.

For 2025, the job of revamping the offense is a big one, but no position looms larger over the discussion than quarterback.

The Allstate Sugar Bowl offered a potential glimpse into Georgia’s future at QB, with Gunner Stockton getting the start in place of Beck (who underwent right elbow surgery last month). The latter is off to the NFL for 2025. The former showed ample reason for optimism that he could be the foundation of Georgia’s offense next season, even if his first start ended with a loss.

Georgia’s offense struggled to run the ball as Notre Dame dared Stockton to beat the Irish downfield, but he routinely proved he was capable of doing just that, including on a 67-yard completion to receiver Arian Smith, a 21-yard toss to tight end Oscar Delp and a bullet of a throw to running back Cash Jones for the Dawgs’ first touchdown in the third quarter.

Stockton will have some competition for the job in 2025 from Ryan Puglisi, 2025 commit Ryan Montgomery and former blue-chip recruit Jaden Rashada.

Still, Stockton has waited his turn, and his performance against Notre Dame should at least make him the leader in the clubhouse as Georgia looks to start 2025 with a new injection of energy on offense. — David Hale

Recruiting outlook: The Bulldogs’ recruiting machine under Smart is still humming as Georgia closes in on its ninth straight top-three signing class, an eye-watering run that dates back to Smart’s second cycle with the program in the class of 2017. The Bulldogs whiffed late on five-star defensive tackle Justus Terry, but the flow of elite talent to Athens isn’t slowing.

Five-star defensive linemen Elijah Griffin (No. 6 in the ESPN 300) and Isaiah Gibson (No. 19) lead another impressive defensive class headed to Georgia in 2025, while the Bulldogs also hold signatures from four-star quarterback Ryan Montgomery, No. 5 wide receiver Talyn Taylor and the nation’s top two tight end prospects in Elyiss Williams and Ethan Barbour. — Lederman

Biggest portal priority: Georgia doesn’t have many needs in the portal and has yet to pick up a commitment from a transfer, but it’s heavily involved in the recruitment of USC transfer brothers Zachariah Branch and Zion Branch. Zachariah is one of the more electric all-purpose playmakers in the sport and was an All-America kick returner in 2023. Zion struggled with injuries early in his career but was able to play a career-high 214 snaps at safety this season. The Bulldogs could also look into adding help at backup QB if they can find the right fit for their situation. — Olson

Under-the-radar offseason priority: While Clemson‘s Dabo Swinney wears the badge of being the most portal-averse coach at a major program, Kirby Smart isn’t far behind. Georgia has certainly added some talent via the portal, but Smart prefers to build his team through high school talent, and that has largely worked well.

But with success often comes attrition, and that puts lots of pressure on those high school recruits to develop — and develop quickly. At some of the offensive skill positions — particularly wide receiver — that hasn’t always happened. Georgia loses two of its most established playmakers in receivers Smith and Dominic Lovett, and so questions remain about who’ll be able to fill the void. Will Smart go hard in the portal to add some playmakers on the outside for his new starting QB? Or can some of those recent blue-chip recruits, like Anthony Evans, blossom into reliable options? Odds are, Smart will look for help from inside the program and the portal.

Of course, given all the drops in 2024, Georgia would probably settle for just about anyone who can hold on to the football. — Hale

Prediction for next season: Smart said the biggest challenge for Georgia in 2024 was the schedule — and with good reason. The Bulldogs faced five top-15 teams in the regular season. Things don’t get markedly easier in 2025 — such is life in the SEC — but the Bulldogs do get Alabama and Texas at home, and a road trip to Tennessee looms as their biggest obstacle away from Sanford Stadium. But no matter the schedule toughness, the expectations at Georgia don’t change. Anything less than a playoff berth is a disappointment, and even with the setbacks of 2024 fresh in mind, don’t expect Dawgs fans to think another 11-win season and an early exit from the postseason will be quite good enough. — Hale

Oregon Ducks

2024 record: 13-1

Round eliminated: Quarterfinals

Biggest question moving forward:Dillon Gabriel did exactly what Oregon hoped he would do after transferring from Oklahoma. He was a touchdown machine for the Ducks and leaves as the NCAA career leader in touchdowns. He also served as a mentor to Dante Moore, who gets the keys to the Oregon offense next season unless the Ducks go searching in the portal again. Moore played sparingly in 2024 as Gabriel’s backup after making nine starts as a true freshman at UCLA in 2023. Moore was ranked by ESPN as the nation’s No. 3 overall recruit in the 2023 class, and much will be expected of him next season. His Oregon teammates have raved about the quarterback’s ability to make plays, and he’ll be put to the test early in 2025. — Chris Low

Recruiting outlook: The Ducks’ on-field ascendency this fall has been mirrored by a dominant recruiting run that has Oregon in line for the program’s first No. 1 class following an impressive late push on the trail. The signing day flip of five-star cornerback Na’eem Offord (Ohio State) was the most significant of those late boosts as Offord joined fellow five-stars in No. 1 wide receiver Dakorien Moore (No. 3 in the ESPN 300) and offensive tackle Douglas Utu (No. 15) in a loaded class that includes signatures from 16 ESPN 300 prospects. With Lanning’s stock rising and the Ducks soaring, the program has clear recruiting momentum that will allow Oregon to stay competitive at the very top nationally for the foreseeable future. — Lederman

Biggest portal priority: The Ducks were one of the big winners of December portal recruiting. They got the premium players they wanted to resolve their needs. Purdue transfer Dillon Thieneman, the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year in 2023, is the No. 1 safety in ESPN’s transfer rankings. Nevada transfer Isaiah World is the No. 1 offensive tackle. USC transfer Bear Alexander is a wild card but was certainly one of the most talented defensive linemen available. The six players Oregon has picked up so far should all make a real impact in 2025. — Olson

Under-the-radar offseason priority: Losing Gabriel is one thing, but the Ducks also have to replenish at the playmaking positions around the quarterback with leading rusher Jordan James and leading receiver Tez Johnson both likely departing. Between them, they accounted for 25 touchdowns in 2024. — Low

Prediction for next season: Dan Lanning has built a program to last, and the Ducks have the resources to compete with anybody in the NIL world. They avoid Ohio State and Michigan during the regular season in 2025, and their nonconference schedule is more than manageable. Another trip to the Big Ten championship game and a spot in the College Football Playoff would seem to be on the horizon, which means the Ducks could be looking at a third straight season of at least 12 wins. — Low

Arizona State Sun Devils

2024 record: 11-3

Round eliminated: Quarterfinals

Biggest question moving forward: Can Kenny Dillingham do it again? The head coach believed Arizona State was a sleeping giant when he took over the program in 2023, and he immediately proved he had the blueprint to wake up the giant. Dillingham and his coaches and players achieved something special together in Year 2, pulling off one of the more stunning turnarounds in recent history from 3-9 to 11-3 in 12 months. They’re well positioned to remain a contender in 2025 with star QB Sam Leavitt and much of their two-deep set to return. They certainly won’t be picked last again in the next Big 12 preseason poll. The teams that win Big 12 titles are the ones who find a way to win close games, and the Sun Devils went 6-1 in games decided by one-score margins this season. Now that Dillingham has activated the Valley — faster than anybody expected — the challenge going forward is maintaining and building upon this momentum. — Olson

Recruiting outlook: Dillingham built a playoff-caliber roster by leaning heavily on the transfer portal, but the Sun Devils have still made high school recruiting an emphasis, and it shows as Arizona State gets set to add its highest-ranked class since 2021. ESPN 300 dual-threat passer Cameron Dyer is one of two quarterbacks in the Sun Devils’ incoming class, alongside three-star pocket passer Michael “Butter” Tollefson. On defense, three-star safety Joseph Smith looks like a potential steal who could earn snaps in the secondary as soon as next fall. Dillingham banked some momentum on the trail in 2025, and you’d imagine his recruiting pitch will only ring louder after Arizona State’s debut playoff appearance this fall. — Lederman

Biggest portal priority: Dillingham and his staff got this far by totally flipping their roster with transfer portal additions who helped set a winning culture. He’s working to reload in the portal again with several impact additions on offense, including running back Kanye Udoh (Army), receivers Jalen Moss (Fresno State) and Noble Johnson (Clemson), and tight end Khamari Anderson (Kentucky). Udoh, a rare service academy transfer, earned second-team All-AAC honors this season after rushing for 1,117 yards and 10 touchdowns for the 12-2 Black Knights. — Olson

Under-the-radar offseason priority: No single back can replace the more than 2,000 yards of offensive production that running back Cam Skattebo provided for the Sun Devils this season, so developing the corps of Udoh, Kyson Brown, Raleek Brown, Alton McCaskill and others is obviously essential. But Arizona State will also need players to step up around Jordyn Tyson at wide receiver to help replace senior starters Xavier Guillory and Melquan Stovall. — Olson

Prediction for next season: Among the six other teams that went 6-3 or better in Big 12 play this season, five are on the Sun Devils’ schedule for 2025. Their road schedule includes Iowa State, Baylor, Colorado, Utah and a nonconference test at Mississippi State. The path to a repeat Big 12 title looks challenging on paper, but Arizona State should still be viewed as a front-runner to get back to Arlington and compete for a College Football Playoff bid yet again. — Olson

Boise State Broncos

2024 record: 12-2

Round eliminated: Quarterfinals

Biggest question moving forward: How much of Boise State’s success was because of Ashton Jeanty? Perhaps no player in college football was more responsible for his team’s offensive success than the Broncos’ record-setting running back. Without him — and likely a new offensive coordinator with Dirk Koetter expected to retire — the team won’t be able to be as reliant on the running game. Much of that will fall on the shoulders of quarterback Maddux Madsen, who quietly put together a strong first full season as Boise State’s starter. — Bonagura

Recruiting outlook: Boise State knows how to uncover and develop underrecruited talent — see Jeanty — and the Broncos could have a few hidden performers in the 2025 class. Wide receiver signee Quinton Brown is a skilled target with scorching speed who totaled 3,500 all-purpose yards and 42 touchdowns in his high school career, while two-way standout Bol Bol carries experience on both sides of the line and projects as a promising defensive end with length and quickness. More imminently, three-star center Stewart Taufa and junior college cornerback transfer Jaylen Webb land as a pair of potential early contributors from a class that should continue to bolster Boise State’s standing as a perennial Group of 5 playoff contender under coach Spencer Danielson. — Lederman

Biggest portal priority: No one player is going to replace the prolific production of Jeanty, but Boise State is hoping Malik Sherrod can play a helpful role. The Fresno State transfer ranked fourth in the Mountain West in rushing yards (966) in 2023 and will be a sixth-year senior next season. Danielson has mostly prioritized defense during this portal cycle and has brought in a trio of veteran defensive linemen in Dion Washington (Hawaii), Malakai Williams (Idaho) and Keanu Mailoto (Arizona). — Olson

Under-the-radar offseason priority: Everything is trending in the right direction, but the key in Boise for sustainable long-term success — at the highest level of the sport — is probably rooted more in its financial investment. With the cash being thrown around for top talent, the Broncos won’t always be able to keep their best players on campus. The best Boise State will be able to hope for is to mitigate those losses. Doing more with less will always be part of Boise State’s ethos, but in this era of college football the financial component is more important than ever. — Bonagura

Prediction for next season: After reaching the College Football Playoff in Danielson’s first season, there is every expectation for the Broncos to remain one of the best Group of 5 teams. That designation means it will be relevant in the playoff discussion again, but it’s unlikely Boise State will be able to match the success it had this season. — Bonagura

Tennessee Volunteers

2024 record: 10-3

Round eliminated: First

Biggest question moving forward: The good news is that quarterback Nico Iamaleava will be back for his third year and should be poised for his most productive season yet given his arm talent and experience as a starter. But the Vols have to beef up around him on offense, both in the line and at the skill positions.

Center Cooper Mays has been the heart and soul of that offensive line for a couple of years, and he’s gone. So is running back Dylan Sampson, who set the single-season school record for touchdowns. The Vols need to find a way to make more explosive plays in the passing game, which was a problem all season and was a setback for the Vols in their playoff loss to Ohio State.

Rising sophomore Mike Matthews, a five-star recruit, has a chance to develop into a big-play receiver and has huge upside. Either way, Tennessee has to add firepower on offense. Iamaleava passed for more than 200 yards against an FBS team only four times in 13 games this season. — Low

Recruiting outlook: As the Vols rolled to their first-ever playoff appearance this fall, they also wrapped the highest-ranked class of the Josh Heupel era, anchored by signatures from five-star offensive tackle David Sanders (No. 5 in 2025 ESPN 300) and No. 3 defensive tackle Isaiah Campbell (No. 38).

Tennessee went hard on linebackers in 2025, signing three from inside the ESPN 300, and Heupel & Co. did well to keep the state’s top prospect, quarterback George MacIntyre, home in a recruiting win over rival Alabama. If the Vols intend to compete for the playoff on an annual basis, classes at the caliber of the one Tennessee has signed in 2025 will be imperative. — Lederman

Biggest portal priority: The Vols have had a decent amount of portal attrition so far, with 10 scholarship players hitting the portal, but have been selective in their December portal recruiting. Arizona transfer offensive lineman Wendell Moe Jr. was their first pickup, and he’s a premium one. The 2023 Freshman All-American is a 26-game starter at left guard and was one of the top interior linemen available. The Vols could lose their top three guards at the end of the season, so Moe addresses a major need. — Olson

Under-the-radar offseason priority: The Vols’ strength this season was their defensive line. With some of the top performers and leaders from the unit departing, developing some of the younger ones and keeping that same mindset up front defensively will be vital if the Vols are going to make another playoff run.

In particular, maintaining that same depth will be key. Defensive line coach Rodney Garner is one of the best in the business, and he’s always going to get the best out of his guys. — Low

Prediction for next season: The schedule gets a little more difficult with road games at Florida and Alabama, while Georgia comes to Knoxville. The next step for this program is playing better and more consistently on the road against quality teams.

The Vols have lost 22 in a row against top-10 teams on the road. So winning one of two in Gainesville and Tuscaloosa would go a long way toward opening up a pathway to the playoff. But at least nine wins seems realistic, which would be the fourth straight season hitting that mark under Heupel. — Low

Clemson Tigers

2024 record: 10-4

Round eliminated: First

Biggest question moving forward: Have we seen the last of Clemson as an elite program?

Yes, the 2024 season earned the Tigers another ACC title and returned Dabo Swinney to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2020, but it was hardly the emphatic statement anyone hoped for. The Tigers backed into the ACC title game, won it on a last-second field goal and earned its playoff invite via a guaranteed bid despite being ranked 16th by the committee. Clemson lost badly to Georgia, fell at home to Louisville, went down in crushing fashion to rival South Carolina, nearly blew a huge lead to SMU and then struggled in the playoff game against Texas.

Those are the games a program like Clemson is judged by — the games the Tigers used to win far more often than not. But four seasons have come and gone without Clemson looking like anything close to a national title contender, and that slip from the top of the pyramid has coincided with myriad other changes in the sport. So the Tigers enter another offseason with lingering questions about their place in the larger college football ecosystem, how they’ll afford to keep pace with the big boys in the SEC and whether there’s still a path for them to win it all. — David Hale

Recruiting outlook: After losing five ESPN 300 commits during the fall, the Tigers’ incoming class sits seventh among ACC programs in ESPN’s rankings for the cycle, trailing not just Miami but also the likes of Duke and Syracuse. Still, Clemson has exciting talent on the way, headlined by running back Gideon Davidson. ESPN’s No. 3 running back prospect in 2025, Davidson lands with the Tigers after logging 2,054 rushing yards (9.2 per carry) and 34 rushing scores in his senior season this fall. Could he break through early in a young running backs room next fall with 1,106-yard rusher Phil Mafah set to depart? — Lederman

Biggest portal priority: Clemson is signing transfers this year! Swinney is betting that pass rusher Will Heldt (Purdue) and wide receiver Tristan Smith (Southeast Missouri State) can make the Tigers better in 2025. Heldt was one of the top defensive ends in ESPN’s transfer rankings, and Smith is coming off a 900-yard season at the FCS level. Could this historic decision lead to more players in the portal eventually finding their way to Clemson? We shall see, but it’s an encouraging sign. — Olson

Under-the-radar offseason priority: Defensive line. This seems ludicrous given Clemson’s long history of producing standout performers up front on defense, along with the fact that former five-star recruits T.J. Parker and Peter Woods are due back for 2025. But after a full year of criticism that he wouldn’t delve into the portal, Swinney finally went after a serious impact transfer and it was, of all things, a D-lineman (former Purdue edge rusher Will Heldt). The move was a signal that Clemson’s normally stout defense took a step back in 2024, and that can’t happen again in 2025.

Woods largely played out of position on the edge, despite his 320-pound frame, and injuries sullied the team’s depth. The result was a unit that was good — occasionally very good — but inconsistent. For Clemson to rejoin the ranks of the elite, it has to start with dominating in the one area where the Tigers have consistently been elite — at the line of scrimmage on defense. — Hale

Prediction for next season: Clemson is still the class of the ACC, and with a number of stars — Cade Klubnik, Sammy Brown, Parker and Woods among them — expected back in 2025, that should remain true moving forward. Swinney is finally digging into the portal too, which only benefits the Tigers. This is a team that will be loaded with veterans in 2025 in a conference that is there for the taking. Anything less than 10 wins and another playoff berth would be a disappointment, but hopes will be even higher than that. — Hale

SMU Mustangs

2024 record: 11-3

Round eliminated: First

Biggest question moving forward: The Mustangs had an incredible first season in the ACC, but they might have actually been a little ahead of schedule. Rhett Lashlee knew he was going to need everything — more size, more depth, more speed — in making the jump from the AAC to the ACC. The key now, is being able to turn this proof of concept, that the Mustangs can be a contender at the Power 4 level, into restocking with all of those things on Lashlee’s list. SMU ranked 29th on ESPN’s early signing day rankings but will likely continue to be active in the portal looking to upgrade. — Dave Wilson

Recruiting outlook: The Mustangs — who signed one ESPN 300 recruit over the previous four cycles, backup quarterback Preston Stone — have three top-300 signees in the program’s 2025 class, their first as a member of the ACC. Offensive tackle Dramodd Odoms is the highest rated of the trio at No. 170 in the ESPN 300. TCU quarterback flip Ty Hawkins brings true dual-threat promise for the future.

And the most exciting of them all could be wide receiver Daylon Singleton, who totaled 115 catches for 2,143 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns over his final two seasons at Texas’ DeSoto High School. The SMU train has left the station this year, on the field and on the recruiting trail. — Lederman

Biggest portal priority: Lashlee and his staff have done a terrific job during their tenure of finding impact portal talent and good fits for SMU. In this cycle, they’ve already picked up two centers with starting experience in Addison Nichols (Arkansas) and Joshua Bates (Oklahoma) as well as a linebacker Zakye Barker (East Carolina) and promising freshman defensive back Chasen Johnson (UCF). The Mustangs are in the mix for USC transfer defensive tackle Bear Alexander and are looking to add more playmakers on offense as well. — Olson

Under-the-radar offseason priority: SMU had to make an early-season quarterback change after a loss to BYU when the offensive line struggled, opting for a more mobile Kevin Jennings to help the offense. Against Penn State, the Mustangs could not capitalize in the red zone, with four trips that ended in three points and Jennings scrambling for his life all day, struggling under the pressure, including two interceptions on pressure plays. Odoms, a 6-foot-6, 305-pound tackle from the Houston area, addresses that need, but it will continue to be a priority. — Wilson

Prediction for next season: The Mustangs might come back to earth with a rejuvenated Clemson and a Miami program that’s going to keep spending and adding key players, with both of them on the SMU schedule next season. They’ve proven they can draw talent, and Lashlee’s offense, alongside an impressive defensive identity, will give them a puncher’s shot. Along with early-season tests against improved Baylor and TCU teams, this feels more like an 8-3 regular season, which would still be a success as they continue to build. — Wilson

Indiana Hoosiers

2024 record: 11-2

Round eliminated: First

Biggest question moving forward: How does Indiana bolster its offensive line and other areas to compete with the nation’s very best? Indiana took massive, historic steps in coach Curt Cignetti’s first season, but its shortcomings were exposed in the second half against Michigan and during losses to Ohio State and Notre Dame.

Indiana was remarkably healthy overall in 2024, but an injury to starting guard Drew Evans showed up against more talented opponents down the stretch. Cignetti can’t bring another talented group of James Madison transfers with him this offseason, so his ability to identify portal upgrades and develop returning players will be huge. — Adam Rittenberg

Recruiting outlook: Cignetti and the Hoosiers have leaned on defense and wide receiver prospects to build only the program’s second top-50 class since 2020. Hanging on to four-star safety Byron Baldwin — the lone ESPN 300 signee in Indiana’s 2025 class — was key for Cignetti, and the versatile defensive back could crack Indiana’s secondary rotation early as one of 12 defensive signees for the Hoosiers in 2025.

On offense, playmaking pass catcher LeBron Bond leads a cast of three talented wide receivers who all rank among Indiana’s top six prospects in an impressive class at the end of Cignetti’s first full cycle with the Hoosiers. — Lederman

Biggest portal priority: After hitting the jackpot with his portal imports in Year 1, Cignetti knows the Hoosiers will need to reload with more experienced transfers to remain a Big Ten contender. He’s still searching for his next QB but has seven commits on board so far.

UAB transfer running back Lee Beebe Jr. put up more than 1,100 yards from scrimmage this season, and Western Kentucky transfer defensive tackle Hosea Wheeler was a first-team All-Conference USA selection. Cignetti and his staff will keep succeeding with those under-the-radar players with proven production. — Olson

Under-the-radar offseason priority: Quarterback will be a significant question after Kurtis Rourke’s departure, but Cignetti’s recent teams at James Madison and Indiana have been fueled by excellent defensive fronts.

Indiana led the nation in rushing defense by a wide margin but will be replacing James Carpenter, who had two tackles for loss, a blocked kick and other notable plays against Notre Dame in his final college game, as well as CJ West in the interior. If top pass rusher Mikail Kamara moves on to the NFL, Indiana will be looking for a hard reset up front. — Rittenberg

Prediction for next season: Indiana likely will take a mini step backward after some key departures, although the addition of a notable transfer quarterback, such as Cal‘s Fernando Mendoza, and the retention of key juniors could maintain the trajectory. The 2025 schedule once again features no nonleague matchups against Power 4 opponents, and the home schedule is quite favorable. Road trips to Oregon, Penn State and Iowa will provide tests, but Coach Cig’s team can win at least seven to eight games. — Rittenberg