4 College Football Playoff Sleeper Teams for 2025: Josh Pate's Picks

Auburn: The Wild Card Sleeper

• 💡 Auburn is identified as a potential sleeper team outside the top 20, despite not being ranked in the current top 20.
• 🚀 The team boasts strong roster talent, averaging top 15 recruiting classes over the last three to four cycles and a top 10 portal class.
• 🎯 With potential strengths on the lines of scrimmage and a player like Kendrick Faulk at edge, their success hinges on quarterback Jackson Arnold.
• ⚠️ If Arnold pans out, Auburn's underrated receiver room could make them capable of beating any opponent on their schedule.

Nebraska: A High-Potential Sleeper

• 📈 Nebraska is considered a sleeper with an over/under win total of seven and a half, now featuring Dana Holgerson at OC and Ryola at quarterback.
• 🧠 The team has three top 25 classes baked into its roster and a top 15 portal class, with Matt Rhule entering his third year.
• 🏟️ Key home games against Michigan and USC, along with a late-season trip to Penn State, present opportunities to build momentum.
• ❓ While there's no guarantee of success, the potential for an amazing season exists, similar to Indiana's unexpected performance last year.

Missouri: Underrated Contender

• 📊 Missouri has a strong recent record, going 21-5 in the last two years, outperforming LSU and Tennessee.
• 🌟 Averaging top 25 recruiting classes and securing a top 10 portal class, they have solid roster talent.
• 🛡️ With top five returning production on defense and the addition of quarterback Brady Cook, who led a comeback win, they are well-positioned.
• 🗓️ Boasting the second-easiest strength of schedule in the SEC and a workable schedule with back-to-back road games, Missouri deserves a chance.

Kansas State: The Forgotten Sleeper

• 🏈 Kansas State is highlighted as a sleeper due to being largely overlooked amidst the excitement surrounding other Big 12 teams and new coaching hires.
• 🔑 With Avery Johnson at quarterback and Chris Klieman's coaching ability, they have a solid foundation.
• 🤫 The team is intentionally flying under the public radar, which benefits them as they have a very workable schedule.
• ✅ If they win the conference, they are a lock for the playoffs, making them a true playoff sleeper.