ESPN’s Shocking List: Which 5 Teams Could Actually Finish the Season Undefeated?

The 2025 college football season is looming larger than a linebacker in the backfield, and with it, the eternal question nags—how many teams will strut through this gauntlet unscathed? Now, before you get starry-eyed dreaming of perfect seasons, let me hit you with a reality check straight from ESPN’s Football Power Index. The answer? Not many. In fact, according to the numbers crunching wizards, only five squads stand a legit shot at an undefeated campaign—Texas, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Penn State, and Georgia. Though, spoiler alert: Texas and Ohio State can’t both keep their perfect records alive since they’re squaring off early on. It’s a tantalizing clash of titans that will shake the Horseshoe and set the tone for what promises to be a gripping chase for national glory. Makes you wonder—will any team dare to defy the odds and etch an unblemished legacy this year? Strap in, it’s about to get real interesting. LEARN MORE

Meet The Wife Of Kirk Herbstreit (1:13)

The 2025 college football season is right around the corner.

Only less than a month remains before the start of the 2025 college football season. We’ll have a couple of games in Week Zero before the full action kicks off at the end of the month. Week 1 will be highlighted by some major action, including Ohio State vs. Texas, live from The Horseshoe in Columbus.

Several prominent teams are expected to contend for a national title this season. But how many teams can realistically go undefeated during the 2025 campaign? According to ESPN’s computer model, the Football Power Index, it’s a relatively small number.

Here’s how many teams can realistically go undefeated in 2025, according to ESPN’s computer model, the Football Power Index.

Jan 18, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Kirk Herbstreit talks to the media during 2025 CFP National Championship Media Day at Georgia World Congress Center, Building A. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

According to ESPN’s computer model, the Football Power Index, here’s how many teams can realistically go undefeated during the 2025 season. It’s a small number.

The 5 teams that can actually go undefeated

According to ESPN’s computer model, the five teams that can realistically go undefeated are:

Texas – 8.9 percent chance
Ohio State – 8.6 percent chance
Notre Dame – 7.0 percent chance
Penn State – 7.0 percent chance
Georgia – 7.0 percent chance

All five of these teams have at least a 7.0 percent chance of winning every regular season game. Of course, both Ohio State and Texas will be unable to go undefeated, as they face off during the start of the 2025 campaign.

But it would not be surprising to many in the college football world if a couple of these teams finished the year with zero losses, heading into the 2025-26 College Football Playoff.