Top 10 Most Clutch Players Going Into the 2025 College Football Season

It's no surprise that these standout athletes come from top-25 programs, having already made a strong impression on the field. Notably, Texas, Clemson, and Ohio State each feature multiple names on the list-an uncommon distinction. While career stats and projected numbers play a role, this ranking is driven largely by the perspectives of insiders across college football, spotlighting the Power Fours' most talked-about talent. These ten players are poised to dominate headlines this fall, regardless of their position. Below is a glimpse of the rising talent set to spark conversation across the football landscape.

10. Jeremiyah Love - Running Back - Notre Dame -

Jeremiyah Love cemented his reputation as one of college football's most dominant ballcarriers last season. Noting five 100-yard rushing performances as a sophomore, sharing the backfield with quarterback Riley Leonard in Notre Dame's ground-heavy scheme, Love consistently delivered, leading the team with 17 touchdowns. The only game in which he failed to find the end zone came in Notre Dame's Sugar Bowl Victory over Georgia. With an NFL future on the horizon, Love is poised to take on a heavier workload this fall as the team's lead back.

9. T.J. Parker - Edge Rusher - Clemson -

Clemson is emerging as one of three teams boasting multiple top-tier talents entering the 2025 season. Few players command more attention than junior edge rusher T.J. Parker. The Alabama-born standout, once a four-star recruit, headlines a stacked Tigers defense and enters the fall as the front-runner for ACC Defensive Player of the Year. His ferocious play off the edge powered a record-setting campaign in 2024, where he forced six fumbles- more than any Tiger before him. Over 27 career games, Parker has amassed 105 tackles, including 32 for loss,16.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, and three pass breakups across 1,085 snaps, marking his status as one of college football's elite defensive disruptors.

8. Sam Leavit - Quarterback - Arizona State -

With Cam Skattebo no longer anchoring the backfield, Arizona State's offensive spotlight shifts squarely onto quarterback Sam Leavitt, whose breakout freshman campaign positions him among the nation's elite. Under Kenny Dillingham's guidance, Leavitt delivered a 4-1 record against ranked opponents, with his only loss coming in a double overtime thriller to Texas in the college football playoff. His four-touchdown performance in the Big 12 championship against Iowa State wasn't just a statement- it was a coronation. As the Sun Devils aim to build on last season's success, Leavitt’s rising production could be the key to another deep postseason run.

7. Dylan Stewart, - Edge Rusher - South Carolina -

With Key departures reshaping South Carolina's defense, sophomore edge rusher Dylan Stewart is poised to become the Gamecocks’ most formidable weapon this fall. The former five-star recruit, already a freshman All-American, enters the season as the projected top pick at his position in the future NFL draft. While quarterback LaNorris Sellers has been the talk of the preseason, it's Stewart who could redefine the Gamecocks' defensive identity. Following the exit of the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Kyle Kennard, Stewart is expected to draw double teams and carry the load as Shane Beamer's defense reloads for another playoff push.

6. Arch Manning - Quarterback - Texas -

With spring practice in the rearview, Arch Manning enters his third year under Steve Sarkisian's offensive system, poised to take the reins in 2025. With Quinn Ewers headed to the NFL, Manning steps into a new era-one that promises greater versatility in the quarterback run game. Though the supporting team will feature fresh faces, new pass-catchers, and first-time starters on the offensive line, Manning's command of the scheme and natural talent position him as a preseason Heisman favorite. As the Longhorns settle into SEC competition, Manning could emerge not only as the face of the program but as a national headline.

5. Garrett Nussmeier - Quarterback - LSU -

When he’s locked in, Garrett Nussmeier has number one overall pick potential. When he’s struggling, the quarterback who once served as an understudy to a Heisman Trophy winner and top NFL draft pick, Jayden Daniels, has shown flashes of brilliance- but remains susceptible to costly turnovers. For Garrett Nussmeir, consistency is the missing piece. The LSU quarterback dazzled in fourth-quarter comebacks against Ole Miss and South Carolina, showcasing elite arm talent and unwavering confidence. However, in losses to Alabama and Texas A&M, his decision-making faltered, raising questions about his reliability under pressure.

4. Cade Klubnik - Quarterback - Clemson -

Cade Klubnik enters his third season as Clemson's starter with sky-high expectations and the tools to deliver a record-setting campaign. Projected to be one of college football's most prolific passers in 2025, Klubnik took a major leap in his second year under offensive coordinator Garret Riley, boosting his touchdown total by 17 and refining his mechanics as a passer. Known for his poise in high-pressure moments, Knubnik now leads an offense bolstered by the deepest wide receiver corps in the ACC. With talent and continuity on his side, the Tigers signal-caller is primed to headline a high-powered attack.

3. Anthony Hill Jr. - Linebacker - Texas -

The first in a trio of consecutive five-star recruits, linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. has quickly become the heartbeat of Texas's defense. With 22 starts across his first two seasons, Hill plays with relentless intensity, disrupting backfields and chasing down ballcarriers like a heat-seeking missile. Opposing offenses are forced to locate No. 0 before every snap. A former freshman All-American and co-Big-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, Hill thrived in Texas's inaugural SEC campaign, racking up 107 tackles, a team-leading 16 tackles for loss, and multiple multi-sack performances.

2. Caleb Downs - Safety - Ohio State -

No one in college football reads the game quite like Caleb Downs. His pre-snap instincts are elite-often diagnosing plays before they unfold and dismantling them with surgical precision. Last season, Downs was a game-changer for Ohio State, delivering clutch performances in high-stakes moments, including the national semifinal against Texas and a dominant showing versus Tennessee in December. Originally a standout in November, Downs transferred to the Buckeyes and immediately transformed their defense, tallying 82 tackles and two interceptions. Downs is now widely regarded as the most impactful defensive player in portal history.

1. Jeremiah Smith - WR - Ohio State -

College football's most electrifying freshman didn't just live up to the hype in 2024-he elevated it. Jeremiah Smith delivered a standout season for Ohio State, but it was his clutch playoff performances that solidified his status as a rising superstar, as he helped propel the Buckeyes to a national title. The number one overall recruit in the 2024 class, Smith is a matchup nightmare. Combining physically on every down with breakaway speed at the second level, the defense must account for him on every snap. With elite traits and game-breaking ability, Smith is already drawing a buzz as a potential number one overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.