It has been nearly a decade since USC has signed a top-five class and the Trojans have yet to make an appearance in the College Football Playoff, but Lincoln Riley is working to try and change the Trojans fortunes on both those fronts.

College football's calendar is slowing down ahead of the 2025 season, and there's no better time to update the preseason top-25 rankings. Anchored by Heisman hopefuls, transfer portal additions and top-end coaching staffs, most of these squads appear to have what it takes to generate buzz as contenders in a few months.

LSU football no longer owns the top-ranked recruiting class in 2026. Which Big Ten power house took the Tigers' spot atop the rankings?