College Football's Bottom 25 2025, Week 6
Welcome back again to another year of college football's Original Bottom 25 poll!
In the new paradigm of NIL, the transfer portal and the seemingly never-ending post-graduate football careers in the NCAA, the ability to rebuild a program on the fly has never been greater. That said, however, almost every season finds many of the same teams occupying the bottom of the college football landscape.
So, before we start this year's first poll, let's take a look back at the final poll of 2024.
1) Kent State (0-12), 2) Southern Mississippi (1-11), 3) Purdue (1-11), 4) Massachusetts (2-10), 5) Kennesaw State (2-10), 6) Florida State (2-10), 7) Mississippi State (2 -10) 8) Nevada (3-10), 9) Ball State (3-9), 10) Tulsa (3-9), 11) Georgia State (3-9), 12) Stanford (3-9), 13) Oklahoma State (3-9), 14) UAB (3-9), 15) Middle Tennessee State (3-9), 16) New Mexico State (3-9), 17) UTEP (3-9), 18) FAU (3-9), 19) Temple (3-9) 20) tie San Diego State (3-9), 20) tie Wyoming (3-9), 22) Maryland (4-8), 23) Wake Forest (4-8), 24) Kentucky (4-8), 25) tie FIU (4-8), 25) tie Rice (4-8)
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2025's first poll has 7 teams returning from 2024's final poll. Read below to find them and, as always, enjoy the games!!
1) Oregon State (0-6) The Greavers are suffering greatly from the (almost) demise of the now PAC 2. They played close the last two weeks, falling 27-23 at Appalachian State last weekend after a 3-point loss the week before at home against Houston. But 0-6 IS 0-6. Wake Forest visits Corvallis next.
2) Massachusetts (0-5) The Minute (as in tiny) Men are back in a conference this year as members of the MAC. Their winless start puts them at number 2 because it includes a home loss to an FCS squad, Bryant. Last weekend, Western Michigan came to Amherst and came away with a 21-3 drubbing of the home team. A visit to Kent State comes this Saturday in the season's first noted Bummer Bowl.
3) Sam Houston (0-5) The Fearkats had the unique happenstance of losing each of their first 3 games by exactly 17 points each. Following those with a blowout shutout at Texas, the Fearkats DID score 10 last week, but still lost 37-10 at a resurgent New Mexico State. Next up is a Thursday night visit from Jacksonville State.
4) South Alabama (1-5) The Saguars started out 2025 with an FCS win and has followed that with 5 straight losses, the most recent being last Saturday, at Troy, 31-24. Next up are a Bummer Bowl and then a potential Bummer Bowls, first next Tuesday at home against Arkansas State and then again a week and two days later at Georgia State.
5) Eastern Michigan (1-5) The Fleagles lost to an FCS squad (28-23 to Long Island) but their only win was over an FBS opponent, Louisiana. Last week was a squeaker one point loss at Buffalo, 31-30. This weekend is a Bummer Bowl hosting Northern Illinois.
6) Kent State (1-4) The Golden Flashless have the classic one-win 25er resume so far in 2025...a close victory over a FCS opponent (one more win than last season!), followed by 3 out of their next 4 games being a payday blowout loss at a national power (by an aggregate score of 172-24!) and one close conference loss added in. Last weekend was the last away blowout, 44-0 at Oklahoma. Things might look up this weekend with a home Bummer Bowl against B25 #2, the winless Massachusetts Minute-men.
7) Charlotte (1-4) The 24.5ers do have the obligatory FCS win (over Monmouth, 42-35) but otherwise, bupkis. Last Friday's 28-point loss at USF was their 4th on the season, leading into a Saturday showdown at Army, who seem to be on an upward trend after threatening to join the B25 themselves.
8) Nevada (1-4) Three of the Wolf Cack's 5 games have been decided by 3 or fewer points, including their one win, over an FCS opponent (natch), and a one-point loss to fellow 25ers, MTSU. Last week saw a 20-17 loss at Fresno State heading into this week's home date with San Diego State.
9) Georgia State (1-4) The Panters have been pretty beaten up this season, but they have also played 3 top 25 opponents. Georgia State does have the obligatory FCS win and last week they stood pretty tall against Sun Belt power, James Madison, eventually falling 14-7 in a defensive struggle at home. Next up, Appalachian State visits Atlanta.
10) Colorado State (1-4) Although the games have mostly been close, after finishing 2024 in a bowl game, a 21-17 win over Northern Colorado of the FCS is the only positive on the resume for the Lambs this season. Last Friday was their biggest points loss this season, bowing 45-24 at San Diego State. Fresno State comes to Fort Collins this Friday for an MWC matchup.
11) Oklahoma State (1-4) The Cowtoys started 2025 with a handy win over an FCS team and have since lost 4 straight, including a 7-point home loss to fellow 25ers, Tulsa. After last weekend's 41-13 thrashing at Arizona, Houston pays a visit this Saturday.
12) Air Force (1-4) The Zoomies score A LOT of points, averaging 36 on offense each week and they do have an FCS win under their belts. That said, though, they give up even more. If you take out the mere 13 points that FCS denizens Bucknell scored on Air Force, the average opponent score is 44 against them! Last week was an almost, with 5-0 Navy squeaking out a 34-31 win at home in the first CIC Trophy game of 2025. Next up for the Zoomies is a visit to Sin City to take on a strong 5-0 UNLV squad at the Death Star.
13) Boston College (1-4) The Fleagles #2 started 2025 with an FCS win and then three very close losses, by a grand total of 16 points. So, even after last week's 48-7 blowout at Pittsburgh, BC only has a negative one-point differential as a 1-4 team! Next up is a visit from a struggling 2-win Clemson team.
14) Middle Tennessee State (1-4) The Blue Faiders have an FBS win but they also have a blowout 20-point FCS loss! Last week was a BYE following their 4th loss, 24-16 at Kennesaw State. Next up is a Wednesday tilt hosting Missouri State.
15) Liberty (1-4) The 'Lames started the season with an FCS win, 28-7 over Maine. After that, it was 4 straight losses before last weekend's BYE. A Wednesday trip to El Paso for a Bummer Bowl at UTEP is next.
16) UTEP (1-4) The Minors have the obligatory FCS win against 4 losses, although they have notably not been massively blown out by anyone. The latest loss, though, was by 19 points at home to Louisiana Tech, 30-11, before last weekend's BYE. Next is the Wednesday home Bummer Bowl mentioned above against B25 #7 Liberty.
17) Northern Illinois (1-4) The Fuskies finished last season with a Bowl win in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and have dropped off the earth since then. NIU started 2025 with a scant 19-17 win over Holy Cross of the FCS and followed that with 4 straight losses, the most recent being a home 25-14 loss to MAC compatriots Miami two weekends ago. Next up, a Bummer Bowl visit to Rynearson Stadium and its grey turf to take on B25 #5 Eastern Michigan.
18) UCLA (1-4) The Bruins broke out of the winless zone in a big-time way. After looking hapless in losing their first three games, UCLA almost broke out in their 4th, falling 17-14 at Northwestern. The followed that up with a solid 42-37 home win over Penn State last weekend. The reward? A potentially winnable game in East Lansing against Michigan State.
19) Tulsa (2-4) The Golden Bore-icane are the first 2-win team in the poll, coming off last weekend's 45-7 pummeling at Memphis. Tulsa does have an FCS win and also beat fellow 25ers Oklahoma State, but things are not looking very "Golden" for them. Next up is a BYE weekend before a Thursday night showdown at East Carolina.
20) Colorado (2-4) The Beefaloes have the standard FCS win and did beat Wyoming, as well (I guess the Cowboys couldn't herd the Buffaloes), but last week's 35-21 loss at TCU was their second in a row. Next up, it gets no easier with a visit from nationally ranked Iowa State.
21) Virginia Tech (2-4) The Jokies have an FCS win and won a 2-point squeaker at NC State, but otherwise they have been pretty overmatched in 2025. Last week, Wake Forest took them down 30-23 in Blacksburg. This weekend brings a trip to Atlanta to face nationally ranked Georgia Tech, which is The Sports Thinkers favorite team!
22) West Virginia (2-4) The Fountainbeers have an FCS win and a solid Backyard Brawl rivalry game win over Pittsburgh. Other than that, they have barely played dead this year, although last week's 14-point loss to nationally ranked BYU wasn't that bad. This week is a BYE before a trip to sunny Orlando to take on UCF.
23) Kansas State (2-4) The Mildcats have the obligatory FCS win (38-35 over North Dakota, who could easily be an FBS program, talent wise) and a conference win against 3-2 UCF. Their 4 losses are by a combined 14 points, so my guess is that Kansas State, while 2-4 now, will not be long for this poll. After last week's 35-34 loss at Baylor, the Mildcats host 4-1 TCU this weekend.
24) Akron (2-4) The Zips (such a perfect name!) picked up win #2 last week, 28-22 at home over Central Michigan, to go with their previous FCS win. However, their 4 losses...UGLY!!! Shutout by Wyoming and Nebraska and only scoring 3 against Toledo means that outside of their wins and a 31-28 loss to UAB, the Zips are living up to their name, being outscored 123-3 in their other games. Next up, Miami of Ohio visits this coming weekend.
25) Arkansas State (2-4) The Red Wolves picked up a win last week, beating Texas State 31-30 at home after four straight losses, bookending that with their previous win in their first game, a 42-24 triumph over SE Missouri of the FCS. Outside of getting smashed by Arkansas in their second game, none of the other losses were egregious and they have actually played pretty well against a representative schedule. Next up is a BYE weekend before a Tuesday night game at fellow 25ers South Alabama.
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Now normally the Bottom 25 also has a Dishonorable Mention after every poll, but for the first time ever, there are not any teams in college football worthy of that indistinction. There are exactly 25 teams with 2 or fewer wins and 4 or more losses. A Sports Thinker first....think I'll top this TD off by going for two. See you next week, everyone.
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