ESPN's Bill Connelly On Looming 2025 Chaos, Uncertain Quarterbacks & College Football’s Future

It’s that time again—the season is on the doorstep, and we brought in ESPN’s Bill Connelly to help us make sense of the chaos ahead. From his new SP+ rankings with a dozen teams clumped near the top to the Arch Manning hype train and a logjam of unproven quarterbacks, we dive headfirst into why 2025 might be the most unpredictable season in years. We cover the teams with the widest range of outcomes (hello, Tennessee), the portal-fueled rebuilds at Purdue and West Virginia, and which traditional powers might quietly be underrated. Bill also opens up about his new book Forward Progress , why realignment and money distribution could shape the sport’s future, and what “canaries in the coal mine” fans should keep an eye on. Plus, why offensive lines could make or break this year’s contenders, whether Texas Tech is ready to crash the playoff party, and what keeps college football so beautifully chaotic despite all the off-field drama. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 7:01 - Interview with Bill Connelly 55:12 - Outtro & Show Updates Support the show and get perks like ad-free episodes, early releases, bonus content, Discord access and much more: https://www.verballers.com _____ A fan of our college football podcast? Leave us a rating and review, and don't forget to subscribe or follow so you don't miss any of our podcast episodes: Apple Podcasts: https://play.solidverbal.com/apple-podcasts Spotify: https://play.solidverbal.com/spotify Amazon Music: https://play.solidverbal.com/amazon-music Overcast: https://play.solidverbal.com/overcast Pocket Casts: https://play.solidverbal.com/pocketcasts Podcast Addict: https://play.solidverbal.com/podcast-addict CastBox: https://play.solidverbal.com/castbox Our college football show is also available on YouTube. Subscribe to the channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@solidverbal Learn more about the show on our website: https://www.solidverbal.com/about Want to get in touch? Give us a holler on Twitter: @solidverbal , @tyhildenbrandt , @danrubenstein , on Instagram , or on Facebook . You can also find our college football podcast out on TikTok and Threads . Stay up to date with our free weekly college football newsletter: https://quickslants.solidverbal.com/subscribe . College football has been our passion since we started The Solid Verbal College Football Podcast back in 2008. We don't just love college football, we live it! Support the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbal See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.