It's August and no games have been played, but that's not keeping ESPN's college football reporters from predicting the 12 schools that will make up the College Football Playoff beginning in December.

Jokes aside, the college football crew is excited to bring you a weekly Top 25 throughout the 2025 season. Our familiar cast of characters—David Kenyon, Adam Kramer, Joel Reuter and Brad Shepard—each submitted a ballot. A first-place vote was worth 25 points, 24 for second place and so on.

Our College Football Playoff predictor is back. Here's how it came together and what to watch as Ohio State aims for a repeat.