This offseason, the cost of retaining top talent in college football increased significantly. Power 4 programs determined to compete at the highest level in 2025 are planning to spend $15 million or more on their football rosters in the first year of the post-House settlement revenue-sharing era.
If you wanted to keep your best players out of the portal or the NFL draft, you had to pony up. Ohio State did what was necessary to get back Jack Sawyer, Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson and several more senior leaders for another year. Together, they won a national championship last season.
Now that the winter portal and draft deadlines have passed, let's take a look at key players for each Way-Too-Early Top 25 team who were important to retain for 2025.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
2024 record: 14-2, 7-2 Big Ten
Key player retained: Carnell Tate, WR
Tate was worth a lot of money to teams with receiver needs and would've commanded a serious bidding war if he'd put his name in the transfer portal after the Buckeyes' national championship victory. But the rising star is staying in Columbus and eager to prove he can be one of the best wideouts in the country.
Tate turned 67 targets into 52 catches, 733 yards and 4 touchdowns as a sophomore. He should see even more usage this year with Emeka Egbuka heading off to the NFL and defenses dedicating a lot of attention to Jeremiah Smith.
2. Texas Longhorns
2024 record: 13-3, 7-1 SEC
Key player retained: Trey Moore, Edge
The UTSA transfer and former American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year put together a good junior season with the Longhorns, starting every game and producing 30 pressures, 10.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks for the No. 3 scoring defense in FBS. Moore went back and forth on his draft decision before opting to come back for one more season. He'll team with Colin Simmons and Ethan Burke to give the Longhorns an elite pass rush once again in 2025.
3. Penn State Nittany Lions
2024 record: 13-3, 8-1 Big Ten
Key player retained: Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE
Quarterback Drew Allar and running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen all returning puts Penn State in position to seriously chase a national championship in 2025. But don't underestimate the importance of the Nittany Lions getting Dennis-Sutton back for his senior year. The 6-foot-5, 266-pound pass rusher ranked sixth in the Big Ten in pressures (37) last season according to ESPN Research and racked up 13 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. Dennis-Sutton has superstar potential and gives new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles a premium edge defender to build around as this team tries to win it all.
4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2024 record: 14-2
Key player retained: Jadarian Price, RB
Price didn't get the big spotlight that Jeremiyah Love commanded in 2024, but he put together a strong redshirt sophomore season for the Fighting Irish, rushing for 746 yards and seven scores on 6.2 yards per carry. Price would've had great options had he entered the transfer portal seeking an opportunity to be a featured back, but Notre Dame was able to get him re-signed at the end of the season and bring back one of the top rushing duos in the country for 2025.
5. Georgia Bulldogs
2024 record: 11-3, 6-2 SEC
Key player retained: Daylen Everette, CB
Everette, a 28-game starter and third-team All-SEC performer, is coming back for his senior season and will have every opportunity to prove he's an early-round draft pick. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound corner earned MVP honors in the SEC championship victory over Texas after picking off Quinn Ewers twice, and he finished the season with 58 tackles, 5 pass breakups and just 2 passing touchdowns allowed on 459 snaps in coverage, according to ESPN Research. Everette and defensive lineman Christen Miller bypassing the draft for one more season in Athens was big for the Bulldogs' defense going into 2025.
6. Oregon Ducks
2024 record: 13-1, 9-0 Big Ten
Key player retained: Evan Stewart, WR
Stewart joined the Ducks after a two-year stint at Texas A&M and seemed likely to go pro if he could put together a strong junior season. Stewart had a nice year, catching 48 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns, but wisely decided to stay in school knowing he can be much better in 2025. He'll be the go-to receiver for new starting QB Dante Moore in an Oregon passing attack that must replace a ton of production with Tez Johnson, Traeshon Holden and Terrance Ferguson all moving on to the NFL.
7. Clemson Tigers
2024 record: 10-4, 7-1 ACC
Key player retained: Bryant Wesco Jr., WR
Wesco and fellow true freshman wide receiver T.J. Moore weren't looking to leave Clemson this offseason, but there's no doubt they would've commanded strong offers in the transfer portal. Wesco, the No. 28 overall recruit in the 2024 ESPN 300, had some nice moments during his debut season and lit up SMU in an ACC title game victory with eight catches for 143 yards and two TDs. After finishing with 708 receiving yards and five scores on 41 receptions, Wesco gets another season with quarterback Cade Klubnik and should be even better in 2025.
8. LSU Tigers
2024 record: 9-4, 5-3 SEC
Key player retained: Harold Perkins Jr., LB
After being named to multiple freshman All-America teams in 2022 with the Tigers, it seemed obvious Perkins would be a three-and-pro type of talent and a guaranteed first-round draft pick. But a torn ACL suffered four games into his junior season forced him to rethink his NFL plans and come back for a fourth year in Baton Rouge. The former top-five recruit with 28.5 career tackles for loss can certainly play his way back into first-round status with a strong season under second-year DC Blake Baker. He's expected to play the "Star" hybrid linebacker/safety role for the Tigers in 2025.
9. BYU Cougars
2024 record: 11-2, 7-2 Big 12
Key player retained: Chase Roberts, WR
Roberts was leaning toward entering the NFL draft during the season and was honored on senior night, but he ended up having a change of heart. He's returning to chase a Big 12 title and a CFP bid with the Cougars. The 24-year-old team captain is coming off a career-best year with 854 receiving yards and four TDs on 52 receptions and is a wideout whom quarterback Jake Retzlaff can always depend on to deliver big plays in big moments.
10. South Carolina Gamecocks
2024 record: 9-4, 5-3 SEC
Key player retained: Dylan Stewart, Edge
The unanimous Freshman All-American reupped with the Gamecocks in December ahead of what should be a monster sophomore campaign for one of college football's most talented young pass rushers. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound edge lived up to five-star expectations in his debut season, ranking third in the SEC in edge pressures (38) according to ESPN Research and producing 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. He's ready to take the next big step in his career and chase a CFP run in 2025.
11. Iowa State Cyclones
2024 record: 11-3, 7-2 Big 12
Key player retained: Domonique Orange, DT
The 6-foot-4, 325-pound nose guard earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors after recording 24 stops, 12 pressures and 4.5 tackles for loss during his junior season. Orange bypassed the NFL draft to return for his senior year and keep improving. Big-time programs have made a run at him in the past, because Orange has serious potential at a premium position, but he's staying in Ames and continuing to develop into a future pro.
12. Alabama Crimson Tide
2024 record: 9-4, 5-3 SEC
Key player retained: Deontae Lawson, LB
Back in October, Lawson was the No. 4 off-ball linebacker on Mel Kiper Jr.'s initial Big Board. But a season-ending lower leg injury suffered against Oklahoma in November forced the team captain and second-leading tackler to rethink his plans for 2025. The third-team All-SEC selection is coming back for his fifth year in the program and will be an invaluable leader and playmaker for the Crimson Tide when he gets healthy.
13. Illinois Fighting Illini
2024 record: 10-3, 6-3 Big Ten
Key player retained: J.C. Davis, OT
Davis proved to be one of the great under-the-radar finds of last year's portal cycle, starting all 13 games at left tackle and earning third-team All-Big Ten honors after transferring in from New Mexico. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound senior bypassed the NFL draft to take advantage of an extra season of eligibility as a former junior college transfer. Davis and right tackle Melvin Priestly both returning in 2025 was terrific news for quarterback Luke Altmyer and an Illini offense that ranked fifth in the Big Ten in scoring during conference play.
14. Arizona State Sun Devils
2024 record: 11-3, 7-2 Big 12
Key player retained: Xavion Alford, DB
Few contenders are in better shape entering 2025 than Arizona State when it comes to player retention. The Sun Devils are set to return 17 players who started six or more games for the Big 12 champs last season. Alford has been an integral leader for this program and was a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2024 after recording 85 tackles, 5 pass breakups and 2 interceptions at safety. After stops at Texas and USC and being sidelined for two seasons, Alford put together a breakout season and chose to come back as a sixth-year senior for another CFP run with the Sun Devils.
15. SMU Mustangs
2024 record: 11-3, 8-0 ACC
Key player retained: Kevin Jennings, QB
Jennings earned a lot of admirers during his remarkable breakout season with the Mustangs and would've been highly coveted in the portal if he'd become available. The redshirt sophomore took over as SMU's starter after three games and put up 3,599 total yards of offense with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, earning third-team All-ACC honors and leading the program to the ACC title game and College Football Playoff in its first season in the conference. Jennings showed big-time potential while guiding the Mustangs on a nine-game winning streak, and it'll be exciting to see how much better he gets in 2025.
16. Kansas State Wildcats
2024 record: 9-4, 5-4 Big 12
Key player retained: Jayce Brown, WR
Rumors emerged that Brown planned to transfer following Kansas State's regular-season finale, but he quickly refuted them and never ended up putting his name in the portal. Brown enjoyed a breakout sophomore year at K-State with a team-high 47 catches for 823 yards and five touchdowns. He's back for another season with quarterback Avery Johnson and the Wildcats and put up the fourth-most receiving yards among all Big 12 wideouts returning for 2025.
17. Indiana Hoosiers
2024 record: 11-2, 8-1 Big Ten
Key player retained: Mikail Kamara, DL
Kamara made the move up from James Madison to Indiana along with coach Curt Cignetti and his staff and put together a monster debut season in the Big Ten. The 6-foot-1, 265-pound pass rusher was credited with 59 pressures this season, third most in FBS according to ESPN Research, and racked up 47 tackles, 15 TFLs and 10 sacks during the Hoosiers' stunning run to the College Football Playoff. The first-team All-Big Ten performer is coming back as a sixth-year senior to prove he's a first-round talent. Indiana also got fellow JMU transfers LB Aiden Fisher, CB D'Angelo Ponds and WR Elijah Sarratt to come back for Year 2 under Cignetti.
18. Florida Gators
2024 record: 8-5, 4-4 SEC
Key player retained: Jake Slaughter, C
The Gators' standout center earned a first-team spot on ESPN's All-America team but insists he did not give much thought to entering the NFL draft. The team captain is coming back as a fifth-year senior to help his team take the next big step in 2025. Slaughter is entering his third season as a starter at Florida and graded out second best among all Power 4 starting centers last season according to Pro Football Focus.
19. Tennessee Volunteers
2024 record: 10-3, 6-2 SEC
Key player retained: Boo Carter, DB/WR
Carter would've received a ton of interest in the transfer portal following his true freshman season, but the Vols were able to get him re-signed for 2025. The former ESPN 300 recruit earned five starts late in the season and put up 38 tackles, 3 TFLs and 1 interception. He made a real impact on special teams, too, averaging 16.5 yards per punt return. Will Josh Heupel and his coaches give Carter a chance to play snaps on offense? If so, he could emerge as a dynamic two-way playmaker for the Vols in 2025.
20. Louisville Cardinals
2024 record: 9-4, 5-3 ACC
Key player retained: Chris Bell, WR
Bell took a big step forward during his junior season as the Cardinals' second-leading receiver and one of the ACC's most explosive wideouts, catching 43 passes for 737 yards and four touchdowns and averaging a team-high 16.9 yards per touch. Louisville's coaching staff was able to hold onto the 6-foot-2, 220-pound wideout this offseason, and he looks poised to put up huge numbers as the No. 1 receiver for transfer QB Miller Moss this fall.
21. Michigan Wolverines
2024 record: 8-5, 5-4 Big Ten
Key player retained: Rod Moore, DB
Moore, a 28-game starter at safety, looked like he was well on his way to becoming another early-round draft pick for the Wolverines' defense following their national championship season. A torn ACL suffered in spring practice last March forced the All-Big Ten defender to miss the entire season and complicated his draft decision. He's returning for his fifth year in the program and should go right back to being a difference-maker on the back end when he's healthy.
22. Texas A&M Aggies
2024 record: 8-5, 5-3 SEC
Key player retained: Ar'maj Reed-Adams, OG
Reed-Adams transferred back home in 2024 after four seasons at Kansas and had an impressive season as the Aggies' starter at right guard. The 6-foot-5, 330-pound senior's decision to stay in school means Texas A&M is bringing back all five of its starters on the offensive line for 2025. Leading rusher Le'Veon Moss also opted to return for another season, which should set this offense up for a lot of success in Year 2 under coach Mike Elko and his staff.
23. Miami Hurricanes
2024 record: 10-3, 6-2 ACC
Key player retained: Akheem Mesidor, DL
Mesidor is coming back for one more year with the Hurricanes as a sixth-year senior and brings a ton of experience to their defense as a 37-game starter who has produced a total of 145 tackles, 35 TFLs and 23 sacks during his time at Miami and West Virginia. The 6-foot-3, 280-pound pass rusher started every game in 2024 and once again earned honorable mention All-ACC honors. New defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman will get to work with a really talented group of D-linemen as he tries to get this defense fixed in 2025.
24. Boise State Broncos
2024 record: 12-2, 7-0 Mountain West
Key player retained: Kage Casey, OT
Retiring Boise State offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter pointed out in a recent radio interview that Casey likely could have earned close to $1 million had he entered the transfer portal this offseason. He's right about that. Casey is staying in school for one more season of development and could potentially become a first-round pick a year from now. He's a two-year starter at left tackle, a first-team All-Mountain West performer and earned a second-team spot on ESPN's Way-Too-Early All-America team for 2025.
25. Ole Miss Rebels
2024 record: 10-3, 5-3 SEC
Key player retained: Suntarine Perkins, LB
Only five of the 25 players who started six or more games for Ole Miss last season are back for 2025. Perkins, the No. 18 overall recruit in the 2023 ESPN 300, enjoyed a terrific sophomore season as a disruptive edge rusher with 28 pressures, 14 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. He earned a spot on ESPN's Way-Too-Early All-America team for next season and will team with returning starting linebacker TJ Dottery to power a Rebels defense that will feature a ton of new contributors.