INDIANA (11-1) at NOTRE DAME (11-1); 8 PM ET (Friday); ABC … Interesting start to the first-round of the playoffs with a couple of in-state rivals who have rarely played each other. Indeed, Notre Dame and Indiana haven’t played at all since 1991 and in fact only played that once since the late 1950s. Of course, its also rather rarefied air for the Hoosiers who haven’t played in a major post-season football game since the 1969 Rose Bowl. Indiana also hasn’t been much of a player at the draft for years; in fact they haven’t had a player selected in the opening round since the early 1990s. And that likely won’t change this coming April, although the Hoosiers do have several intriguing players including QB Kurtis Rourke (#9, 6-4, 225), a Canadian who came to the Hoosiers after a very successful 4-year run at Ohio and was among the most efficient passers in the country this fall when he completed 70% of his passes for 27 TDs against just 4 picks, although he still hasn’t necessarily gotten a whole lot of respect from pro scouts to date who appear to view him more as a third-day type prospect. In fact rising IU DE Malik Kamara (#6, 6-1, 265), who ranks in the top 10 FBS pass rushers with 9.5 sacks, may ultimately be the Hoosiers’ best prospect. Kamara is a bit of an odd-size, but he has an explosive first step and a great motor. Kamara anchors a very aggressive Indiana defence that also includes a couple of other rising prospects in DT CJ West (#92, 6-2, 320) and LB Aiden Fisher (#4, 6-1, 235).
Notre Dame also won’t have any first rounders on the field against Indiana because star CB Ben Morrison, the Irish’s only opening first-round candidate is out for the year after undergoing hip surgery. However, the Irish do have a number of players that could get at least some second-day interest including QB Riley Leonard (#13, 6-3, 220), WR Beaux Collins (#5, 6-2, 210), TE Mitch Evans (#88, 6-5, 260), DTs Howard Cross (#56, 6-2, 280) and Rylie Mills (#99, 6-4, 295), DE RJ Oben (#9, 6-3, 265), LB Jack Kiser (#24, 6-2, 230) and S Xavier Watts (#0, 6-0, 205).
SOUTHERN METHODIST (11-2) at PENN STATE (11-2); Noon ET, Saturday, TNT … No insult to SMU which had a really nice season, but nobody in college football is happier these days than the folks at Penn State which could just as well be playing Alabama on Saturday. And as a bonus for the Nittany Lions, win and they’ll draw Boise State in the national quarterfinals. How far the Lions go, though, will depend to a large degree whether QB QB Drew Allar (#15, 6-5, 245) plays to his potential. Allar, who has already indicated that he’ll return to school next fall, may have the strongest arm in this year’s draft class and did emerge as a legitimate prospect at the position this fall after an inconsistent first couple of years with the program, although he has still been plagued somewhat by inconsistency when pressured. Allar, though, will benefit from one of the better RB combos in the country in Nick Singleton (#10, 6-0, 230) and Kaytron Allen (#13, 5-11, 220). The Lions offence also features arguably the top TE in the country in Tyler Warren (#44, 6-5, 265). Penn State’s top prospect overall. though, is DE Abdul Carter (#11, 6-3, 255) who has emerged as a top 5 prospect for the upcoming draft. Carter combines with DE Dani Dennis-Sutton (#33, 6-5, 270) to give the Lions a dynamic pass rush. Meanwhile, other Lions to watch include WR Julian Fleming (#3, 6-2, 210), S Jaylen Reed (#1, 6-0, 215), LB Kobe King (#41, 6-1, 2590) and DT Zane Durant (#28, 6-1, 290). Meanwhile, SMU, players to watch for the upcoming draft include DE Elijah Roberts (#5, 6-4, 295), OG Logan Parr (#71, 6-4, 320) and RB Brashard Smith (#1, 5-10, 200), although none of the three is considered to be more than a 3rd day prospect at this time. Same for sophomore QB Kevin Jennings (#7, 6-0, 185) who emerged this fall as one of the top dual-threat QBs in the country this fall.
CLEMSON (10-3) at TEXAS (11-2); 4 PM ET, Saturday; TNT … Clemson probably thought they were done, at least as far as the CFP playoffs this year, when they lost to South Carolina in their season finale, but then Miami went out and lost to Syracuse which put the Tigers into the ACC championship game with a most improbably chance to sneak into the CFP playoffs with a win over SMU. It ain’t gonna get easier playing at Texas, though, as this just isn’t the same Clemson team that dominated the conference in recent years as the Tigers appear to have hit something of dry stretch recently both on the field and at the draft. Clemson had, for example, a player selected with a top 10 pick in 6 of the 8 drafts in the latter part of the past decade, but haven’t had anyone taken earlier than very late in the opening round since QB Trevor Lawrence was the first overall selection in 2021. And that trend likely isn’t going to change dramatically this coming draft year as Clemson doesn’t appear to have any first round locks for 2025, although veteran LB Barrett Carter (#0, 6-0, 235) is generally considered to be the top prospect at the position, but is still more of a early to mid second day candidate. Same for rising LT Blake Miller (#78, 6-5, 310), while other Tigers to watch include RB Phil Mafah (#7, 6-0, 230), TE Jake Briningstool (#9, 6-5, 230), S RJ Mickens (#9, 6-0, 210) and OGs Walter Parks (#64, 6-3, 315) and Marcus Tate (#74, 6-5, 315).
While Clemson likely won’t have any first round picks this year, there is every indication that Texas will. OT Kelvin Banks (#78, 6-4, 320), in particular, is arguably the top prospect at the position with top 5-10 potential, although he did miss the ‘Horns SEC championship game loss to Georgia with an injury. Meanwhile, speedy WR Isaiah Bond (#7, 5-11, 180), an Alabama transfer who some think could give former UT WR Xavier Worthy’s record 4.21 40 clocking at the combine a run for its money, is a big play target who could get some mid-to-late first round interest this coming April. The Longhorns most interesting prospect, though, is QB Quinn Ewers (#3, 6-2, 210) who has first-round tools, but pro scouts still just aren’t quite sure as he just doesn’t make enough NFL type throws. At the same time, other Texas prospects to watch include RT Cameron Williams (#56, 6-5, 335), TE Gunnar Helm (#85, 6-5, 250), S Andrew Mukuba (#4, 6-0, 190), a Clemson transfer who figures to be one of the leading prospects at that position next April, DE Trey Moore (#8, 6-3, 245), DT Alfred Collins (#91, 6-5, 320), DE Barryn Sorrell (#88, 6-4, 260), CB Jahdae Barron (#7, 5-11, 200) and LB David Gbenda (#33, 6-0, 235).
TENNESSEE (10-2) at OHIO STATE (10-2); 8 PM ET, Saturday; ABC … The day wraps up with a terrific SEC-Big 10 matchup between the Volunteers and Buckeyes, both of whom have multiple 2025 prospects. Indeed, the Buckeyes may have as many top prospects as any team in the country, although they don’t necessarily have anyone who is a legitimate lock to be an opening round pick this coming April. What they do have, though, is multiple players with at least a second-day grade including the dynamic RB duo of Quinshon Judkins (#1, 6-0, 220), who transferred up from Mississippi this year, and RB Tre’veyon Henderson (#32, 5-10, 215), along with WR Emeka Egbuka (#2, 6-0, 210), OG Donovan Jackson (#74, 6-3, 320), DEs JT Tuimoloau (#44, 6-4, 275) and Jack Sawyer (#33, 6-4, 265), DT Tyleik Williams (#91, 6-2, 290), CBs Denzel Burke (#10, 6-1, 195), Davison Igbinosun (#1, 6-1, 190) and Jordan Hancock (#7, 6-0, 190), LBs Cody Simon (#0, 6-2, 235) and Sonny Styles (#6, 6-3, 230), and S Lathan Ranson (#8, 6-1, 210). However, the key for Ohio State going forward could be QB Will Howard (#18, 6-4, 240), who is actually 3rd in the country in passing efficiency, although he’ll have to make do without two of his top offensive linemen as both LT Josh Simmons and C Seth McLaughlin are out for the rest of the campaign.
For its part, Tennessee doesn’t have quite the same numbers as Ohio State, but may have the game’s best overall prospect in athletic DE/ER James Pearce (#27, 6-5, 245), a legit top 10-15 candidate who has really picked up his game in recent weeks. And speaking of picking it up in recent weeks, RB Dylan Sampson (#6, 5-11, 205) has done just that and has emerged as a legitimate second-day prospect for the upcoming draft. For the record, Sampson is just a few yards shy of 1,500 on the season, while rushing for 22 scores. He runs behind an OL anchored by rugged OG Javontez Spraggins (#76, 6-3, 330), veteran C Cooper Mays (#63, 6-3, 310), and RT John Campbell (#74, 6-5, 330); all have mid-round possibilities, while WR Bru McCoy (#5, 6-3, 230) gives star sophomore QB Nico Iamaleava (#8, 6-3, 220), one of the best young QBs in the country who won’t be draft eligible until 2026, a big-play target.
