Top 25 MAC Players 2025: Preseason Players of the Year and Stars To Know

Originally posted on College Football News | Last updated Jul 17, 2025 2:55 AM ET

The MAC lost a ton of talent to Power Four programs through the transfer portal, but it also brought in enough options and kept around other stars to make this a strong season.

Buffalo was able to hang on to several star talents who could've gone elsewhere, and several teams - including ones with quarterbacks that didn't make the list, but could've - were able to land starting-quality talent to instantly boost up preseason hopes.

Who are the 25 best players going into the 2025 MAC college football season? Here's our call, along with the preseason offensive and defensive players of the year.

2025 CFN College Football Preview: Best MAC Players

2025 CFN Preseason MAC Offensive Player of the Year

Parker Navarro, QB Sr. Ohio
There are plenty of MAC quarterbacks with the potential to work their way into the league’s offensive player of the year, but going into the season, the main man for the defending MAC champ gets the nod.

Navarro might have thrown 11 picks and just 13 touchdown passes, but he pushes the ball down the field, and he runs, taking off for over 1,000 yards and 18 scores.

- 2025 CFN Preseason All-MAC Teams
- Every 2025 MAC Team Preview

2025 CFN Preseason MAC Defensive Player of the Year

Red Murdock, LB Sr. Buffalo
One of the most dangerous playmaking pass rushers in America, Murdock is coming off a massive season, making 156 tackles with two sacks and 17 tackles for loss with seven forced fumbles. With plenty of talent around him to take the heat off, the 6-3, 235-pounder should once again be a statistical star.

2025 CFN Preseason MAC Top 25 Players

1. Red Murdock, LB Sr. Buffalo
2. Kobe Stewart, EDGE Sr. Buffalo
4. Jordan Kwiatkowski, LB Sr. Central Michigan
5. Gideon Lampron, LB Sr. Bowling Green
6. Roy Williams, DE Sr. Northern Illinois
7. Tate Hallock, S Sr. Western Michigan
8. Parker Navarro, QB Sr. Ohio
9. Dequan Finn, QB Sr. Miami University
10. Tucker Gleason, QB Sr. Toledo

11. Junior Vandeross III, WR Sr. Toledo
12. DJ Walker, S Soph. Ohio
13. Brandon Awls, S Jr. Toledo
14. Silas Waters, S Sr. Miami University
15. Chip Trayanum, RB Sr. Toledo
16. Al-Jay Henderson, RB Sr. Buffalo
17. Dion Crawford, LB Jr. Buffalo
18. Avery Smith, CB Sr. Toledo
19. Tank Pearson, CB Sr. Ohio
20. Evan Malcore, OT Jr. Northern Illinois
21. Corban Hondru, LB Sr. Miami University
22. Trayvon Rudolph, WR/KR Sr. Toledo
23. Nasir Washington, DT Sr. Miami University
24. Dakota Cochran, LB Sr. Central Michigan
25. Adonis Williams Jr. S Sr. Ohio

- Every 2025 MAC Team Preview