Top 5 Rising Stars in College Football for 2025

By Staff

It may only be spring, but the hype for college football has already begun. The 2025/2026 season starts in August, and several players have already made a name for themselves. It’s predicted that some of the NFL’s future stars could be playing on the field this year. 247Sports recently put out a list of the best college football players in the US. If you’re a fan of NCAA football, there are some players you should keep an eye on this season. Especially if you use the betting lines. So, which players topped the list of rising stars in college football this upcoming season? We’re going to cover five of the best below.

Betting on Star Players

NCAA football fans have a lot to look forward to in this upcoming season. With such great talent preparing to hit the field, you likely want to put some money on these names. So, what should you know about the upcoming betting season?

We do have some good news for our readers. NCAA football and other types of college sports are legal on Canadian betting lines. This allows users to add an additional level of excitement to the games they watch while having the peace of mind that they’re using a legitimate platform.

At this point in time, most online casinos with sports betting have options to bet on the outright winners of the 2025/2026 season. But once the season officially begins, there will be more betting options, including player props and other bets for individual performances.

Betting odds will change throughout the season. Some factors that affect the odds include:

• Player performance
• Injuries
• Weather during event
• Overall team success
• Betting trends

So, you might be wondering how you could have the most success betting on NCAA football. Will the rising star players be your best bet? This is something you will have to stay on top of as the season goes on. After all, nobody can predict how the season will go. Also, you can't predict winning in a casino game, but this is largely compensated by bonus offers. For example, no deposit bonuses on gambling sites like Katsubet  - will not leave anyone indifferent! Playing without risk is definitely a priority for fans of slots and other games.

Just as you closely follow the best casino games, it is a good idea to pay attention to the statistics of teams and players throughout the season at betting sites. Many of the leading sports betting casinos provide live stats that you can access directly from their platform. Along with this, it’s also a smart move to pay attention to expert predictions. Compare the expert predictions with the betting market to see where the best opportunities to wager are.

Five College Football Players to Watch 2025

NCAA football has been rising in popularity in Canada. You can place many different types of bets, including a range of wagers on individual players. That’s why it's wise to pay attention to the patterns and statistics of the leading players.

According to 247Sports, the following players stand out as some of the leading stars to watch over the 2025/2026 season.

• Jeremiah Smith
• Caleb Downs
• Anthony Hill Jr.
• Cade Klubnik
• Garrett Nussmeier

1: Jeremiah Smith

Jeremiah Smith was making a name for himself in the world of football before his college years. He’s named as the highest-rated wide receiver in the history of high school recruitments. 2024 was his freshman year of college, where he was the top-ranked recruit and played for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

One of the highlights of his debut season was his MVP performance in the 2025 Rose Bowl on January 1, 2025. In this event, he had 7 catches and 2 receiving touchdowns. His performance earned him the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Big Ten Receiver of the Year awards.

2: Caleb Downs

Caleb Downs is another Ohio State Buckeyes player with potential for a strong 2025/2026 season. This safety was named the 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year. He was also ranked as one of the top players in the 2023 college football recruiting class. Some of his other highlights include:

• USA’s #1 safety prospect (2023)
• Ranked #9 by Rivals.com
• Ranked #11 by ESPN
• Ranked #8 by 247Sports
• Defensive Football Player of the Year (USA Today)
• CFP National Champion (2024)
• Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year (2024)

Downs’ college football career started with Alabama Crimson Tide for his debut season. However, he ended up transferring to Ohio State for the 2024 season.

3: Anthony Hill Jr

The next player named as one of the best to watch out for this season is Anthony Hill Jr, a linebacker from the Texas Longhorns. He is a five-star recruit who was also named as one of the top linebackers in his class.

Hill had a stellar high school football experience playing at Billy Ryan High School. One of his main highlights was recording 105 tackles during his freshman season. In his junior year, he was named MVP of Distract 5-5A and All-Area Defensive Player of the Year.

He joined the Longhorn in 2023 and had a strong debut season. He was named Freshman All-American and Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year.

4: Cade Klubnik

Another player that should be on NCAA bettors' radars this upcoming season is Cade Klubnik. This quarterback was a five-star recruit and rated as one of the top in his class. He has been playing with the Clemson Tigers since 2022, playing in the Orange Bowl, Gator Bowl, and other major events.

During his freshman season with the Tigers, his main role was playing as a backup to DJ Uiagalelei. In every game that Uiagalelei was benched, Klubnik shone. In the team's opening game against Georgia Tech, he passed 49 yards and a touchdown. But one of his biggest moments that season was when he played as the starter at the Orange Bowl.

5: Garrett Nussmeier

Last but definitely not least on our list is Garrett Nussmeiser. He’s the son of former NFL player and coach Doug Nussmeier. This quarterback had recruitment offers from several colleges but ultimately committed to playing for the LSU Tigers.

After Nussmeier completed four games with the Tigers, he rose to redshirt status. At the beginning of his journey, he spent most of his time on the bench. But as other players moved on to bigger opportunities, Nussmeier got to prove his worth.

In 2024, he was the starter for the ReliaQuest Bowl and, later that year, played in the Texas Bowl. He was named the MVP in both games.

Other Star Players in College Football

We mentioned five of the top players that NCAA football bettors should keep an eye on this season. While these players are predicted to make the biggest impact on the field, there were a few other players that 247Sports predicted to be at the top with these names. Other players worth watching this season include:

• Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame)
• T.J. Parker (Clemson)
• Sam Leavitt (Arizona State)
• Dylan Stewart (South Carolina)
• Arch Manning (Texas)

Final Words: Five College Football Stars of 2025

While the football season is still a few months away, five NCAA players already have fans talking. Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs, Anthony Hill Jr., Cade Klubnik, and Garrett Nussmeier have the experience, skills, and dedication to make a huge impact this season. We won’t be surprised if they are among the top choices on the betting lines.

Canadians can wager on these players and other college football events at the leading online casinos featuring sports betting lines. We use Slotozilla to compare their detailed casino reviews to find the best online sportsbooks, allowing us to compare odds at legitimate gambling sites.

As the season unfolds, these are the players most likely to leave their mark in the world of NCAA football. Could they make this year’s football season an unforgettable one? We can’t wait to see it play out.