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Top 5 G5 NCAA Football Teams for CFP in 2025

Originally posted on The Forkball | Last updated Aug 18, 2025 11:29 AM ET

Here’s the list for the top five G5 Football Teams for CFP in 2025. The list considers team strength, conference affiliation and of course schedule. The G5 Team to get the CFP berth has slim chance for mistakes.

5. Tulane

Tulane reached the AAC championship game last year. Once again, they’re favored by many to be contending for the Group of 5 CFP spot, by SI.com and others. Sullivan should be their quarterback, (see my article about it on The Forkball). However, the BYU transfer Retzlaff has had good practices. Continuity and funding will be a problem this year for Tulane. They are listed by on3.com as 73^rd nationally in recruiting. Their NIL rank is only 15K per player which trails Memphis and even UTSA and other American conference teams. They should finish out of the top spot this year but just out of the CFP.

4. Boise State

Most importantly, they lost a top five draft pick. Ashton Jeanty was a top five G5 runner of all time, a legend. Though returning a great number of players, they will lose a bit of swagger. The players include quarterback Maddux Madsen, tight end Matt Lauter, and defensive end Jayden Virgin-Morgan. Boise returns among the most in returning production, 67% total, 75% on offense, and 59% on defense. They have a favorable schedule, but still I foresee a stumble or even too. And again, the 25% loss from offense includes Ashton Jeanty.

3. Memphis

Coach Silverfield with another “Make-or-break” year. Four in a row now? Losing a four-year starter and your best receiver to graduation? No problem. Aided by one of the largest NIL budgets in G5, they’re just reloading. A sixth year QB from UNLV, Brendon Lewis, he beat out a four-star freshman in A.J. Hill. Also, returning from injury for another season is Sutton Smith. Scheduling puts them higher than Tulane, as Memphis plays its four best opponents at home. Arkansas, Tulane, Navy, and South Florida are all home games for Memphis.

2. Liberty

They are my second-best favorite to make the CFP. Best reason is Conference USA is weaker than most of the G5 conferences, plus it’s a down year. The other reason is they return QB Kaidon Salter. That’s 43 touchdowns of production. Their defense is apparently a concern, though. But though they might not be a top five G5 team, Liberty will probably be favored except at James Madison. If they pass that early test, their road to a berth might be clear.

1. James Madison University

I’m putting them at my slim preference for the CFP slot for G5 teams. Some sources have them as a contender for the top slot. First, the Sunbelt along with the AAC should be the top G5 conferences. They went 11-2 in 2024 and have a strong returning core, making them a favorite to compete for the Sun Belt title. Their out-of-conference schedule includes an early challenge at Louisville. A strong Louisville team should beat them, but the loss would be early, and forgivable. Probably most G5 teams will lose at least one game, and a road loss to Louisville is better than a loss to Tulsa, Georgia State, or Utah State. I forecast a loss (or two) for all the G5 contenders; this might be the only JMU loss. Slim choice over Liberty, and a very, very deep Memphis team.

Just outside, honorable mentions, no order. Reasons for both; schedule.

Navy

On the road at Memphis and Notre Dame.

BYU

On the road at preseason ranked Iowa State, Texas Tech, and a strong Arizona (Just musing, but I believe BYU straight up defeats most of these teams, except maybe Memphis and JMU. But the schedule is a killer this year.)

Thanks for reading and keep looking for the other conference predictions upcoming. Follow on @ajayxemem on Twitter for G5 stories, and email g5@theforkball.com

This article first appeared on The Forkball and was syndicated with permission.

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