With less than 90 days until college football returns, kickoff feels simultaneously so close yet so far away.Our Stew Mandel unveiled the latest edition of his preseason top 25 on Monday, but we decided to take another crack at it from a different perspective: Man vs. Machine.Sam Khan Jr., who covers college football roster construction and the transfer portal, and Austin Mock, our analytics expert, each ranked their own post-spring top 25 to compare. One originates from roster talent evaluation and intel, the other from a statistical projection model.Whose top 25 do you like better? Here’s a look at each, starting with Sam’s.1. IndianaThe reigning champs still have plenty of talent thanks to a handful of key returnees and the No. 2 transfer portal class. No returning FBS QB has thrown for more yards in the past three seasons than Josh Hoover when he was at TCU. Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh should form a productive receiving duo, and the return of All-America tackle Carter Smith to anchor an experienced front is huge. So is having a veteran defensive front, led by Tyrique Tucker and transfer Tobi Osunsanmi.2. Ohio StateOnce again, the Buckeyes roster is loaded. Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith and Bo Jackson are supported by a big, experienced offensive line. The defense lost some major contributors to the NFL Draft, but the staff did well to restock the cupboard out of the portal, and there’s plenty of young rising talent ready to step in.3. OregonGetting Dante Moore back for another year was critical, but it’s the defensive front that should set the tone for this group. Matayo Uiagalelei, Bear Alexander, A’Mauri Washington and Teitum Tuioti form one of the most formidable D-lines in the country.4. TexasThis might be the most star-studded team in the land. Four players — Arch Manning, Cam Coleman, Colin Simmons and Trevor Goosby — landed in the top 12 of Dane Brugler’s early 2027 NFL mock draft. That doesn’t include two standout running backs who transferred in (Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown), another stud tackle (Melvin Siani) and a two-time All-ACC linebacker (Rasheem Biles).5. MiamiThe collection of offensive skill talent is impressive, led by transfer QB Darian Mensah, returning running back Mark Fletcher and do-it-all wide receiver Malachi Toney. The offensive line is being rebuilt after losing four starters, but Mario Cristobal and position coach Alex Mirabal deserve the benefit of the doubt. Getting Damon Wilson II out of the portal helps ease the loss of Miami’s dynamic edge rusher duo from a year ago, and there’s plenty of experience at the second and third levels of the defense.6. Notre DameThe defense should again be one of the nation’s best, with experience and talent at all three levels. Replacing the stud running back duo won’t be easy, but an even-better CJ Carr, an improved receiving corps and a solid O-line should ease that task.7. GeorgiaIf it’s possible to sleep on an All-SEC quarterback, it feels like that’s happened to Gunner Stockton this offseason. Stockton had a terrific debut as a starter last year and should be even better this season. Key returnees at the skill positions and offensive line should help. The big question for the Dawgs: Will the pass rush be better after finishing last in the SEC in pressure rate in 2025?8. Ole MissHaving Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy back is a good start. On defense, though the Rebels lost a star in Princewill Umanmielen, they responded by signing quality players out of the portal: linebackers Keaton Thomas and Luke Ferrelli and defensive backs Jay Crawford and Edwin Joseph, among others. And there’s plenty of returning talent, especially on defense, led by Suntarine Perkins.9. OklahomaThere’s a lot to like about the Oklahoma roster. GM Jim Nagy made quality additions to the passing game around John Mateer and shored up the O-line with E’Marion Harris at right tackle. The defense is again athletic and talented, with a deep linebacker corps. If Mateer can play at the level he did in 2025 pre-injury, the Sooners will be cooking.10. Texas TechEven without Brendan Sorsby, the Red Raiders should be the Big 12 title favorites because of the talent everywhere else. They reloaded on the defensive line and have one of the best linebacker duos in the country in Ben Roberts and Kansas State transfer Austin Romaine. Tech is stacked at running back. The health of quarterback Will Hammond, who was Behren Morton’s heir apparent until an ACL injury, is the key question on offense.11. Texas A&MThe Aggies did an excellent job of filling needs, adding Isaiah Horton at receiver, four O-linemen with SEC starting experience and Anto Saka and Ray Coney in the defensive front seven. Combine those additions with talented returnees (quarterback Marcel Reed, wide receiver Mario Craver and defensive back Marcus Ratcliffe lead the way), and the Aggies have the makings of another solid team.12. USCHaving one of the nation’s most productive QBs back (Jayden Maiava) along with an experienced offensive line is a good foundation. Add to that some returning backs, an impact transfer receiver (Terrell Anderson) and an intriguing freshman tight end (Mark Bowman), and the Trojans look enticing. What the defense looks like under new coordinator Gary Patterson — who last was a full-time coach in 2021 — provides the most intrigue.13. LSUThe Tigers had the No. 1 transfer class on the strength of high-end impact additions like Sam Leavitt, Jordan Seaton and Princewill Umanmielen. Leavitt’s continued recovery from foot surgery is worth watching, but when healthy, he’s a big-time playmaker, and there’s no shortage of weapons around him. Defensively, the front seven has some real juice, and the addition of safety transfer Ty Benefield should be a boon to the secondary.