NFL Analysts Project Mixed 2025 Football Turnarounds Across Teams

As the 2025 football season approaches, several teams face critical challenges and high expectations. Baylor, after a strong finish in 2024, confronts a daunting schedule early in the season, with key games against Auburn and SMU potentially determining Coach Dave Aranda's job security amid a highly competitive Big 12 landscape. In the NFL, the Atlanta Falcons aim to build on late-season promise with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. leading the offense, but their defense and overall team consistency remain concerns, with a projected worst-case scenario of a 6-11 record. The San Francisco 49ers, coming off a disappointing 6-11 season, have undergone significant roster changes and are optimistic about a rebound, bolstered by key players like Brock Purdy, Nick Bosa, and Christian McCaffrey, as well as a strong rookie class and coaching stability under Kyle Shanahan. NFL.com ranks the 49ers as the most likely team among last-place finishers in 2024 to win their division in 2025, underscoring the potential for a major turnaround. Meanwhile, in college football's Big Ten, uncertainties such as quarterback decisions at Michigan and Ohio State loom large, potentially impacting the playoff picture.