2024-25 College Football Playoff: What's next for the eliminated ...

Coach Curt Cignetti and his Indiana players made the slow walk off the field late Friday at Notre Dame Stadium, their dream season coming to an end in the first round of the College Football Playoff with a 27-17 loss to Notre Dame. The 12-team model will close the curtain on four very good teams, whose seasons won't get the traditional bowl game send-off but will end instead on campus.

Indiana and the others must begin the process of rebuilding the roster, accounting for key defections and ultimately positioning itself for future CFP runs, perhaps as early as next fall. As Cignetti noted, "Every year you've got to start over now in college football. It's not quite the NFL, but it's getting close."

The restarts will take on different forms for different teams, but there's no time to waste, especially with the transfer portal open. Here's how the teams eliminated in the first round of the CFP will attempt to reload for 2025. -- Adam Rittenberg

2024 record: 11-3

Round eliminated: First

Biggest question moving forward: The Mustangs had an incredible first season in the ACC, but they might have actually been a little ahead of schedule. Rhett Lashlee knew he was going to need everything -- more size, more depth, more speed -- in making the jump from the AAC to the ACC. The key now, is being able to turn this proof of concept, that the Mustangs can be a contender at the Power 4 level, into restocking with all of those things on Lashlee's list. SMU ranked 29th on ESPN's early signing day rankings but will likely continue to be active in the portal looking to upgrade.

Recruiting outlook: The Mustangs -- who signed one ESPN 300 recruit over the previous four cycles, backup quarterback Preston Stone -- have three top-300 signees in the program's 2025 class, their first as a member of the ACC. Offensive tackle Dramodd Odoms is the highest-rated of the trio at No. 170 in the ESPN 300. TCU quarterback flip Ty Hawkins brings true dual-threat promise for the future.

And the most exciting of them all could be wide receiver Daylon Singleton, who totaled 115 catches for 2,143 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns over his final two seasons at Texas' DeSoto High School. The SMU train has left the station this year, on the field and on the recruiting trail. -- Eli Lederman

Biggest portal priority: Lashlee and his staff have done a terrific job during their tenure of finding impact portal talent and good fits for SMU. In this cycle, they've already picked up two centers with starting experience in Addison Nichols (Arkansas) and Joshua Bates (Oklahoma Sooners) as well as a linebacker Zakye Barker (East Carolina) and promising freshman defensive back Chasen Johnson (UCF). The Mustangs are in the mix for USC transfer defensive tackle Bear Alexander and are looking to add more playmakers on offense as well. -- Max Olson

Under-the-radar offseason priority: SMU had to make an early-season quarterback change after a loss to BYU when the offensive line struggled, opting for a more mobile Kevin Jennings to help the offense. Against Penn State, the Mustangs could not capitalize in the red zone, with four trips that ended in three points and Jennings scrambling for his life all day, struggling under the pressure, including two interceptions on pressure plays. Odoms, a 6-foot-6, 305-pound tackle from the Houston area, addresses that need, but it will continue to be a priority.

Prediction for next season: The Mustangs might come back to earth with a rejuvenated Clemson and a Miami program that's going to keep spending and adding key players, with both of them on the SMU schedule next season. They've proved they can draw talent, and Lashlee's offense, alongside an impressive defensive identity, will give them a puncher's shot. Along with early-season tests against improved Baylor and TCU teams, this feels more like an 8-3 regular season, which would still be a success as they continue to build. -- Dave Wilson

2024 record: 11-2

Round eliminated: First

Biggest question moving forward: How does Indiana bolster its offensive line and other areas to compete with the nation's very best? Indiana took massive, historic steps in coach Curt Cignetti's first season, but its shortcomings were exposed in the second half against Michigan and during losses to Ohio State and Notre Dame.

Indiana was remarkably healthy overall in 2024, but an injury to starting guard Drew Evans showed up against more talented opponents down the stretch. Cignetti can't bring another talented group of James Madison transfers with him again this offseason, so his ability to identify portal upgrades and develop returning players will be huge.

Recruiting outlook: Cignetti and the Hoosiers have leaned on defense and wide receiver prospects to build only the program's second top-50 class since 2020. Hanging on to four-star safety Byron Baldwin -- the lone ESPN 300 signee in Indiana's 2025 class -- was key for Cignetti, and the versatile defensive back could crack Indiana's secondary rotation early as one of 12 defensive signees for the Hoosiers in 2025.

On offense, playmaking pass catcher LeBron Bond leads a cast of three talented wide receivers who all rank among Indiana's top-six prospects in an impressive class at the end of Cignetti's first full cycle with the Hoosiers. -- Lederman

Biggest portal priority: After hitting the jackpot with his portal imports in Year 1, Cignetti knows the Hoosiers will need to reload with more experienced transfers to remain a Big Ten contender. He's still searching for his next QB but has seven commits on board so far.

UAB transfer running back Lee Beebe Jr. put up more than 1,100 yards from scrimmage this season, and Western Kentucky transfer defensive tackle Hosea Wheeler was a first-team All-Conference USA selection. Cignetti and his staff will keep succeeding with those under-the-radar players with proven production. -- Olson

Under-the-radar offseason priority: Quarterback will be a significant question after Kurtis Rourke's departure, but Cignetti's recent teams at James Madison and Indiana have been fueled by excellent defensive fronts.

Indiana led the nation in rushing defense by a wide margin but will be replacing James Carpenter, who had two tackles for loss, a blocked kick and other notable plays against Notre Dame in his final college game, as well as CJ West in the interior. If top pass rusher Mikail Kamara moves on to the NFL, Indiana will be looking for a hard reset up from.

Prediction for next season: Indiana likely will take a mini step backward after some key departures, although the addition of a notable transfer quarterback, such as Cal's Fernando Mendoza, and the retention of key juniors could maintain the trajectory. The 2025 schedule once again features no nonleague matchups against Power 4 opponents, and the home schedule is quite favorable. Road trips to Oregon, Penn State and Iowa will provide tests, but Coach Cig's team can win at least seven to eight games. -- Rittenberg