College football generates one of the largest statistical footprints in North American sports. From attendance numbers and stadium capacities to team performance, awards, and historical records, the sport is built on data that shapes narratives, rankings, and fan engagement. This page serves as a comprehensive statistical hub for college football in 2025, offering quick access to the most important numbers and creating natural pathways to deeper topic pages such as the biggest college football stadiums, major awards, and undefeated teams.
2025 Season Snapshot
The 2025 season is among the most competitive in years, marked by high-scoring offenses, strong defensive units, and a balanced national landscape. Below is a quick statistical summary of the season:
• Total FBS Teams: 134
• Undefeated Teams (Regular Season): 2 — continuing a long tradition of rare undefeated college football teams
• Highest Scoring Offense: Georgia
• Lowest Points Allowed: Ohio State
• Average FBS Attendance: Approximately 46,000 per game
• Total Bowl Games: 36 plus 11 College Football Playoff games
• Projected Total NIL Earnings for Athletes: Around 1.9 billion dollars
These core figures set the foundation for understanding the broader season trends, competitive balance, and growth areas within college football.
Stadium Stats and Attendance Trends
College football stadiums remain some of the largest sporting venues in the world, and attendance continues to reflect the sport’s massive following. In 2025, both FBS and FCS programs recorded standout attendance achievements. Many of these trends also help explain why fans frequently compare venue scale across the biggest college football stadiums.
Top Attendance Notes for 2025:
• SMU recorded a 44 percent increase in attendance.
• BYU versus Utah drew more than 102 percent of stadium capacity.
• Montana averaged over 105 percent stadium capacity.
• Merrimack achieved more than 230 percent of its listed stadium capacity.
Average Stadium Capacity by Conference:
• SEC: Over 78,000
• Big Ten: Over 75,000
• ACC: Around 55,000
• Big 12: Around 50,000
• Pac-12 (remaining teams): Around 35,000
This data positions college football as a leader in live-event attendance and highlights why stadium size remains a major talking point for fans and analysts.
Awards, Honors, and Player Achievements
Player awards in college football reflect individual excellence, statistical dominance, and contributions to team success. NIL valuations, end-of-season awards, and positional honors also offer insight into which athletes have made the biggest impact. Fans often follow these honors with the same intensity as professional accolades, especially when comparing them across eras or referencing the full list of NCAA college football awards.
Notable Player Statistics for 2025:
• Highest NIL Valuation: Arch Manning, 7.1 million dollars
• National Freshman Standout: Bryce Underwood, Michigan
• Top Offensive Contributors: Multiple players across Power Two conferences
• Notable Defensive Performers: Several Big Ten and SEC standouts based on tackles, sacks, and efficiency metrics
Major National Awards commonly referenced in college football include:
• Heisman Trophy
• Maxwell Award
• Biletnikoff Award
• Doak Walker Award
• Bednarik Award
• Davey O’Brien Award
Awards play a major role in determining player legacy and NFL Draft positioning.
Team Performance, Records, and Rankings
Team performance statistics define the competitive structure of each season. In 2025, several programs separated themselves statistically.
Top Team Performance Notes:
• Ohio State finished 12–0 with one of the top defenses in the nation.
• Indiana reached 12–0 for the first time in modern program history, joining the short list of recent undefeated college football teams.
• Georgia finished 11–1 while maintaining one of the strongest strength-of-schedule ratings.
Key Ranking Factors:
• Scoring margin
• Strength of schedule
• Turnover differential
• Offensive and defensive efficiency
• Road versus home performance splits
These metrics often determine playoff seeding and bowl placement, especially in the expanded 12-team format.
Playoff and Bowl Game Statistics
The second year of the 12-team College Football Playoff format has generated significant statistical insights.
College Football Playoff Structure:
• Five highest-ranked conference champions receive automatic bids.
• Seven teams receive at-large bids.
• Top four teams earn first-round byes.
• Teams ranked five through twelve play on-campus first-round games.
• Quarterfinals take place within the New Year’s Six bowl rotation.
• A total of 11 CFP games are played.
Bowl Game Viewership Trends:
• Non-CFP bowls averaged roughly 2.7 million viewers.
• ESPN-broadcast bowls increased viewership by about 15 percent.
• The FCS National Championship had its highest viewership on record.
These figures show a growing appetite for postseason football, especially with expanded access for more programs.
NIL, Financial, and Revenue Statistics
Name, Image, and Likeness earnings continue to reshape college football’s financial landscape. Revenue sharing has further expanded the economic opportunities available to players.
Key NIL and Financial Stats for 2025:
• Total projected NIL compensation: approximately 1.9 billion dollars
• Highest individual NIL valuation: 7.1 million dollars
• Common NIL range for top quarterbacks: 400,000 to 600,000 dollars
• Revenue sharing per school: up to 20.5 million dollars allocated for athletes
These financial developments significantly influence recruiting, roster management, and program strategy.
Participation, Scholarships, and Development Statistics
Participation and scholarship trends help define the athlete pipeline.
Key Participation Numbers:
• High school players competing nationwide: just over 1 million
• Percentage who reach college football: about 7.5 percent
• Percentage of FBS players drafted into the NFL: roughly 6.7 percent
• Percentage of FCS players drafted: around 0.3 percent
Upcoming Scholarship Structure Changes:
• Increase from 85 to 105 scholarships for FBS programs
• Transition to equivalency scholarships allowing partial awards
• Continued 63-scholarship structure for FCS programs
These changes aim to distribute opportunities more evenly, though roster strategy will vary widely across conferences.
Historical Statistics and All-Time Records
College football’s historical data stretches back more than 150 years, creating one of the richest statistical archives in American sports. These numbers are often referenced in larger conversations comparing eras, as well as discussions like NFL vs NCAA football, where fans analyze how collegiate achievements translate to professional success.
All-Time Wins Leaders:
• Michigan: 1,015 wins with a .733 winning percentage
• Ohio State: 981 wins with a .736 winning percentage
• Alabama: 976 wins with a .733 winning percentage
• Oklahoma: One of the most successful post-war programs since 1945, including a historic 47-game win streak
Historical win totals often intersect with legacy ranking systems, including the 2006 Harris Interactive College Football Poll, which played a major role in the BCS era standings.
College Football – FAQs
What statistics matter most when analyzing a college football team?
The most predictive statistics include scoring efficiency, turnover margin, red-zone conversion rates, and strength of schedule. Together, these metrics offer a comprehensive view of team quality and performance consistency.
How many undefeated teams usually finish a college football season?
Most seasons end with zero to two undefeated college football teams due to the difficulty of maintaining a perfect record across a 12-game schedule.
Which conferences have the largest stadiums?
The SEC and Big Ten lead the nation in average stadium capacity, with multiple programs exceeding 90,000 seats—often highlighted in lists of the biggest college football stadiums.
How are major college football awards determined?
Awards are typically decided based on individual statistics, media votes, expert evaluation panels, and occasionally fan voting. Performance against top competition and impact on team success are also major factors, especially across the full slate of NCAA college football awards.
How does college football compare with other sports like soccer?
Fans frequently look at contrasts such as American football vs soccer, including differences in gameplay, scoring, field size, and cultural following.
What’s the main difference between college and professional football?
Debates like NFL vs NCAA football often center on speed of play, talent level, roster size, and strategic complexity.
