2025 has arrived, and I would like to make some predictions. I did this last year, and I think I got six and a half of them correct. So, that’s the kind of accuracy you can expect. Twenty percent.
1. Georgia Will Win the National Championship
The Bulldogs are set up perfectly for an NIT run. Their nonconference schedule is open to criticism. Their conference schedule is a bloodbath. The NCAA T*urnament selection committee seems like a group of people too chicken to put thirteen teams from the same conference into their field. Best of all, Mike White’s team has NIT Final Four experience, and they have it at Hinkle Fieldhouse. You can’t put a price on that.
2. Texas Will Get a 9-Seed and the Longhorns’ Rodney Terry Problem Will Continue into 2026
No-man’s land in Austin. Also: Please note that I’ve made no prediction on whether they’ll point the pumped-in noise away from courtside mic’s at the Moody Center.
3. Shaka Smart Will Win Another Big East Regular Season Title
Meanwhile, in Milwaukee.
4. Oregon Over Texas, Notre Dame Over Penn State, Oregon Over Notre Dame
So it is written.
5. North Dakota State Won’t Lose a Football Game
Tried this with South Dakota State last year. No dice on that one. This one is a little less daunting, because SDSU had to play Oklahoma State.
I think the Bison win on Monday. I think someone will figure out they should hire Brent Vigen, maybe even as a Big Ten offensive coordinator, further thinning out the ranks of the powerful in the FCS. I think the schedule breaks pretty favorably for NDSU in MVFC play—they get a week off before the South Dakota game, and both South Dakota State and North Dakota are going to have new coaches. I’m not worried on NDSU’s behalf about Tennessee State, SEMO, or St. Thomas in non-conference. Best of all? After the sneaky struggles of the Matt Entz era (not sneaky to you, loyal reader of The Barking Crow), Tim Polasek has the Bison back.
6. Arch Manning Will Not Be a 2025 Heisman Finalist, But Texas Will Win the SEC
Program victory.
7. Next Year’s CFP Byes Will Go to Texas, Ohio State, Oregon, and Notre Dame
I don’t think Georgia turns it around yet. I think Michigan bounces back but finishes 10–2. I don’t think anyone else takes a huge leap.
8. Oregon State Will Win the College World Series
We can only hope it ushers in an era of renewed independence within college sports. Down with conferences! They make too many TV deals which cause strife for the NIT!
9. I Will Attend 15 College Sporting Events
The NIT Final Four counts as three. Three separate games.
10. The City of San Antonio Will Not Break Up Our Final Four Protest at the Alamo
Speaking of which: Please share your opinions on the best kolache place in San Antonio. Preferably north and east of downtown, and preferably near a good breakfast taco spot. We want to treat our fellow protesters right.
11. Joe Kelly Will Re-Sign With the Dodgers Before the End of February
Would guess they’re waiting on 60-day IL spots to open back up. The Dodgers love sending pitchers to the 60-day IL.
12. Roki Sasaki Will Sign With the Cubs, Win Rookie of the Year, Win the NL Cy Young, and Shut Out the Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLCS
I hope this is specific enough to count.
13. The Lions Will Beat the Ravens in the Super Bowl
Please note, 2026 readers: At the time this was written, people were really high on the Vikings in the NFC.
14. The Packers Will Open the 2025 Season 12–0
They can win more if they want to. Twelve is a minimum.
15. The Bears Will Hire Ben Johnson, and He Will Go 4–13 as Chicago Media Asks If Caleb Williams Is the Problem
The worst part is that he’ll have a real hard time with deciding whether to go for it on fourth down.
16. The Mavericks Will Beat the Bucks in the NBA Finals
Going off vibes for this one. My own vibes. And one glance at the standings.
17. The Bulls Will Not Trade Zach LaVine and Will Manage to Lose Their Only Draft Pick
I’m sorry to the portion of you that didn’t want to hear this, but you only didn’t want to hear it because you can also see it coming.
18. The Avalanche Will Beat the Senators to Win the Stanley Cup
This one’s gonna thrill and then sting.
19. Getaway Car Will Win the Kentucky Derby
Nobody’s tried entering a car before. This will revolutionize the race.
20. Burnley, Leeds, and Middlesbrough Will Be Promoted to the EPL
Nobody’s tried entering a car into the EFL Championship before either, but I bet they’re better equipped to stop it than Churchill Downs.
21. Athletic Bilbao Will Win the European NIT
I don’t know how the Europa League works anymore. And not in a charming, “Oh it’s mysterious!” way like used to be the case.
22. Brad Keselowski Will Win the Daytona 500
23. Will Power Will Win the Indy 500
Big year for the old guys.
24. Jannik Sinner Won’t Win Any Majors
25. Scottie Scheffler Won’t Either
Nothing against Scottie. I like the guy. Hook ‘em, and such. Just see a turn coming.
26. The U.S. Will Clinch the Ryder Cup on Saturday
I don’t know if this is even possible. It ends on Sunday, right? With a bunch of singles matches? I won’t check.
27. There Will Not Be a Major Earthquake From the New Madrid Fault Line
I whiffed on this one in 2024. Not making the same mistake this time. I think it’s coming in 2028, though, so check your foundations if you’re in the yellow, orange, or red area of this map.
28. One of Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong Un Will Die
But it won’t be by my hand!
29. Globally, Poverty Rates Will Continue to Drop and Life Expectancy Will Continue to Rise
I need to make sure I get at least one of these right.
30. We Will Have Exactly Three Speakers of the House
This sounds fun.
31. Brandon Flowers’s Upcoming Solo Album Will Close the Year Among the Top Five Favorites for Album of the Year at the GRAMMYs
Shock the world, Brandon.
32. Timothée Chalamet Won’t Win Any Oscars, He and Kylie Jenner Will Break Up, and He Will Start a Podcast About the NBA
Nothing against the guy. I’m a fan. I think this would be a great year for him.
