Every college football season, under the radar teams rise from the ashes (such as Indiana last season) and surprise the entire sport while other teams (such as Florida State last season) enter the season with high expectations and fall hard. This will be no exception this season, which is the second to be played under the 12-team College Football Playoff format.

College football writer Phil Steele ranked his top-12 most improved teams in college football in his College Football Preview Magazine. The full list is below:

The 2024 season was an abject disaster for Mike Norvell‘s Florida State program, as it went from a 13-0 team that narrowly missed the College Football Playoff (would have been a top-four seed in the new CFP system) to finishing with a 2-10 record last season. With Boston College transfer quarterback Tommy Castellanos behind center, anything would be an improvement for the ‘Noles this season.

“This time they lost just two NFL [Draft picks] and are much stronger on offense with a solid defense,” Steele wrote in his College Football Preview Magazine. “Florida State made my Most Improved List in 2022 and went from five to 10 wins but this year they are my No. 1 Most Improved team and will contend in the ACC.”

2. Utah Utes (2024: 5-7, 2-7 Big 12)

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Utah was tabbed as one of the favorites in the Big 12 last season but crashed and burned hard with a 5-7 (2-7) record. It was the first full season in which the Utes finished with less than six wins since 2013, but they immediately bounced back and won nine games the next season. Making a bowl game in 2025, which is a low ceiling for the Utah program, would be an improvement from last season.

“The last time Utah had a losing season was 2013,” Steele wrote. “They made my Most Improved list in 2014 and went 9-4. This year they are my No. 2 Most Improved team and last year they were the favorites to win the Big 12 and this year with a much improved offense could live up to those expectations and are a legitimate Big 12 title contender.”

The first year of SEC play was not kind to the Oklahoma Sooners, which went just 6-7 and just barely earned a bowl berth by upsetting Alabama near the end of the season. After winning just six games in two of the first three seasons of the Brent Venables era, a massive improvement is needed this season to alleviate the pressure put on the 54-year-old head coach.

“The Sooners are my No. 3 Most Improved team and should have similar improvement to the last time they were in that spot,” Steele wrote. “After going over the team with coach [Brent] Venables, I believe this is a playoff caliber roster. So despite the rugged schedule, they are also my No. 1 Surprise team this year and have a great shot at going from a losing season all the way to a playoff berth!”

With just two teams in the Pac-12 last season, Oregon State had to play a near fully non-conference schedule and finished with just a 5-7 record. With the second season under new head coach Trent Bray approaching fast, improvement is expected quick before the Pac-12 expands back to eight schools in 2026.

“Oregon State had been 17-2 at home the previous three years (4-3 in 2024) and if they re-establish that dominant home edge they should get back to a bowl game as they again have seven home games,” Steele wrote. “With all those factors pointing for a better record the Beavers make my Most Improved List!”

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It’s been a rough stretch of season for the North Texas football program, which has won at least seven games in a season once since it won nine games in back-to-back seasons in 2017 and 2018. The Mean Green are just 11-14 in two seasons under head coach Eric Morris, so a promising season could be needed to secure his job for the 2026 campaign.

“North Texas had six players named to one of the AAC All-Conference Teams and none of them return, but they will have a winning season in [Eric Morris‘] third year and be a dark horse American Conference contender,” Steele wrote.

The first season of the Bill Belichick era in Chapel Hill is set to be an absolute circus, but the move provided a jolt of energy to a North Carolina program that hasn’t won 10 games in a season since 2015. Last season, legendary head coach Mack Brown led the ‘Heels to 6-7 record and was fired following the conclusion of the regular season.

“A good portion of their incoming transfers have little experience but [Bill] Belichick develops players and puts them in the right spots,” Steele wrote. “This is a wild card team in the ACC but off a losing season the Tar Heels are my No. 6 Most Improved team and could be a surprise ACC contender.”

The first three seasons of the Sonny Cumbie era at Louisiana Tech have been downright dreadful, as the Bulldogs are just 11-26 and have been mostly uncompetitive. Steele however expects a big jump this season for the Bulldogs after increasing their win total from three to five in 2024.

“I consider them a legitimate contender in C-USA,” Steele wrote. “The bowl practices were helpful as well and this year Louisiana Tech is my No. 7 Most Improved team and a CUSA title contender.”

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Following Luke Fickell‘s jump to Wisconsin at the conclusion of the 2022 season, Cincinnati has missed back-to-back bowl games in its first two years under former Appalachian State and Louisville head coach Scott Satterfield. Led by veteran quarterback Brendan Sorsby, a bowl appearance would be a step forward for the program.

“This year they have 18 returning starters including QB [Brendan] Sorsby so are a veteran team,” Steele wrote. “They had three Net Close losses and were +26 ypg in B12 play (No. 8). They make the Going Up Chart for Off YPP and go from No. 112 on my Experience Chart to No. 26. The Bearcats make my Most Improved list and will surprise a lot of folks this year.”

Air Force found national relevance after going 29-10 over a three-year span from 2021-2023, but fell off last year with a disappointing 5-7 record. Steele however expects the Falcons and their dynamic offense to rise back to Mountain West title contention this season.

“This will be more of your typical Air Force squad and they are my No. 9 Most Improved team this year and are a legitimate Mountain West title contender,” Steele wrote.

The 2024 season felt like a bit of an anomaly for the NC State program, which failed to win at least eight games for the second time in the past eight seasons. In a bit of a down Atlantic Coast Conference, Steele expects Dave Doeren to have his team contending for a conference title once again this season.

“Dave Doeren has had three losing seasons in his 13 years here and the first two times he bounced back with an eight win year,” Steele wrote. “NC State averaged 8.5 wins the previous four years and will get back to normal and they make my Most Improved list.”

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Former Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason took over the Middle Tennessee program last season and led the Raiders to a 3-9 record in his first season. With a season under his belt, Steele expects Mason to lead the Raiders back to relevancy in his second year.

“This year, head coach [Derek] Mason got his first full recruiting class and now has a veteran team and is ready to take the usual second year coach jump,” Steele wrote. “They are much improved on both offense and defense and go from No. 107 to No. 36 on my experience chart.”

The 2025 season is absolutely make or break for head coach Brent Pry, who has led the Hokies to just a 16-21 record in three seasons. For a program that expects to constantly be in the upper echelon of the ACC, a promising season for Pry could mean nailing down his job security.

“While they drop to 12 returning starters, this is head coach [Brent] Pry‘s best team and they come into the year under the radar but make my Most Improved List and will make some noise in the ACC and top last year’s win total.”