The 2025 college football season starts in Texas on Aug. 23, when Sam Houston travels to Western Kentucky in a Week Zero Conference USA clash between a pair of contenders from 2024. The other 12 FBS programs in the Lone Star State kickoff their respective seasons a week later. 

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football compiled a list of the 50 best players in the state and will use it to countdown the days until the start of the season. The list continues with 20-11 as we’re officially 20 days away from Week Zero. The Top 10 will be released on Aug. 13. 

Previous: 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21

No. 20 – TCU DE Devean Deal 

Deal transferred to TCU from Tulane ahead of the 2024 season. He finished his junior year as the Frogs’ leader in tackles for loss (9.5) and sacks (5.5). He registered 46 tackles while starting eight of the 13 games he played in during his first season in Fort Worth. Deal recorded 5 tackles, including 1.5 for loss and a sack while earning Defensive MVP honors in the New Mexico Bowl win over Louisiana. He came into his own in the second half of the season, recording at least 1 TFL in six of the last seven games. The Horned Frogs were 6-1 in those contests. 

No. 19 – Texas Tech WR Caleb Douglas  

Douglas caught 60 passes for 877 yards and six touchdowns as the second option in the Texas Tech offense last season. He’ll be WR1 in Lubbock in his second year with the Red Raiders. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior from Missouri City played his first two years of college ball at Florida before transferring home to the Lone Star State. With Josh Kelly gone, Douglas’ role should grow even larger. 

No. 18 – Texas CB Malik Muhammad 

The DeSoto product started all 16 games for Texas last season and enters his junior campaign with 18 starts over 30 appearances in two seasons. Muhammad’s 71.8 coverage grade from PFF was Top 30 in FBS for cornerbacks who played at least 80 percent of their team’s snaps. He’s now responsible for the other team’s best wide receiver with Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron off to the NFL. Some NFL scouts view Muhammad as a potential first- or second-round draft pick with a big 2025.  

No. 17 – Texas A&M CB Will Lee III

The former Kansas State transfer immediately became Texas A&M’s most reliable defensive back in his first season on campus. He started all 12 regular season games for the Wrecking Crew and ranked fifth in the SEC with 10 pass breakups on the season. He finished with 42 tackles, including a team-best 39 solo stops. The highlight of his season was the 93-yard pick six at Kyle Field against Texas. He’s CB1 in Aggieland and one of the best corners in the SEC. 

No. 16 – Texas A&M OT Trey Zuhn 

A multiple-year team captain with 37 starts over the last three seasons at left tackle for the Aggies. He was an All-SEC Third Team selection up front after 2024. Texas A&M finished 26th in the nation and second in the SEC with 195.5 yards per game. The 6-7, 315-pound bookend from Colorado is equal parts reliable and dominant. He’s only missed three games over the last three seasons and holds up against the best edge rushers in America.

No. 15 – Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter 

Hunter is a 6-4, 325-pound nose tackle transfer from UCF who earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors in 2023 and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2023. He was the No. 2-ranked defensive tackle in the transfer portal and is considered the top returning interior defensive lineman in the Big 12 by many, including PFF. He’s racked up 49 total pressures over the last two seasons.  

No. 14 – Texas A&M RB Le’Veon Moss 

Moss recorded 765 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground over nine games last season before a late-season injury cut his year short. He also caught 10 balls for 141 yards. He was an All-SEC Second Team selection and was Top 20 in yards per rush in the FBS while averaging 6.3. Moss topped the 100-yard mark three times and scored multiple touchdowns in four contests last season. 

No. 13 – SMU TE RJ Maryland 

Injury cost Maryland most of his 2024 season. He returns to help the Mustangs return to the ACC Championship game and the College Football Playoff. Head coach Rhett Lashlee says that Maryland is his fastest skill position player and don’t be surprised if he’s used as a true wide receiver at times in 2025. The Southlake Carroll product started all 14 games back in 2023, recording 34 catches for 518 yards and seven touchdowns. He registered 24 receptions for 359 yards and four touchdowns in five starts last year prior to the injury. 

No. 12 – Texas DB Michael Taaffe 

The former walk-on from nearby Westlake High School is a fifth-year defensive back who has seen the ups and downs at Texas over his 26 starts in 43 appearances since the start of the 2021 season. He’s one of the only players remaining on the roster from that 5-7 finish in Steve Sarkisian’s first year as the head coach. Taaffe finished last season with 78 tackles, including two sacks and 5.5 TFL, two interceptions and 10 pass breakups, which was second most on the team.  

No. 11 – Baylor RB Bryson Washington 

Washington broke Baylor records for rushing yards by a freshman with 1,028 despite playing in only 11 games. He topped 100 yards in six of those 11 starts and finished with 12 rushing touchdowns. Washington was a Freshman All-American and an All-Texas selection in 2024. His emergence as the bell cow for the Bears coincided with six straight wins to close the regular season. Washington is arguably the best back in the Big 12.