The 2024-25 college football season just ended on Monday evening, as Ohio State defeated Notre Dame 34-23. As we turn the page to the 2025-26 season, players across the country are making big decisions regarding their futures.

The deadline for most players to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft has arrived, and we have a better idea of which star players are returning for the 2025 season.

There have been a number of big names that have declared for the NFL Draft, like Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkinns.

But for this, let's look at some of the biggest surprise names that opted to return to college football instead of going to the draft

Penn State Is Returning a Ton of Key Players

Although Penn State fell to Notre Dame in the CFP semifinals, the Nittany Lions are expected to have another big season in 2025. A big reason for that is how many guys Penn State is bringing back from this past season.

There was some speculation that quarterback Drew Allar may decide to enter the draft despite saying he would return next season. But he's returning for 2025, coming off his best season in Happy Valley in which he threw for 3,327 yards with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Also returning are star running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, who combined for 2,207 yards and 20 touchdowns last season. Offensive linemen Nick Dawkins and JB Nelson are also returning.

"The beauty of it, we got a lot of kids coming back, especially up front," PSU running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider said via The Athletic after the semifinal loss to Notre Dame. "So we got a lot of makings to be as good, if not better, next year."

On defense, head coach James Franklin gets back starting linebackers Tony Rojas and Dom DeLuca, as well as pass rusher Dan Dennis-Sutton, who had 8.5 sacks in 2024. Defensive tackle Zane Durant is returning as well.

DraftKings gives Penn State +800 odds to win it all in 2025-26. With all of the talent returning to Happy Valley in 2025, you can see why.

Miami QB Carson Beck

One of the biggest surprises to spurn the NFL draft and return to college football came from quarterback Carson Beck. Beck missed Georgia's playoff game against Notre Dame after having season-ending surgery on an elbow injury he suffered in the SEC Championship Game.

Although Beck declared for the NFL draft in late December, the quarterback ended up entering his name in the transfer portal instead. He has since landed at Miami, where head coach Mario Cristobal is looking to find success with yet another transfer portal signal-caller.

Beck struggled with turnovers in 2024, throwing a career-high 12 interceptions. But over his last two seasons as a starter at Georgia, he had over 3,000 yards passing with a combined 52 touchdowns.

If Beck can have a season like Cam Ward, who threw for 4,313 yards with 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions for Miami in 2024, he could be one of the first few quarterbacks taken in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Who knows, maybe Beck is the quarterback to finally take the Canes to the playoff for the very first time.

LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier

Garrett Nussmeier didn't have a ton of experience outside of his 2024 season. But during his first season as a starter in Baton Rouge, he lit up the stat sheet, throwing for 4,052 yards with 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He finished fifth nationally in passing yards, too.

One Nussmeier draft projection had him as the top quarterback off the board, and another mock draft had him going at No. 12 overall to the New York Giants. Still, he opted to stay at LSU.

"I feel like it wasn't as consistent as I wanted it to be," Nussmeier said via NOLA.com of his decision to return. "And I feel like that there's a whole other level that I could tap into."

"This first year for me was a huge growth year and just kind of learning who I am as a player," Nussmeier continued. "And I hadn't played football for three years."

Nussmeier will have a couple of talented targets to throw to in 2025, as LSU picked up transfer receivers Nic Anderson from Oklahoma and Barion Brown from Kentucky. LSU's leading receiver from last season, Aaron Anderson, is also back.

LSU's quarterback returning could take the Tigers to the CFP for the very first time in 2025.

Alabama C Parker Brailsford

Alabama and head coach Kalen DeBoer will be reloading a good bit in 2025. Quarterback Jalen Milroe, offensive lineman Tyler Booker and linebacker Jihaad Campbell have all declared for the 2025 NFL Draft.

But one key piece that is coming back to Tuscaloosa in 2025 is starting center Parker Brailsford. Brailsford, who followed DeBoer from Washington last offseason, was outstanding for the Tide during the 2024-25 season.

Before Alabama's Reliaquest Bowl against Michigan, Brailsford had not allowed a single sack in his 351 snaps in pass protection, according to Pro Football Focus.

Unsurprisingly, Brailsford was one of the top center prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. But instead, Brailsford will be heading back to Tuscaloosa, where the Tide will have a new quarterback under center. It appears that will be Ty Simpson, who signed to Alabama's 2022 recruiting class as a 5-star signal caller.

Brailsford and the Tide will be looking to rebound from a 9-4 season in 2024, one that saw Alabama miss out on the CFP. Getting DeBoer's star center back puts the Tide in a great spot to do that.

LSU EDGE Patrick Payton

Patrick Payton had three productive seasons at Florida State, despite the Noles having an embarrassing 2-10 season in 2024. Over three years in Tallahassee, Payton accounted for 109 total tackles with 16 sacks and three forced fumbles. He was named the 2022 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year as a true freshman, too.

Although Payton could have declared for the NFL draft, he opted to enter the transfer portal instead. The Miami, Florida, native has since joined the LSU Tigers' defense, and he'll play for Brian Kelly in Baton Rouge in 2025. He joins an LSU transfer portal class that ranks No. 1 in the nation per 247Sports.

According to Pro Football Focus, Payton has accounted for 70 quarterback pressures over his last three seasons. Payton will be a welcomed addition to the Tigers' defense next season, as LSU finished 2024 ranked 61st nationally in total defense.

Under LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker, Payton could have his most productive season yet at LSU in 2025.

Washington CB Tacario Davis

Arizona cornerback Tacario Davis had a productive three seasons with the Wildcats. In his career, he's accounted for 75 total tackles, 22 passes defended and an interception.

Although one mock draft from December had Davis going to the New York Giants with the first pick of the second round, Davis is returning to college football in 2025. Instead of returning to Arizona, Davis has entered the transfer portal and has since verbally committed to Washington. Pro Football Focus ranked Davis as the top player in the transfer portal in late December.

"His rare combination of length and athleticism makes him a standout," B/R scout Cory Giddings wrote in Davis' scouting report, "but his inconsistency in transitions and his struggles in off-coverage and ball awareness will need refinement. If he can improve his technique, particularly in coverage transitions and ball skills, Davis can potentially develop into one of the top cornerbacks at the next level."

Given Davis' already high draft stock, he could become one of the first cornerbacks taken off the board in 2026 if he has a big season next year.

Texas S Michael Taaffe

Michael Taaffe's journey to Texas was a pretty unique one. The Longhorns' star safety walked on to Texas in 2021 and became a regular contributor in 2022.

He's been a consistent starter for the past two seasons. He had a breakout season for Texas in 2024, accounting for 78 total tackles, 10 passes defended, two sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble.

"Yeah, I hate looking at the future, because future decisions, you got to make it based on your best decision for yourself," Taaffe said when asked about his decision regarding the 2025 NFL Draft. "And I hate that because I care about the team. I could give a crap about success. I care about significance. I care about when I'm 60 years old and somebody is talking about Michael Taaffe being a legend at Texas. Because of what he did on the field and what he did as a leader."

Here's PFF's grade from Taaffe from this season:

Taaffe is both the highest-graded and most valuable college safety this season, according to PFF's wins above average metric. The former walk-on's 91.3 PFF coverage grade leads all players at his position, as he has surrendered only 12 catches while coming up with seven combined interceptions and forced incompletions.

Taaffe returning to Texas' defense should help the Longhorns make a trip back to the College Football Playoff in 2025.