2025 Power Rankings – Trade Deadline Edition

As the calendar turns to November you may start to hear the song “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”. Contrary to popular belief this song isn’t about Christmas, but rather the time right before the ACL trade deadline. This edition of ACL Power Rankings breaks down each team’s biggest need, lists players to consider trading for or trading away, and summarizes what each team is looking at as the trade deadline approaches.

With 4 weeks left in the regular season, there are 11 teams who can tell themselves they could find their way into the playoffs. 6 teams that seem certain for the playoffs, 4 teams competing to be the second team out of the central conference, 1 team with a small chance at the SWC. The remaining 3 teams can firmly set their sights on next year and start the fire sale now. There are clear buyers, clear sellers, and a few teams that will have to decide how they fall.

A big storyline to watch will be that the second team out of the central conference will be the 4 seed in the playoffs. This means an easier playoff road with matchups and tie breakers which could incentivize some of those 4 fringe playoff teams to be more aggressive at the deadline. Also keep an eye on race for the number 1 seed as it is still wide open. There are 5 teams within a game of each other for the regular season champion, so there will be lots of jockeying for seeding over the final four weeks.

1. Arizona 7-2

Biggest Need: Depth RB

Players To Trade For: Alvin Kamara, Kimani Vidal, Lamar Jackson

Players To Trade Away: DK Metcalf, Jaylen Waddle, Brian Robinson

Summary: Arizona seems likely to move a depth WR or TE here at the trade deadline, perhaps in an effort to shore up their RB3 situation. Another option could be looking at

acquiring a set and forget QB. A huge matchup here in Week 10 between Arizona and South Dakota could wind up determining who gets the first-round bye.

2. South Dakota 6-3

Biggest Need: Star WR

Players To Trade For: Garrett Wilson, Justin Jefferson, Brian Robinson

Players To Trade Away: AJ Brown, Davonta Smith, ‘26 1st via VIR

Summary: The trade deadline presents a good opportunity to diversify from their Eagles monopoly. South Dakota could go big game hunting using Smith or Brown as the centerpiece. Keep an eye out for a move to get some CMC or Saquon insurance too.

3. California 7-2

Biggest Need: Flex Starter

Players To Trade For: Rome Odunze, Jayden Reed, Cortland Sutton

Players To Trade Away: Brian Thomas Jr, Bryce Young, ‘26 2nd via AZA

Summary: The latest team to get hit by the injury bug. California needs to be aggressive at the trade deadline to build the depth needed for a deep playoff run. Moving on from an underperforming Brian Thomas Jr for a more reliable third WR may be a tough decision that this team needs to make.

4. Vermont 6-3

Biggest Need: Flex Starter

Players To Trade For: Tet McMillan, Chris Olave, AJ Brown

Players To Trade Away: Jared Goff, Jaxson Dart, ‘26 1st via CAP

Summary: The rebuild has finally started to pay dividends. Vermont has found themselves firmly in playoff contention as they are seeking their first playoff birth. A surplus of QBs leaves Vermont in a great spot to take advantage of the market and put themselves firmly in championship contention with a move to shore up their receiver room.

5. Texas 6-3

Biggest Need: WR Starter

Players To Trade For: Zay Flowers, Xavier Worthy, Keenan Allen

Players To Trade Away: Malik Nabers, Ricky Pearsall, ‘26 1st

Summary: Nabers won’t be fully healthy until 2027. With a roster built to win now, cashing in on Nabers for veterans from a rebuilding team could set the stage for a championship contender. Texas is in need of a solid WR to replace the game of TE roulette they are currently playing.

6. Virginia 4-5

Biggest Need: WR Starter

Players To Trade For: Terry McLaurin, Jaylen Waddle, Xavier Worthy

Players To Trade Away: David Njoku, Michael Pittman, ‘26 3rd (3x)

Summary: Virginia has been able to have more success than expected at the WR position this season. Can Virginia sell high on Michael Pittman for the second time in a deal to tier-up at the WR position or is more a deadline of adding depth instead. Virginia has plenty of ammo to make fringe moves to shore up depth across the roster.

7. Michigan 5-4

Biggest Need: QB Starter

Players To Trade For: Jaxson Dart, Cam Ward, Oronde Gadsden

Players To Trade Away: Tet McMillan, Tory Horton, ‘26 1st (2x)

Summary: A favorable remaining schedule has Michigan in a spot to make a run for the playoffs this season. They must find a solution for the QB position, preferably a long-term one. The trade for Breece Hall filled a big hole in the starting lineup. A week 11 matchup with Washington will determine who is in the driver’s seat for the #4 seed

8. Washington 5-4

Biggest Need: WR Starter

Players To Trade For: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Justin Jefferson, Picks

Players To Trade Away: D’Andre Swift, Travis Etienne, ‘26 1st

Summary: Washington stands as the most intriguing team to watch at the trade deadline. Washington can set the market in either direction. Sitting at the crossroads of going for it by using some of their 5 1st round picks or adding to the future stockpile by trading some aging veterans. The best plan seems to be fully committing one way or another. Otherwise, it could be a tight margin they are working with to balance a two timelines approach.

9. Iowa 5-4

Biggest Need: QB Starter

Players To Trade For: Jared Goff, Sam Darnold, Kyren Williams

Players To Trade Away: Cam Ward, Kyler Murray, 26 2nd (2x)

Summary: “My QBs are in shambles” Iowa needs to find a startable QB fast. It has the ammo to do so. Without a first round pick this year, Iowa should be aggressive to find a way to make their introduction to the ACL playoffs this season. Expect an active trade deadline as they look to plug some holes in the roster.

10. Ohio 4-5

Biggest Need: QB Depth

Players To Trade For: Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Picks

Players To Trade Away: Chase Brown, Dalton Kincaid, Maxx Crosby

Summary: Ohio fields a young team with talent and isn’t fully out of the race for the second playoff spot from the central. Still, this team is far enough away that it shouldn’t be big buyers. Ultimately, the best course of action is to stand pat at the trade deadline and hope for some lottery luck.

11. Maryland 3-6

Biggest Need: Positional depth

Players To Trade For: Jonathon Brooks, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Picks

Players To Trade Away: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Chuba Hubbard, Keenan Allen

Summary: A core of Mahomes and St. Brown is a great place to start. There is a slight chance at the Super Wild Card, but that would need a scoring outburst that this team probably isn’t capable of doing. Most of the tradable assets are gone already. The best they might be able to do is add some fringe picks to next year’s draft class.

12. Wisconsin 1-8

Biggest Need: Long-term Upside

Players To Trade For: Woody Marks, Treyvon Henderson, Picks

Players To Trade Away: Kyren Williams, Kimani Vidal, TJ Hockenson

Summary: This season has not gone well for a team that was expected to push for a playoff spot. Wisconsin has some nice players that it can sell as they look to reallocate resources in an effort at a new chance next season. Kyren Williams could be the missing piece for a contender.

13. Oklahoma 3-6

Biggest Need: Long-term Upside

Players To Trade For: Cam Ward, Ricky Pearsall, Picks

Players To Trade Away: Derrick Henry, Terry McLaurin, Sam Darnold

Summary: As predicted the Jackson-Henry stack has won some games for Oklahoma in their first season. This roster is filled with holes, especially wide receiver. This trade deadline provides the perfect opportunity to cash in on some aging veterans as well as some QB needy teams.

14. Minnesota 1-8

Biggest Need: Long-term Upside

Players To Trade For: Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo, Picks

Players To Trade Away: Alvin Kamara, Aaron Jones, Trevor Lawerence

Summary: If Minnesota was a store, you’d see an “everything must go” sign out front (except Justin Jefferson without an absolute king’s ransom of course). This season has turned into a disaster. Already with a couple of potential lottery picks next season. The time is now to fully commit to the rebuild.