College football has changed drastically over the past decade, but the championship formula remains mostly unchanged -- experienced rosters still win big. The 2025 college football season marks the start of a new era, with the House v. NCAA settlement ushering in revenue sharing and formal player compensation. That old truth will be tested again as a new age of college football begins -- one where talent can be bought, but experience still has to be built.

The transfer portal may offer quick fixes, but it's no guarantee of cohesion. Even the most stacked rosters can falter if chemistry isn't there. That's why returning starters remain a valuable commodity. Based on available data from TruMedia, each of the last eight college football national champions returned at least 11 players wit

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