Ohio State favored to repeat as college football national champions

  • Ohio State (+500) is favored to win the 2025-26 College Football Playoff for the second-consecutive year
  • Arch Manning’s Texas Longhorns (+550) is one of the top contenders for the national title  
  • The CFP National Championship Game will take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on January 19, 2026

After capturing their first national title in a decade, Ohio State is favored to go back-to-back next year. The Buckeyes will kick off the college football season against the Texas Longhorns in a rematch of last year’s semifinal.

Other potential CFP contenders include Notre Dame, Penn State, Oregon and Georgia. Before we make our picks on who will take home the “Natty”, check out our 2025-26 College Football Betting Resources and get the best National Championship Future Odds.

2025-26 CFP National Championship

National ChampionBovada Sportsbook ReviewBetOnline Sportsbook ReviewMyBookie Sportsbook Review
Ohio State+500+500+500
Texas+550+550+550
Oregon+800+800+800
Georgia+800+800+800
Penn State+900+900+900
Notre Dame+1400+1400+1400
Alabama+1600+1600+1600
Tennessee+2000+2000+2000
Clemson+2000+2000+2000
LSU+2000+2000+2000
Michigan+2200+2200+2200
Ole Miss+2500+2500+2500
South Carolina+3300+3300+3300
Miami FL+3300+3300+3300
Texas A&M+3500+3500+3500

Buckeyes and Longhorns favored

Ohio State (+500) is losing a ton of offensive firepower to the NFL Draft (TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, Emeka Egbuka), but Ryan Day’s recruiting prowess always restocks the cupboards. Plus, the Buckeyes still have star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and shutdown safety Caleb Downs. Five-star prospect Julian Sayin is also ready to step in at quarterback.

Texas (+550) is tantalizing because Arch Manning will finally take the controls in 2025. After sitting for two years and developing under Steve Sarkisian, Manning is a +500 favorite to take home the Heisman Trophy. The Longhorns have the top recruiting class in the country, according to Rivals.

Best Bets

Georgia (+800) won the SEC Championship last year and made the CFP for the fourth time in the past eight seasons. Kirby Smart has been far too successful to ignore the Bulldogs.

Penn State (+900) was listed No. 1 in Joel Klatt’s top 10 for 2025, because of their wealth of experienced players – a blueprint both Michigan and Ohio State used to secure national titles the past two years. Viewed as a top NFL draft prospect, Drew Allar already has 29 starts in college football. The RB tandem of Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton is also one of the best in the nation.

Georgia2025-26 National Champion
★★★★★
+800
Bet now

Penn State2025-26 National Champion
★★★★★
+900
Bet now
.

Teams to avoid

Oregon (+800) is coming off a 13-0 season and a Big Ten title, but was walloped 41-21 by the Buckeyes in the CFP quarterfinals. Dan Lanning’s Ducks have a strong recruiting class and a former five-star prospect, Dante Moore, ready to step in at QB. But this team is far too young on defense to contend in 2025.

Michigan (+2000) is losing defensive tackle Mason Graham, cornerback Will Johnson and tight end Colston Loveland off last year’s squad. While the Wolverines were able to flip Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class, from LSU, their offense ranked 129th in yards in 2024.


Best Bet

Miami (FL) (+3300) will be without quarterback Cam Ward, who could go No. 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, former Bulldog Carson Beck will be playing behind one of college football’s best offensive lines. With several portal additions, the Hurricanes’ defense should also be much improved under new DC Corey Hetherman.

Miami (FL)2025-26 National Champion
★★★★★
+3300
Bet now

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Steve Starr

Highly analytical and results-driven Sports Betting Expert with over 20 years of experience in sports analytics, betting strategy development, and risk management. Proven track record of leveraging statistical models and market analysis to achieve consistent profitability in sports betting. Adept at using data-driven insights to forecast outcomes, identi...

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