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2025 College Football National Championship Futures Odds with Expert Betting Predictions

by Joey House - 1/21/2025

College football National Championship odds and predictions Drew Allar Penn State Nittany Lions

The inaugural year of college football's expanded playoffs was a resounding success, but there is plenty of room for improvement. While there will always be debate about the correct number of teams that should make it, the seeding system definitely needs to be overhauled. Even though I am a diehard Penn State fan, they were not among the top four teams in the country. Yet, a favorable seed allowed them to play and defeat the ACC runner-up SMU and then the Mountain West champion Boise State before falling to Notre Dame in the national semifinals. Whether re-seeding each round or changing the factors for the first round byes, it was widely recognized that something needed to be tweaked.

Speaking of needed change, we are now entering the 5th season of the Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) era. While the NIL resuscitated the EA Sports NCAA Football video game franchise, the college football landscape resembles the Wild West, where anything could happen, and lawlessness was the law of the day. Of the 12 teams that made the playoffs, only three (Clemson, SMU, and Penn State) had starting quarterbacks who played their entire careers in one place. Texas's Quinn Ewers threw one pass as a true freshman at Ohio State before transferring down to Austin. Like the issues with the playoffs, there is no simple solution to the NIL dilemma. But something needs to be done before college football, as we know it, implodes and formally becomes a minor league for the NFL.

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Las Vegas Odds for the 25-26 CFP National Championship

With sportsbooks closing the book on last season's CFP National Championship, they've swiftly turned their attention to the future, setting early odds for the 2025-26 season. The usual suspects are in the lineup, with Penn State being the only team in the preseason Top 5 that wasn't in last year's edition. After getting upset as 15-point favorites by Michigan in the Reliaquest Bowl, and with many questions regarding second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer and losing starting QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama fell out of the Top 5 and is 7th with odds at +1600. With Michigan winning in 2023-2024 and Ohio State triumphing this year, it's safe to say the SEC's dominance is over.

Each team is listed with its odds for the upcoming season, record from this year, and final game.

Ohio State +450 (14-2 National Champions)

The confetti hasn't stopped falling in Atlanta, and Ohio State has already taken the initial lead in the race for the 2025-26 CFP National Championship. Buckeyes' head coach Ryan Day exorcised many demons with Monday night's National Championship win. Asking him to do it again will be a very tall order. QB Will Howard was a one-year rental from Kansas State and most likely will be on an NFL roster next season. They are also losing their third all-time leading scorer (in touchdowns), running back TreVeyon Henderson, and their all-time leading receiver in yards and receptions, Emeka Egbuka. However, whoever does end up slinging the ball for the Buckeyes next season will be throwing to arguably the best receiver in college football, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. No sane person has ever criticized Ryan Day's recruiting ability, and Ohio State will reload for another run. However, a Big Ten team hasn't won back-to-back National Championships since Michigan State pulled it off in 1965 and 1966. If the oddsmakers are correct, Ohio State will open its season at home against Texas and then end its season against Texas in the playoffs.

Texas +500 (13-3 lost in National Semifinals to Ohio State)

It isn't often that I express sympathy for a Longhorn player, but I genuinely feel bad for Texas's former QB Quinn Ewers, who declared for the NFL Draft. Never before has a school's fan base been so happy for their number three all-time leading passer to leave. Then again, never before has a Manning quarterback been patiently waiting in the wings. Arch Manning, nephew to Peyton and Eli, will finally get his shot to be the leading man and, from all indications, will live up to the hype. He came in for an injured Ewers against Texas-San Antonio, and in two-and-a-half games as the starter, Manning threw for 806 yards, completed 69.4% of his passes, and tossed 8 TDs and 2 INTs. The question is who will he be throwing to, as the Longhorns' top two wide receivers declared for the NFL Draft and Mackey Award finalist tight end Gunnar Helm graduates. However, with Texas's number one-ranked 2025 recruiting class, the Longhorns will enter spring practice with six four-star receivers, and I'm sure a couple of capable targets will emerge.

Georgia +550 (11-3 lost in quarterfinals to Notre Dame)

Georgia is also among the top five teams without a returning starting quarterback, as former starter Carson Beck elected to enter the transfer portal and take his talents to South Beach (Miami Hurricanes). Bulldogs' fans were able to glimpse the future when Beck was injured in the SEC Championship and led Georgia to a 22-19 overtime victory against Texas and the Bulldogs' loss to Notre Dame in the quarterfinals. Unfortunately for head coach Kirby Smart, that's one of the few settled positions. The offensive line, largely disappointing this season, will undergo a significant overhaul. The transfer portal also hit the Bulldogs hard, losing 14 players to other schools while bringing in only six. Even so, Georgia gets their high ranking because their number one-ranked 2024 recruiting class will be in its second year. In fact, every Bulldogs recruiting class since the 2016 season has been ranked in the top three. Stockton will have two solid tight ends and two exciting portal transfers as aerial targets. Running back Nate Frazier, part of that '24 class, led the Bulldogs in rushing last year and should improve his 671 yards rushing and 85 yards receiving.

Penn State +900 (13-3 lost in National Semifinals to Notre Dame)

Monday night's National Championship game was painful to watch for Nittany Lion fans, as they felt they should have been playing Ohio State for the crown. Penn State had the ball with 38 seconds to go, but QB Drew Allar threw an interception on his own 42-yard line, and Notre Dame went 19 yards and kicked the game-winning field with just 7 seconds on the clock. Penn State has a lot to look forward to, as the former 5-star QB Allar is returning, as are the dynamic duo in the backfield, running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, who both rushed for over 1,000 yards this season. Head Coach James Franklin once again turns to the transfer portal in an attempt to find a capable wide receiver. A favorable nonconference schedule and not having to hit the road until the first week of October should set the Nittany Lions up for their November 1 trip to the Horseshoe to take on the Buckeyes. Both teams will be coming off of bye weeks, so it should be an interesting battle.

There are some interesting long shots. North Carolina is +10000, as oddsmakers don't seem overly impressed with their new head coach, the legendary Bill Belichick. Colorado is also +10000 as they have to replace their Heisman-winning wide receiver/defensive back, Travis Hunter, and QB Shedur Sanders, son of head coach Deion Sanders. Alabama is +1200 and hasn't been this low in quite some time.

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