RADIO
10. LSU
Brian Kelly has fallen just short of title contention during his three seasons in Baton Rouge. However, the return of quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is massive for the Tigers. The program is also attacking the transfer portal hard and currently has the No. 1 ranked transfer portal class coming in. The last three coaches for LSU have won national championships, so the pressure is on Kelly to deliver.
Odds To Win National Championship (DraftKings): +2000
9. Tennessee
Tennessee is finally out of the dark ages. The program has been an SEC bottom-dweller for much of the 21st century, but Josh Heupel has compiled a 30-9 record over the last three seasons. Many overreacted when the Vols were dominated by Ohio State in the first round of the College Football Playoff, but it turned out that the Buckeyes were simply superior to everyone in the 12-team field. If quarterback Nico Iamaleava can take a step forward, Tennessee should be back in playoff contention.
Odds To Win National Championship (DraftKings): +2000
8. Clemson
Clemson has had a few down seasons since winning the national title in 2018, but Dabo Swinney’s squad has still won the ACC four times since that occasion. The Tigers snuck into the playoff last season, but there’s a good chance they’ll be a top-four seed in next year’s field, thanks to the emergence of quarterback Cade Klubnik. Clemson brought in former Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen to sure up that side of the ball, so Clemson could be back to a powerhouse in 2025.
Odds To Win National Championship (DraftKings): +2000
7. Notre Dame
Notre Dame must find a way to replace quarterback Riley Leonard and several impact players on defense, but the road to the playoff is simple once again in 2025. The Irish likely only have to win 10 games to qualify and do not face the threat of losing a conference title game. Marcus Freeman’s team returns running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, and his offensive line should be improved next season with more experience. Despite the loss of defensive coordinator Al Golden to the NFL, the Irish should continue to be a force on defense and special teams.
Odds To Win National Championship (DraftKings): +1400
6. Alabama
Losing quarterback Jalen Milroe might seem like a big deal, but he was always an awkward pairing with head coach Kalen Deboer, who thrives on airing the ball out and timely throws to make his offense flourish. As always, the Tide will have one of the most talented rosters in the country, and freshman phenom Ryan Williams could go nuclear in his sophomore campaign. If Deboer misses the CFP next year, he’s already on the hot seat.
Odds To Win National Championship (DraftKings): +1400
5. Penn State
Penn State finally won a few big games under James Franklin in 2024 and made it to the semifinals of the CFP. Is that the program’s ceiling? We’ll find out, but the return of potential future first-round pick quarterback Drew Allar and running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton are significant developments. This will be a veteran-led group next season, and the wide receiver position, which plagued PSU against Notre Dame, should be much improved. Next season could be Penn State’s best shot to bring home the natty in several decades.
Odds To Win National Championship (DraftKings): +800
4. Oregon
For the first time since Dan Lanning took over the Oregon program, the Ducks won’t have a quarterback with an unbelievable amount of experience. Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel had seen everything a defense could throw at them before arriving in Eugene. Now, UCLA transfer Dante Moore is likely the next signal caller up. The jury is out on Moore after an up-and-down freshman season with the Bruins, but we know Oregon will be well-coached and won’t have a shortage of talent.
Odds To Win National Championship (DraftKings): +750
3. Georgia
Despite not having a proven quarterback, it’s hard to imagine a college football season without Georgia firmly in the mix to win a national title. The 2024-25 Georgia team was the worst one since at least 2020, yet the Dawgs still won an SEC Championship and made the College Football Playoff. Can Kirby Smart get the program back to elite status, or is his best in the past? The 2025-26 campaign will go a long way in answering that question.
Odds To Win National Championship (DraftKings): +600
2. Texas
Texas is the only team that has reached the semifinals of each of the last two College Football Playoffs. Steve Sarkisian and Quinn Ewers have had heavy hands in bringing Texas “back,” and Longhorn nation is hoping Arch Manning gets them over the hump. Sure, Manning has had limited playing time through two years in Austin, but his flashes have been extraordinary and have him in preseason Heisman Trophy talks.
Odds To Win National Championship (DraftKings): +550
1. Ohio State
Notable departures for Ohio State include quarterback Will Howard, running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, and edge rushers Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau. That said, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs are back, so the best players on offense and defense are still in the fold. If we know one thing about Ohio State, it’s that they’ll retool and reload the roster every offseason. After Ryan Day finally got over the hump and won “The Big One,” more championships could be on the way.
Odds To Win National Championship (DraftKings): +450
