In 2024, Ohio State won its first NCAA Football National Championship since 2024. With the 2025 NCAA football season set to begin this month, the Buckeyes are among the early betting favorites to win the 2025-26 National Championship. Also in the running are the Texas Longhorns, who feature Heisman Trophy betting favorite Arch Manning at quarterback, as well as the 2021 and 2022 national champions, the Georgia Bulldogs. Clemson, Penn State, and Notre Dame are among the teams receiving consideration to win the title before the start of the 2025 NCAA football season.
With the 2025 NCAA football season fast approaching, we look at the favorites to win the national championship. Before we do that, make sure to check out our NCAAF playoff odds, as well as all of our NCAA football odds.
| 2025-26 National Champion |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | +550 | +600 | +500 |
| Ohio State | +650 | +650 | +500 |
| Georgia | +650 | +650 | +650 |
| Clemson | +800 | +850 | +1000 |
| Penn State | +800 | +700 | +750 |
| Notre Dame | +900 | +1000 | +1200 |
| Oregon | +1000 | +1100 | +1000 |
| Alabama | +1200 | +900 | +1000 |
| LSU | +1800 | +1400 | +1600 |
| Mississippi | +3000 | +3300 | +4000 |
| Michigan | +3500 | +3300 | +2500 |
| Miami Florida | +3500 | +2800 | +3500 |
| Texas A&M | +4000 | +3300 | +3500 |
| Florida | +4000 | +3300 | +3000 |
| South Carolina | +5000 | +6600 | +5000 |
| Tennessee | +5500 | +6600 | +5000 |
| Oklahoma | +5500 | +5000 | +5000 |
| Auburn | +6000 | +5500 | +6000 |
| USC | +7500 | +6600 | +8000 |
| Louisville | +8000 | +8000 | +8000 |
| Arizona State | +10000 | +12500 | +10000 |
| Indiana | +10000 | +12500 | +10000 |
| SMU | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
It would be a massive understatement to say there are high expectations for Arch Manning’s first year as the starting quarterback in Texas. Not only is Manning expected to win the Heisman Trophy, but fans are also looking for the 21-year-old to lead the Longhorns to their first national championship since 2005.
According to 247 Sports, Texas has the best recruiting class for 2025, adding five five-star players and 14 four-star recruits.
The Longhorns have a tough schedule for Manning’s first year as a starter. They open the season on the road against Ohio State and also have road games against Florida and Georgia before closing out the year against Texas A&M at home.
Two teams have won back-to-back national championships since 2000. Those teams are Alabama in 2011 and 2012 and Georgia in 2021 and 2022. The Ohio State Buckeyes look to become the third team to capture the national championship in consecutive years.
Ohio State lost 14 players to the 2025 NFL draft, which tied the school record set in 2004. While that number might doom some schools, Ohio State is not just some school. The Buckeyes have had 10 or more players selected in the NFL draft five times since 1994. The team’s recruiting class for the upcoming season added three five-star players and 18 four-star commits, according to 247 Sports, which ranked Ohio State as the No. 4 team for 2025.
Like Texas, Ohio State does not have an easy schedule. The club opens the season at home against Texas before road games against Washington, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Unlike Texas, Ohio State does not have a starting quarterback set as Lincoln Kienholz and Julian Sayin compete to replace Will Howard.
Most of the focus on the SEC for 2025 has been on Arch Manning and Texas. While the Longhorns deserve their share of the spotlight, the Georgia Bulldogs should not be overlooked when it comes to winning that conference or the 2025 national championship.
Like Texas, Georgia has a new starting quarterback in Gunnar Stockton. The team will also have four new offensive linemen in front of Stockton. Georgia needs its receivers to be more dependable this year. Last year the team had the most dropped passes in the Power 4. The Bulldogs also need to improve their running game to help Stockton.
Georgia did a great job recruiting ahead of this season, picking up the No. 2 ranking by adding five five-star players and a whopping 20 four-star recruits.
See below the best online betting sites. You can read our comprehensive reviews to help determine the best option for your 2025-26 NCAA Football National Championship bets.
