Ohio State National Championship Odds Slide Following Chip Kelly Departure

Ohio State is fresh off a National Championship season as the team invested immense resources to build the Buckeyes 2024 roster. However, with success comes more opportunity.

The Buckeyes’ National Championship odds for 2025 have taken a slide since opening as the favorite following its title game win against Notre Dame on the heels that both offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles are leaving the program.

Raiders hiring Chip Kelly as new offensive coordinator. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/yklEQ3Ln2a
— NFL (@NFL) February 2, 2025

Sources: Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is finalizing a three-year deal to become the new defensive coordinator at Penn State. It averages $3.1 million over three years. pic.twitter.com/fdI7ajMx4o
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 26, 2025

The Buckeyes have slid from +450 at open to +600.

Kelly is returning to the NFL to be offensive coordinator of the Las Vegas Raiders while Knowles is taking the same job at rival Penn State. As the Buckeyes look to retool for another title run around star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith there are plenty of questions both on the field and on the sidelines around head coach Ryan Day.

The Buckeyes are still National Championship favorites, but the gap has narrowed as head coach Ryan Day will be tasked with filling even more holes on the roster now.

While Kelly is leaving for the NFL, Knowles will be a direct competitor of the Buckeyes as he joins last year’s semifinalist Penn State. The Nittany Lions had a vacant position at DC after Tom Allen took the same job at Clemson.

The Nittany Lions have moved slightly, down from +850 to +800 as the team looks to load up to take down Ohio State in 2025.

For now, here are the updated title odds as the offseason continues in college football.

2026 National Championship Odds

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Ohio State: +600
Texas: +650
Oregon: +650
Georgia: +700
Penn State: +800
Notre Dame: +1200
Tennessee: +1600
Alabama: +1600
Clemson: +1800
LSU: +2000
Ole Miss: +2300
Michigan: +2800
Texas A&M: +3000
South Carolina: +4000
Miami (Florida): +4000
Florida: +5000

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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