College Football HQ

College football national championship odds released for 2026 season

Indiana will open at an 8-1 shot to repeat as champions, but that's only the fifth best odds.
Joe Cox|
Ohio State and Jeremiah Smith came up short in the 2025 season, but at least according to one online sports book, the Buckeyes open as favorites to win it all in 2026.
Ohio State and Jeremiah Smith came up short in the 2025 season, but at least according to one online sports book, the Buckeyes open as favorites to win it all in 2026. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Ohio State BuckeyesNotre Dame Fighting IrishOregon DucksTexas LonghornsIndiana Hoosiers

Congrats to the Indiana Hoosiers and now, who's going to win in 2026? If that felt a bit abrupt, well, the action is already out there for the taking. According to odds from BetMGM, the Hoosiers are fifth in the list of favorites to claim the 2026 title in the immediate aftermath of the title game. It'll be interesting if the anticipated move of Fernando Mendoza officially entering the NFL Draft has any impact.

While four teams are ahead of Indiana in the 2026 betting favorite race, some of the sport's top programs are comfortably behind the Hoosiers. Needless to say, things will likely change as the 2026 season approaches, but as things stand, it's another Big Ten team that opens as the favorite to claim the title.

The 2026 title favorite

Preseason favorite Ohio State is sitting at 6-1 to claim the national title. The return of QB Julian Sayin and all-everything WR Jeremiah Smith are two reasons the Buckeyes make sense as an early top dog. Ohio State was in the thick of the 2025 race, but after a 12-0 start, dropped its next two games to head home early.

Other most likely 2026 title winners

Just behind the Buckeyes as a potential title winner are a trio of very different squads, each with a unique potential CFP path. Marcus Freeman's Notre Dame squad opens at 7-1, just behind the Buckeyes in terms of national title ambitions. Notre Dame was the first team out of the CFP field this season and after a healthy portal and freshman recruiting year, Freeman is poised to make noise.

Likewise, a pair of powers with returning QB strength will be worth watching. Oregon, with the return of Dante Moore, opens as a 7-1 title bet, the same as Texas will open with Arch Manning back under center. Both teams had high expectations in 2025, but Texas missed the CFP altogether while Oregon was boatraced in the CFP semifinals by Indiana.

Longshots and coaches in new places

Georgia followed Indiana in the betting race at 9-1, with every other team coming at least 15-1. There are some surprises: Lane Kiffin's LSU team at 15-1 is a much shorter bet than his old team, Ole Miss, at 40-1. Penn State was a top team in the 2025 preseason but under new coach Matt Campbell, the Nittany Lions will open as a 50-1 title bet.

Alabama is a 15-1 preseason title pick, potentially the longest odds the Tide have faced in several years. Not only LSU, but fellow SEC foe Texas A&M is also a 15-1 pick, as is 2025's Big 12 surprise, Texas Tech.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Published
Joe Cox
JOE COX

Joe is a journalist and writer who covers college and professional sports. He has written or co-written over a dozen sports books, including several regional best sellers. His last book, A Fine Team Man, is about Jackie Robinson and the lives he changed. Joe has been a guest on MLB Network, the Paul Finebaum show and numerous other television and radio shows. He has been inside MLB dugouts, covered bowl games and conference tournaments with Saturday Down South and still loves telling the stories of sports past and present.

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