College Football National Championship Odds 2026: Ohio State, Indiana Favorites Ahead of CFP
Despite losing the Big Ten Championship, Ohio State remains atop the college football national championship odds ahead of the College Football Playoff.
The Buckeyes are a +250 favorite to win the national championship for the second straight season. However, Indiana is hot on Ohio State's tail after defeating the reigning national champions in the Big Ten title game - the Hooisers are +280 to win their first national championship thanks to the play of Heisman Trophy favorite Fernando Mendoza.
Outside of the two Big Ten powers, the biggest favorites to win it all in college football are Georgia (+650), Texas Tech (+900), and Oregon (+900). The first round of the College Football Playoff begins on Friday, Dec. 19.
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📈 College football national championship betting insights
College football national championship betting insights via BetMGM.
| Highest ticket percentage | Highest handle percentage |
|---|---|
| Ohio State (12.4%) | Ohio State (15%) |
| Penn State (7.6%) | Texas (10.6%) |
| Texas (7.3%) | Penn State (10.1%) |
| LSU (7.2%) | LSU (7.9%) |
| Alabama (6.3%) | Alabama (7%) |
🗓️ College Football Playoff schedule
| Matchup | Date (time) | Location | How to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 8 Oklahoma | Friday, Dec. 19 (8 p.m. ET) | Memorial Stadium (Norman, Okla.) | ABC/ESPN |
| No. 10 Miami vs. No. 7 Texas A&M | Saturday, Dec. 20 (noon ET) | Kyle Field (College Station, Texas) | ABC/ESPN |
| No. 11 Tulane vs. No. 6 Ole Miss | Saturday, Dec. 20 (3:30 p.m. ET) | Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (Oxford, Miss.) | TNT/HBO Max |
| No. 12 James Madison vs. No. 5 Oregon | Saturday, Dec. 20 (7:30 p.m. ET) | Autzen Stadium (Eugene, Ore.) | TNT/HBO Max |
| TBD vs. No. 2 Ohio State | Wednesday, Dec. 31 (7:30 p.m. ET) | Cotton Bowl (AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas) | ESPN |
| TBD vs. No. 4 Texas Tech | Thursday, Jan. 1 (noon ET) | Orange Bowl (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.) | ESPN |
| TBD vs. No. 1 Indiana | Thursday, Jan. 1 (4 p.m. ET) | Rose Bowl Game (Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif.) | ESPN |
| TBD vs. No. 3 Georgia | Thursday, Jan. 1 (8 p.m. ET) | Sugar Bowl (Caesars Superdome in New Orleans) | ESPN |
| Semifinal | Thursday, Jan. 8 (7:30 p.m. ET) | Fiesta Bowl (State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.) | ESPN |
| Semifinal | Friday, Jan. 9 (7:30 p.m. ET) | Peach Bowl (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta) | ESPN |
| CFP National Championship | Monday, Jan. 19 (7:30 p.m. ET) | Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Fla.) | ESPN |
🔢 College football national championship opening odds
Odds via DraftKings.
- Ohio State (+450)
- Texas (+500)
- Georgia (+550)
- Oregon (+750)
- Penn State (+900)
- Alabama (+1200)
- Notre Dame (+1600)
- Clemson (+2000)
- LSU (+2000)
- Tennessee (+2000)
- Miami (+2500)
- Ole Miss (+2500)
- Michigan (+3000)
- Texas A&M (+3500)
- South Carolina (+4000)
- Florida (+6000)
- Oklahoma (+7000)
- USC (+7000)
- Auburn (+8000)
- SMU (+8000)
- Arizona State (+9000)
- Kansas State (+9000)
- Colorado (+10000)
- Florida State (+10000)
- Louisville (+10000)
- North Carolina (+10000)
- Iowa State (+12000)
- Utah (+12000)
- BYU (+15000)
- Indiana (+15000)
- Nebraska (+15000)
- Virginia Tech (+15000)
- Arkansas (+20000)
- Boise State (+20000)
- Illinois (+20000)
- Iowa (+20000)
- Missouri (+20000)
- Syracuse (+25000)
- Baylor (+25000)
- Georgia Tech (+25000)
- Kansas (+25000)
- NC State (+25000)
- TCU (+25000)
- Wisconsin (+25000)
- Kentucky (+30000)
- West Virginia (+30000)
💰 College football national championship odds history
| Year | Team | Preseason odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ohio State | +325 |
| 2024 | Michigan | +800 |
| 2023 | Georgia | +350 |
| 2022 | Georgia | +600 |
| 2021 | Alabama | +300 |
| 2020 | LSU | +2500 |
| 2019 | Clemson | +400 |
| 2018 | Alabama | +250 |
| 2017 | Clemson | +700 |
| 2016 | Alabama | +700 |
| 2015 | Ohio State | +4000 |
| 2014 | Florida State | +1600 |
❓ College football national championship FAQs
Who is the favorite to win the college football national championship?
Ohio State and Indiana are the favorites to win the college football national championship for the 2025-26 season. The Buckeyes' odds (+250) and Hooisers' odds (+280) imply a better than 26% probability that one of them will win the championship, according to our odds calculator.
Who won the college football national championship last year?
The Ohio State Buckeyes won last year's CFP National Championship, defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 34-23 in Atlanta.
When will the college football national championship be decided?
The 2026 college football national championship will be decided on Monday, Jan. 19.
Where will the college football national championship take place?
The 2026 college football national championship will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
When does the College Football Playoff start?
The 2025-2026 College Football Playoff begins Friday, Dec. 19, with the first of four first-round games; the other three will be played Saturday, Dec. 20. The quarterfinal games will then be played on Wednesday, Dec. 31, and Thursday, Jan. 1.
The semifinal games will be Thursday, Jan. 8, and Friday, Jan. 9, with the championship game slated for Monday, Jan. 19, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Who has won the most college football championships?
Yale has won the most college football championships with 18. Alabama ranks second with 16 total victories, and the Crimson Tide's three championships in the College Football Playoff era also stand as the most.
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