2026 CFP National Championship Predictions, Odds: Two SEC Picks (and Nebraska)
There's only one game left in the current college football campaign, which we break down with our Ohio State vs. Notre Dame expert picks, but it's never too early to look ahead to next year with our 2026 national championship predictions.
We're diving into next season's CFP title odds and picking three winners: a favorite, a contender, and a long shot. The 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship will take place on Jan. 19 (ESPN) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Ohio State - the favorite by the college football championship odds to beat Notre Dame - is also favored at our best college football betting sites to lift the CFP National Championship trophy next season. Other playoff finalists this year, such as Georgia, Oregon, and Texas, are in the title mix for next year.
2026 College Football Playoff National Championship odds
Here are the latest CFP National Championship odds via FanDuel for every team with 100/1 odds or shorter. We broke down the full 2025-26 CFP National Championship opening odds last week.
- Ohio State (+450)
- Georgia (+650)
- Oregon (+650)
- Texas (+650)
- Penn State (+850)
- Alabama (+1400)
- Notre Dame (+1400)
- Tennessee (+1600)
- Clemson (+1800)
- LSU (+2300)
- Ole Miss (+2300)
- Michigan (+3500)
- Texas A&M (+3500)
- Miami (+4000)
- South Carolina (+4000)
- Auburn (+5000)
- Florida (+5000)
- Louisville (+6000)
- SMU (+6000)
- Oklahoma (+7500)
- Florida State (+8500)
- Indiana (+8500)
- Arizona State (+10000)
- Baylor (+10000)
- Kansas (+10000)
- Kansas State (+10000)
- Missouri (+10000)
- Nebraska (+10000)
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2026 CFP National Championship betting favorite
Texas national championship odds: +650
Best odds: +650 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 13.33%
Alabama retains Ryan Williams, Ohio State returns Jeremiah Smith, and Oregon brings in Mekhi Hughes as some of the top skill players to watch in 2025-26. But nobody will be more excited for next year than Texas, which hands the keys over to Arch Manning.
Manning is one of the most highly anticipated college quarterbacks in recent memory, and for good reason. He appeared in 10 games during his redshirt freshman campaign, where he racked up over 1,000 total yards and 13 touchdowns with just two interceptions.
The Longhorns are inevitably losing some talent to the 2025 NFL Draft odds, but Steve Sarkisian has built this roster for continued success. Thus, it's unlikely Texas will regress next season.
The conference schedule remains the same in 2025, with inversed locations. This sets the Longhorns up nicely as they were handed a favorable fixture list in their debut season in the SEC. Is Manning the one to lead Texas to the promised land for the first time since 2005? There's a lot of optimism in Austin.
2026 CFP National Championship betting contender
LSU national championship odds: +2300
Best odds: +2300 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 4.17%
Brian Kelly has come under fire in recent weeks for old comments that resurfaced following his Notre Dame departure as the Fighting Irish prepare to play for a national championship. However, many don't realize the difficulty of the rebuild in Baton Rouge.
LSU's 2025-26 roster finally looks like one that can compete for titles. It better be with mounting pressure on Kelly ahead of his fourth season.
Garrett Nussmeier returns for his senior season to quarterback a team that's won 29 games over the past three seasons. He'll be joined by a plethora of experienced starters - such as Aaron Anderson, Caden Durham, Harold Perkins, and Whit Weeks - as well as a top-10 recruiting class and the nation's top transfer class.
The Tigers have one of the best top-to-bottom rosters on paper in the nation ahead of next season, so the expectations are sky-high. Making the College Football Playoff is a minimum requirement with a navigable SEC schedule, and a Week 1 trip to Clemson will reveal how ready the team is to contend.
If LSU can get to the dance - which will be its toughest task - it has enough talent to compete for a title. Our best sportsbooks are giving the Tigers a 4.17% implied probability of winning their second championship in the last decade. This means a winning $10 wager returns $230 in profit.
2026 CFP National Championship betting long shot
Nebraska national championship odds: +15000
Best odds: +15000 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 0.66%
Say what you will about Matt Rhule's time in the NFL, but he has a proven track record in college.
Rhule is a successful program-builder, and his teams have historically improved the most in Year 3. Baylor and Temple had a combined record of 21-7 in the third season under the now-49-year-old after combining to go 13-12 the previous campaign.
If you hadn't guessed it by now, he's entering that period in Lincoln, Neb. The Cornhuskers have improved upon the 4-8 record under Scott Frost during his final season, with Rhule's teams posting 5-7 and 7-6 records over the last two seasons.
Nebraska's upcoming schedule is favorable for its chance to continue ascending the Big Ten standings. The Cornhuskers avoid two of the conference's heaviest hitters, Ohio State and Oregon, with the one true test being a trip to Penn State. They also host Iowa, Michigan, and USC.
Could this be enough to earn the team its first College Football Playoff at-large bid? After all, as a long shot, simply getting into the 12-team field would be considered a massive step in the right direction.
Nebraska will have offensive consistency as Dylan Raiola returns for his sophomore season under center. The Cornhuskers also hope to surround him with weapons from their No. 22 recruiting class and No. 6 transfer class.
Suffice to say, things are looking up for one of the sport's bluebloods, regardless of what the books believe. DraftKings gives Nebraska +15000 odds to win a national title for the first time this century. It's unlikely Rhule's men will get over the hump this season, but with a 0.66% implied probability, they're worth a flier.
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