Ohio State capped off the 2024 college football season with a 34–23 win over Notre Dame, securing its first national championship since 2014 and silencing the critics that had hounded Ryan Day after four straight losses to Michigan.
The Buckeyes’ title run was a statement of resilience, power, and postseason poise—restoring the program’s place among the sport’s elite.
As the expanded 12-team playoff era continues, challengers like Texas and Oregon loom, but Ohio State has reasserted itself as the standard everyone else is chasing. Let’s look at the top five programs’ projected odds to win the 2025 CFP National Championship and why they are atop the oddsboard.
Texas (+550) enters the 2025 college football season as the consensus favorite to win the National Championship, and it's easy to see why. Even after sending 14 players to the NFL, the Longhorns are reloaded with a breadth of talent and depth as Steve Sarkisian returns key players from last year’s 13-win squad and supplemented his roster with the top recruiting class in the country.
His use of the transfer portal — especially at defensive tackle with Cole Brevard, Travis Shaw, and Hero Kanu — shows a keen understanding of immediate team needs. With Arch Manning finally taking the reins under center, Texas has both star power and balance to justify its top billing.
No team in the nation can match Georgia's (+600) sheer roster depth, but the quarterback position remains a concern. Gunner Stockton is a gifted athlete with the ability to extend plays, yet his lack of experience could prove costly in tight games. The Bulldogs' defense has also regressed over the last two years, giving up significantly more on the ground than their dominant units from 2019-2022.
That said, Georgia’s manageable schedule—home games against Texas and Alabama and just three SEC road trips—positions them for another deep postseason run. If Stockton can steady the offense, Georgia remains a true title contender.
The Buckeyes (+600) are loaded with blue-chip talent, too, but they are also entering the season with new coordinators and a raft of fresh starters on both sides of the ball. Julian Sayin, a top-10 recruit, has massive shoes to fill at quarterback, and while weapons like Jeremiah Smith and James Peoples are elite, chemistry remains a work in progress.
It remains to be seen how defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will adapt from the NFL to college ball. Ohio State’s season opener against Texas will immediately reveal whether this team is ready for another championship push or still in transition.
After years of knocking on the door, Penn State (+750) might finally be ready to kick it down. James Franklin’s team returns 14 starters, including a veteran quarterback in Drew Allar and one of the best running back duos in the country with Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen.
Franklin’s hiring of Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator should elevate a defense that’s already one of the nation’s most consistent units. If the receiving corps — upgraded through the portal — can take a step forward, this could be the most complete team Franklin has fielded.
Despite losing over 30 players from last year’s squad, Alabama (+1100) still boasts 15 returning starters. The biggest concern is at quarterback, where Ty Simpson is largely untested and true freshman Keelon Russell waits in the wings.
DeBoer has a track record of developing quarterbacks quickly, but this might be a season too soon for Alabama to reclaim dominance. The Tide are always a threat, but their current odds reflect more of a legacy reputation than a clear path to the title.
Here’s the comprehensive National Championship oddsboard of every program in the country.
2025 CFP National Championship Odds
Texas: +550Georgia: +600Ohio State: +600Penn State: +750Alabama: +1100Oregon: +1100Clemson: +1300Notre Dame: +1300LSU: +1600Florida: +3300Michigan: +3600Miami Florida: +3900Texas A&M: +3900Ole Miss: +4200Oklahoma: +5000Auburn: +5500South Carolina: +6000USC: +7500Tennessee: +7500Louisville: +8000SMU: +10000Kansas State: +10000Utah: +12000Arizona State: +12000Georgia Tech: +13000Texas Tech: +13000Indiana: +15000TCU: +16000Iowa: +16000Nebraska: +17000Baylor: +18000Illinois: +19000Washington: +21000Missouri: +27000Iowa State: +34000Kansas: +37000Boise State: +43000 Duke: +47000Michigan State: +49000Minnesota: +50000Florida State: +50000Arkansas: +60000BYU: +65000NC State: +70000Tulane: +80000Pittsburgh: +85000Houston: +95000Colorado: +95000Charlotte: +100000Western Kentucky: +100000North Texas: +100000Cincinnati: +100000Vanderbilt: +100000Army: +100000WV Mountaineers: +100000Temple: +100000Troy: +100000Navy: +100000Arizona: +100000Mississippi State: +100000North Carolina: +100000FIU: +100000Colorado State: +100000East Carolina: +100000Kent State: +100000Old Dominion: +100000Virginia Tech: +100000Maryland: +100000Toledo: +100000Oklahoma State: +100000Wisconsin: +100000Central Michigan: +100000Virginia: +100000Air Force: +100000Connecticut: +100000Bowling Green: +100000Utah State: +100000California: +100000Marshall: +100000Sam Houston State: +100000Kennesaw State: +100000Northern Illinois: +100000Georgia Southern: +100000Hawaii: +100000Miami Ohio: +100000Syracuse: +100000Liberty: +100000Florida Atlantic: +100000New Mexico State: +100000Kentucky: +100000UTSA: +100000Louisiana Tech: +100000UCF: +100000Louisiana: +100000Western Michigan: +100000Middle Tennessee: +100000Tulsa: +100000Buffalo: +100000UL Monroe: +100000New Mexico: +100000Ball State: +100000Appalachian State: +100000Ohio: +100000UCLA: +100000Texas State: +100000South Alabama: +100000Southern Miss: +100000Boston College: +100000Massachusetts: +100000UTEP: +100000Eastern Michigan: +100000Georgia State: +100000Wyoming: +100000Fresno State: +100000Washington State: +100000Coastal Carolina: +100000Memphis: +100000Northwestern: +100000James Madison: +100000UAB: +100000Rice: +100000Stanford: +100000Purdue: +100000Nevada: +100000San Jose State: +100000San Diego State: +100000Wake Forest: +100000South Florida: +100000Oregon State: +100000Arkansas State: +100000Jacksonville State: +100000UNLV: +100000
