CFP National Championship 2025-26 Odds: Hook‘em Horns?

Ohio State Buckeyes – Dynasty in Progress?

• • Head Coach: Ryan Day
  • 2024-25 Record: 14-2 (National Champions)
  • National Titles: 9
  • Key Players: Julian Sayin (QB), Jeremiah Smith (WR), Carnell Tate (WR), Caleb Downs (S), Sonny Styles (LB)

After sitting on the hot seat for a couple of years, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day finally finished the job and led the Buckeyes to a national title. Entering the eight-team College Football Playoff as a No. 8 seed, Ohio State defeated Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame in the championship.

With starting QB Will Howard testing the waters in the NFL, the Buckeyes had a quarterback battle to determine QB1 for the 2025-26 season. Unsurprisingly, QB Julian Sayin took over the starting seat and has looked fine thus far. The important thing for the Buckeyes is that Sayin has continued to show progress throughout the season.

Sayin has passed for 2,188 yards, 23 touchdowns, and three interceptions on a wildly impressive 80.7% completions. There was doubt entering the season on whether Sayin is going to be that guy. However, the sophomore has answered the call, and keeps getting stronger and gaining more confidence.

The sophomore from Carlsbad, CA, has entered the Heisman Trophy conversation, and may even be the clear frontrunner. If I’m voting right now, Sayin would be my pick. He is operating with a bevy of incredible receiving talent on this roster, so don’t look past his weapons.

Julian Sayin and his WR1s were at it again in Week 10 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HaEVtRqEQE

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) November 1, 2025

WR Jeremiah Smith and WR Carnell Tate have been unstoppable weapons in the passing game. Smith has hauled in 55 receptions for 725 yards and nine touchdowns. On the other side, Tate is dominating, too, with 711 yards and seven touchdowns on 39 receptions.

Either receiver has the potential to explode, and oftentimes it’s both of them having monster games. It puts immense pressure on defenses and is almost impossible to stop at times. With RB Bo Jackson rushing for 538 yards on 6.6 yards per carry, defensive coordinators have to guess.

The offense jumped all over Penn State this past week to advance to 8-0 and 5-0 in the Big Ten. This isn’t even what makes the Buckeyes a special team. The defense is historically stout up front and in the secondary.

Overall, Ohio State leads the NCAA with an insane points against mark of 6.88 per game. They’re seventh in the nation against the run and third against the pass, yielding only 133 yards passing per contest!

CALEB DOWNS INTERCEPTION IN THE END ZONE @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/qeTy6ztlqH

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 1, 2025

Led by S Caleb Downs and CB Jermaine Matthews Jr., Ohio State has just reloaded from last year. They’re also dominating in the box with LB Arvell Reese and DE Caden Curry.

The defensive depth is incredible, and even with an injury or two, expect the Buckeyes to keep on producing at an elite level. The champions are deservedly favored to repeat this year.

Indiana Hoosiers – Is the Hoosiers’ Season a Fluke?

• Head Coach: Curt Cignetti
• 2024-25 Record: 11-2 (Loss CFP to Notre Dame)
• National Titles: 0
• Key Players: Fernando Mendoza (QB), Omar Cooper Jr. (WR), Elijah Sarratt (WR), Louis Moore (CB), Rolijah Hardy (LB)

The Indiana Hoosiers are in the midst of a memorable campaign that could end in glory in the College Football Playoff. In the biggest shocker this season, Indiana looks like a powerhouse and, no, it doesn’t appear to be a fluke.

This is a strong team, and they certainly deserve to have the second-best odds to win the CFP behind Ohio State. Led by a well-balanced offense with QB Fernando Mendoza under center and a host of running backs, the Hoosiers are proving they aren’t a flash in the pan.

Fernando Mendoza said SEE YA ✌️@IndianaFootball is absolutely dominating in this one pic.twitter.com/EXtFpEaQHZ

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 25, 2025

Mendoza has passed for 2,124 yards, 25 touchdowns, and four interceptions on 72.3% completions. He’s also rushed for 220 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. While Mendoza isn’t the leading favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, he is likely to go to the Heisman ceremony with Sayin.

He’s found a rhythm with WR Omar Cooper Jr. and WR Elijah Sarratt. They’re delivering consistently and are massive weapons in the red zone. Cooper Jr. has collected eight touchdowns, while Sarratt leads the Hoosiers with 10 touchdowns. Has Indiana played an elite defense yet, though?

The Oregon Ducks are one of the better units in football and the Hoosiers went into Eugene for a 30-20 victory in a hostile environment. Since that win, Indiana avoided a letdown with wins over Michigan State, 38-13, UCLA, 56-6, and Maryland, 55-10, so it hasn’t even been close.

Indiana’s defense has risen to the occasion as well. They are third in the FBS, as Curt Cignetti’s defense has held opponents to 10.78 points per game. The Hoosiers are seventh, having allowed 248.3 yards a game this season. LB Rolijah Hardy has been tormenting quarterbacks with five sacks, while DL Tyrique Tucker chipped in with 4.5 sacks this season.

In the secondary, CB Louis Moore has been involved at all levels as a pass defender and tackler. In other words, they are getting contributions all over the field. Combined with a consistent, well-balanced offense, Indiana’s season isn’t a fluke. I don’t know if they have enough weapons to keep pace with Ohio State, though!

Alabama Crimson Tide – Are the Crimson Tide Back?

• Head Coach: Kalen DeBoer
• 2024-25 Record: 9-4 (Missed Playoffs)
• National Titles: 18
• Key Players: Ty Simpson (QB), Ryan Williams (WR), Germie Benard (WR), Bray Hubbard (S), Yhonzae Pierre (LB), Justin Jefferson (LB)

The Alabama Crimson Tide are back in business after an early season mishap. This season looked like a lost cause after a 31-17 Week 1 defeat to the Florida State Seminoles. There was talk of whether head coach Kalen DeBoer was the right person for the job, but they’ve responded over the last seven games.

Alabama is 7-1 and a perfect 5-0 in the SEC. They’re back in the national conversation mix after wins over ranked opponents in four straight weeks. In their latest effort, the Crimson Tide survived a big-time scare in a 29-22 win over South Carolina. They were down late, and somehow turned it into a seven-point victory. It was another high-level performance from QB Ty Simpson, as he added to his phenomenal numbers.

NFL Draft Analyst Todd McShay compared Ty Simpson’s film this season to the likes of Joe Burrow’s.

Simpson’s draft stock is only growing by the day. 📈 pic.twitter.com/XeBfniekMb

— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) October 24, 2025

Simpson has completed 67.8% of passes for 20 touchdowns and only one interception! As it stands, I have Sayin and Simpson in a dead heat for the Heisman Trophy. If Ohio State stays perfect, it’ll be tough to vote against their BQ, but Simpson is a worthy winner, according to his resume thus far.

Alabama has the offense with Simpson passing to WR Germie Benard and WR Ryan Williams. However, is the Crimson Tide’s defense up to par compared to Ohio State and Indiana? They’ve looked out of sorts at times and not as well-disciplined.

This isn’t the same lockdown Nick Saban defense that we witnessed during the dynasty, but they are solid. Alabama has allowed 312.1 yards per game, for 24th in the FBS. With 18.12 points conceded, they are a few steps behind the best defenses in the nation. Simpson is great, but I can’t put Alabama ahead of the Buckeyes and Hoosiers.