The 2024-25 college football season is nearly here, and there are plenty of changes to consider when assessing the CFP National Championship odds for the upcoming campaign.
This year will be the first with the expanded College Football Playoff, which jumps from four teams to 12, opening the door for those that don’t win their conference championship or suffer multiple losses to remain in the mix.
If keeping track of coaching changes and player movement via the transfer portal wasn’t hard enough, conference realignment has also shifted the college football landscape. The Power 5 conferences are now the Power 4 after most Pac-12 schools joined the ACC, Big Ten, or Big 12.
Luckily, we’ve sorted through the chaos and assessed the odds to make our 2025 CFP National Championship predictions.
CFP National Championship Odds 2025
NCAAF odds used for these National Championship predictions are current as of Friday, Aug. 16, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Georgia (+300)
- Ohio State (+380)
- Oregon (+750)
- Texas (+850)
- Alabama (+1400)
- Ole Miss (+1500)
- LSU (+2000)
- Penn State (+2200)
- Notre Dame (+2200)
- Florida State (+2800)
- Michigan (+3500)
- Tennessee (+3500)
Stay on top of all the college football betting markets this season with our odds comparison tool.
Who Will Win the 2025 College Football National Championship?
Georgia (+300)
The Bulldogs are the favorites to win the National Championship, and for good reason.
After missing out on the College Football Playoff last year, Kirby Smart’s squad brings in the nation’s top recruiting class and a handful of impact transfers, including running back Trevor Etienne from Florida.
Quarterback Carson Beck, who threw for nearly 4,000 yards last season, returns for his senior year and is among the favorites in the Heisman Trophy odds.
Georgia has a difficult schedule, including neutral-site games against Clemson and Florida, road dates at Alabama and Texas in 2024, and a potential SEC Championship Game. But this roster is deep and probably the most balanced in the country, making UGA a prime candidate to win its third national championship in four years.
The Bulldogs will open the season as the No. 1 team in the country and are a worthy play as one of our college football best bets.
CFP National Championship Contenders
Ohio State (+380)
The Buckeyes endured significant turnover this offseason with the departures of 2023 Biletnikoff winner Marvin Harrison Jr. and quarterback Kyle McCord, who transferred to Syracuse. However, Ryan Day’s squad brings in top-10 recruiting and transfer classes, which should go a long way to replenishing the talent pool.
On offense, Kansas State transfer Will Howard is set to take over under center, while former Ole Miss RB Quinshon Judkins will give the Buckeyes’ backfield a dynamic one-two punch with TreVeyon Henderson. The defense should also continue to improve in Year 3 under DC Jim Knowles.
The 12-team playoff is another positive for Ohio State, whose path to the National Championship had been blocked by Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan the last three seasons. The Buckeyes should benefit from Harbaugh returning to the NFL and multiple Big Ten teams likely reaching the College Football Playoff in the conference’s 18-team setup.
Ohio State’s schedule features challenging tests at Oregon and Penn State, but the Buckeyes will be favored in all eight home games, including their date with arch-rival Wolverines on Nov. 30.
I’d rather bet Georgia at a similar price, but the Buckeyes should be in the mix come season’s end.
Oregon (+750)
The Ducks would’ve made an expanded CFP field last season, but two three-point losses to Washington denied Dan Lanning’s squad a chance at a National Championship.
Still, the former Georgia DC has built a legitimate roster in Eugene, bringing in top-three recruiting and transfer classes that should have the Ducks contending in their first season in the Big Ten.
Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel is set to replace Heisman Trophy finalist Bo Nix under center, and a sometimes shaky pass defense should be much improved after making several additions on the back end.
Oregon also got a decent draw with its schedule, getting Ohio State and Washington at home and avoiding Penn State. As long as Gabriel can stay healthy, this team is a legitimate threat to win the National Championship.
CFP National Championship Sleepers
Penn State (+2200)
Penn State has traditionally been the odd team out in the Big Ten East, usually playing third fiddle behind Michigan and Ohio State. However, the Nittany Lions now have a chance to grace the College Football Playoff for the first time.
James Franklin’s squad returns 74% of its offensive production and 66% of its defensive production from the team that won 10 games a season ago and got an ideal schedule draw. Penn State will welcome Ohio State to Happy Valley on Nov. 2 and avoids traditionally strong teams like Oregon, Washington, and Michigan.
- See where your favorite team stacks up in our College Football Power Rankings.
As long as quarterback Drew Allar can take the next step in his development, especially in the vertical passing game, where he struggled last season, the Nittany Lions should make the playoff. Can they win the natty? Franklin’s record in big games would indicate that’s probably a step too far.
Notre Dame (+2200)
Notre Dame is another big winner of the 12-team playoff format, as its lack of a conference championship is no longer the significant hindrance it was in years past.
The Fighting Irish enter the season as the No. 7 team in the AP Top 25 after a disappointing 9-3 campaign, but the potential for a bounce-back is there thanks to a strong talent pool and a soft schedule.
Notre Dame will face just three ranked teams (Texas A&M, Florida State, and USC) and is currently favored to win them all except the Week 1 showdown in College Station.
That game against the Aggies could come quickly, especially for an offense with a new offensive coordinator (Mike Denbrock), new quarterback (Duke transfer Riley Leonard), and lost standout LT Joe Alt to the NFL.
Still, the Fighting Irish should win 10-plus games and compete for the No. 5 seed. Winning three playoff games will be tough, but Marcus Freeman’s team has a chance to overcome these longer odds.
