Ohio State and Notre Dame are sitting right at the top of the 2026 College Football Playoff title odds, both clocking in at a +600 chance to win it all. The wait is almost over. Fall is upon us, and college football is right around the corner, which means it is time to talk National Championship contenders. These odds, hot off the press from DraftKings Sportsbook as of August 18, reveal a wide-open race, but with some very familiar faces leading the charge.
The Buckeyes and Irish Are Ready to Roll
You remember the 2024 national title game, right? Well, the two teams that squared off then, Ohio State and Notre Dame, are the co-favorites to lift the trophy this season. Ohio State has been a College Football Playoff staple, making it in 2014, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2025, even grabbing the national championship back in 2024. Talk about consistency! They are bringing back their absolute playmaker at quarterback, Julian Sayin, who balled out as a freshman with a massive 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns. And get this: he will still have one of the nation’s best receivers in Jeremiah Smith. Smith has been tearing it up, posting 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, after a ridiculous 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns the year before, which was the most by any true freshman since 2000! That receiving corps is stacked with Smith, five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr., and veteran Brandon Inniss. Good luck covering that crew.
Then you have Notre Dame. The Irish have not won a national championship since way back in 1988, but do not sleep on them. They were the last team left out of the playoff in 2025, and you just know they are coming into this season with a giant chip on their shoulder. They have a loaded roster, and with preseason Heisman favorite CJ Carr under center, anything is possible. These two teams are clearly the ones to beat if the odds are telling us anything.
The Chasers, The Shockers, and One Jaw-Dropping Line
While the top two are locked in, there are plenty of other teams making noise. Miami, at +1000, sits seventh on the oddsboard after coming oh-so-close to spoiling Indiana’s perfect season in last year’s championship game. That one had to sting, so expect the Hurricanes to be hungry. Just behind Ohio State and Notre Dame, you have Texas and Oregon tied at +750. Remember Texas opening last season as the favorite with Arch Manning? His title hopes faded fast after losing two of their first five, but Manning is back! He finished 2025 on a high note, ranking seventh in the country in touchdown passes from Week 9 on with 12. You know he is going to want to prove something.
But here is the kicker, folks. The Big Ten has absolutely dominated, winning the last three National Championships: Michigan in 2023, Ohio State in 2024, and Indiana shocking everyone in 2025. Yet, Michigan, a recent champ, is way down at +4000! That is a huge drop, and it makes you wonder what the oddsmakers are seeing. Will the Big Ten make it four straight, or is this the year a new conference finally breaks through? We are just a few weeks away from finding out, and honestly, we cannot wait for the kickoff to see how this incredible season unfolds!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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