The Michigan Wolverines are the defending College Football Playoff (CFP) National Champions. The Wolverines are eager to begin their title-defending campaign despite sweeping departures. The upcoming college football campaign will be the first to feature the new 12-team playoff format. Several contenders await their opportunity.
Florida State and Georgia Tech will kick off Week 0 of the upcoming campaign in approximately one week. BetOnline recently updated their odds for the 2025 College Football Playoff winner. The following programs earned favorable odds:
- Georgia (+300)
- Ohio State (+400)
- Oregon (+650)
- Texas (+750)
- Alabama (+1200)
- Ole Miss (+1400)
- LSU (+2000)
- Penn State (+2200)
- Notre Dame (+2200)
- Michigan/Florida State (+3300)
THE FAVORITE AND MY PICK: GEORGIA
The 2023 season was a bit of a reset for the Georgia Bulldogs. Head coach Kirby Smart had to navigate several high-end departures while attempting to defend consecutive national titles. A defeat to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game ultimately denied Georgia’s entrance into the playoff.
Some of the bigger losses heading into last season included quarterback Stetson Bennett and defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Carson Beck replaced Bennett as the starting QB and proved capable of playing high-level ball. With Beck now entering his second season as a more mature and experienced starter, the Bulldogs are rightful favorites to win the National Championship.
Five Georgia players were selected in the first round of our latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft. In addition to Beck, defensive end Mykel Williams (at No. 1 overall), interior offensive lineman Tate Ratledge, safety Malaki Starks, and tight end Oscar Delp were top-32 picks in Damian Parson's mock.
THE NO. 1 CONTENDER: OHIO STATE
Ohio State did a phenomenal job keeping their core intact this offseason. Several ascending prospects opted to return to school, foregoing opportunities to enter the 2024 NFL Draft. That lengthy list includes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, guard Donovan Jackson, and defensive ends J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer.
Running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson could form college football's best backfield duo. The Big Ten has been strengthened by the additions of Oregon, Washington, USC, and UCLA, but the defending champion Wolverines have been weakened by the departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh. Ohio State is the favorite to win the conference. Achieving that goal would give them momentum heading into the playoff.
DON’T SLEEP ON: TEXAS
The Texas Longhorns are finally joining the SEC after winning the Big 12 last season. Head coach Steve Sarkisian must help his program handle the step up in competition, but Texas is talented enough to immediately rub elbows with Georgia and Alabama as the new three-headed monster of the SEC. The Longhorns have been eagerly awaiting this opportunity.
Quinn Ewers returns as one of the better-performing QBs in all of college football. Ewers oversaw one of the most effective offenses in the nation last year by throwing for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns. Isaiah Bond, an incoming transfer from Alabama, is the new WR1 and left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. may be the best offensive tackle in the country. This Texas roster is loaded with premium talent.
