2026 CFP National Championship Odds: Ohio State Leads at +260

• Track the CFP National Championship odds for every contending NCAA football program
• Ohio State enters Week 9 as the heavy national championship favorite
• The graphs below show the movement in the NCAAF Championship odds throughout the season

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We’re tracking the 2025-26 college football national championship odds for all major contenders through the entire season. The current CFP Championship odds from leading sportsbooks are displayed below, highlighting the best available prices for each team.

Our graphs plot the championship odds movement over time with detailed analysis explaining the shifts. National title odds opened immediately after last season’s championship game, and Ohio State has emerged as the new favorite following Week 1 action. Check out the complete championship odds below with detailed line movement notes.

The 2026 CFP Championship game takes place Monday, January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

2026 National Championship Odds

Ohio State currently leads the pack as favorites for the 2026 CFP National Championship. A $20 wager on the Buckeyes at +260 odds would profit $52 and return $72 total. Those odds translate to a 27.8% implied probability for Ohio State to cut down the nets in Miami.

The Buckeyes sit ahead of Alabama (+650), Indiana (+800), and Oregon (+975) in the title race. Ohio State has separated from the field after dominating Wisconsin 34-0, with Julian Sayin throwing for 393 yards and four touchdowns. Their defense has been suffocating, allowing just 41 points through seven games.

Texas and Ohio State started the season as co-favorites in preseason betting. After the Buckeyes’ suffocating defensive effort against Arch Manning and Texas in Columbus, Ohio State pulled away as the clear favorite. Their 14-7 win proved that elite defense still decides championships, even when the offense sputters.

The odds table above displays real-time 2026 CFP Championship prices. Additionally, the graph below tracks how national title odds have shifted since opening day.

*National championship odds refresh every 1-2 hours based on the time of day, pulling from leading sports betting platforms like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM; new users at DraftKings should grab the latest DraftKings promo before betting.

Track 2026 CFP Championship Odds

These line graphs compile averaged championship odds from multiple vetted sportsbooks featured at SBD. The charts update weekly during the regular season, plus after major offseason developments.

Now that games are underway, expect significant weekly swings based on Saturday’s results rather than offseason speculation.

For those placing CFP Championship futures bets, consider the bet365 bonus code for new customers this college football season. Bettors can also register with ESPN’s sportsbook platform and secure an ESPN BET promo for championship game wagering.

National Championship Line Movement

Here’s the detailed movement for leading CFP Championship contenders:

• [October 20] Ohio State shortened from +330 to +260 after dominating Wisconsin 34-0. Indiana jumped from +925 to +800 following their statement win at Oregon. Alabama moved from +700 to +650 after beating Tennessee.
• [October 19] Miami lengthened from +1850 to +1650 after Louisville upset them 24-21 on Friday night. Carson Beck threw four interceptions in his worst performance as a Hurricane.
• [October 15] Ohio State tightened from +428 to +330. Indiana shortened from +3000 to +925 after back-to-back quality wins. Notre Dame moved from +2100 to +1500.
• [September 29] After a number of ranked teams faced off this weekend, the biggest movers may have been in LSU vs Ole Miss, where the Rebels’ National Championship odds shortened from +3500 to +1900 after their 24-19 win over the Tigers, who are now averaging +2300.
• [September 2] Week 1 created massive movement in the championship odds. Ohio State took over as the sole favorite at +550 after their 14-7 victory over Texas. The Buckeyes’ defense completely shut down Arch Manning in his debut, holding him to just 170 yards passing with a pick. Texas fell from +500 to +733, a significant drop for the preseason co-favorites.
• [September 2] LSU made the biggest jump of any contender, improving from +1533 to +1000 after their 17-10 road victory over Clemson. The Tigers snapped a five-game losing streak in season openers and proved they belong in the championship conversation. Miami also surged from +3333 to +2500 after their comeback win over Notre Dame.
• [September 2] Alabama’s odds lengthened from +1000 to +1467 after their shocking 31-17 loss to Florida State. The Crimson Tide entered as 14-point favorites and lost by exactly that margin. Despite falling to No. 21 in the AP Poll, sportsbooks still gave them the sixth-best title odds, showing a massive disconnect between voters and oddsmakers.
• [August 15] Texas (+500) and Ohio State (+525) enter the 2025-26 season as co-favorites. Georgia (+717) and Penn State (+700) rounded out the top four. A massive $300,000 bet on Texas at +500 made the Longhorns one of the biggest liabilities for sportsbooks heading into the season.
• [January 21] Following their 34-23 championship victory over Notre Dame, Ohio State opened as a +450 favorite for 2025-26. Texas checked in at +500 with Arch Manning taking over at quarterback. The early odds reflect Ohio State’s dominance in the first 12-team playoff and Texas’s high-profile QB succession plan.

2026 CFP Championship Public Betting Splits

Preseason public betting data from ESPN BET showed where the money was flowing before Week 1:

Texas led in preseason betting action with 20.4% of total bets, showing the public’s confidence in Arch Manning and the Longhorns before the season kicked off.

Penn State and Ohio State drew similar betting interest, while LSU attracted sharp money with a higher percentage of handle than total bets. The gap between bet percentage and handle percentage suggested larger bettors were already targeting LSU as a value play.

2026 Early CFP Championship Favorites

Ohio State has separated from the field after Week 8. The Buckeyes dominate at +260, followed by Alabama (+650), Indiana (+800), Oregon (+975), and Notre Dame (+1050). Texas A&M and Georgia Tech remain undefeated and control their conference races.

Here’s how the top five contenders stack up:

Ohio State Buckeyes National Championship Odds

Current Odds: +260
Record: 7-0
Conference: Big Ten

The Buckeyes remain the gold standard after dominating Wisconsin 34-0. Julian Sayin completed 36-of-42 passes for 393 yards and four touchdowns in a masterclass performance. Ohio State’s defense has been suffocating, allowing just 41 points through seven games with only Illinois managing more than nine points against them.

Alabama Crimson Tide National Championship Odds

Current Odds: +650
Record: 7-1
Conference: SEC

The Tide have won five straight after their opening loss to Florida State, including four consecutive victories over ranked opponents. Alabama’s 37-20 win over Tennessee showcased their championship mettle, and they followed it up with a 29-22 come-from-behind victory at South Carolina.

Ty Simpson has been on fire and is now a Heisman frontrunner. The defense under coordinator Kane Wommack has delivered in clutch moments. Alabama faces LSU, Oklahoma, and Auburn down the stretch.

Indiana Hoosiers National Championship Odds

Current Odds: +800
Record: 7-0
Conference: Big Ten

The Hoosiers cemented their status as a legitimate national contender with their road win at Oregon, the best victory of the season by any team. Fernando Mendoza has emerged as a Heisman Trophy candidate while leading one of the nation’s most efficient offenses.

Indiana is 7-0 for only the third time in program history. The Hoosiers face Ohio State on the road in a game that could decide the Big Ten race.

Oregon Ducks National Championship Odds

Current Odds: +975
Record: 7-1
Conference: Big Ten

The Ducks took a major hit with their home loss to Indiana and now sit third in the Big Ten race.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish National Championship Odds

Current Odds: +1050
Record: 6-2
Conference: Independent

The Irish have won five straight following their early losses to Miami and Texas A&M. Notre Dame needs to win out against a soft schedule to make the playoff at 10-2.

When is the 2026 CFP Championship Game?

The 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship game is scheduled for Monday, January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Kickoff time is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The 12-team playoff format begins with four first-round games on December 20-21, 2025. Quarterfinal matchups take place at the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl on December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026. The semifinals are scheduled for January 9, 2026, at the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl.

Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens previously hosted the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2021, when Alabama defeated Ohio State 52-24. The venue seats 65,326 for football and has hosted five Super Bowls, including Super Bowl LIV in 2020.

CFP National Championship History

The College Football Playoff era began in 2014-15, replacing the BCS system with a four-team playoff format. Starting in 2024-25, the playoff expanded to 12 teams, fundamentally changing how teams reach the national championship game.

Ohio State won the inaugural playoff championship in 2015, defeating Oregon 42-20. Alabama has dominated the CFP era with three national titles (2015-16, 2017-18, 2020-21), while Clemson captured two championships (2016-17, 2018-19). Georgia joined the championship club with back-to-back titles in 2021-22 and 2022-23 before Ohio State won again in 2024-25.

The SEC leads all conferences with six national championships in the CFP era, followed by the ACC with two and the Big Ten with two. No Group of 5 program or Independent school has won a national championship since the playoff format began, though several have earned playoff berths under the expanded 12-team format.

Table updated through 2024-25 CFP.

The expanded 12-team playoff brought seven new programs to the CFP in its first year. Ohio State now has two national titles and trails only Alabama (3) for most championships in the CFP era.

No Independent or team from a Group 5 Conference has ever won a national championship in this time. Boise State became the second Group of 5 team to make the CFP, earning an automatic bid as Mountain West champion. See the current odds to make the College Football Playoff in our tracker.

Active College Coaches with National Championships

Ryan Day joined the national championship club with Ohio State’s 2024-25 title. Nick Saban’s retirement and Jim Harbaugh’s departure to the NFL leaves just six active college football coaches with championship rings.

Dabo Swinney and Kirby Smart now share the lead among active coaches with two titles each. Day ended years of criticism by capturing his first championship in his sixth season at Ohio State.

College Football Championship Odds FAQ

Which teams are the favorites to win the CFP National Championship?

Ohio State is the favorite at +260 to win the College Football National Championship, followed by Alabama (+650) and Indiana (+800).

Can I bet on College Football Championship odds?

Yes, the College Football National Championship odds are available to be wagered on. Our top recommended sportsbooks for betting CFP odds are Caesars, Bet365 and BetMGM.

When is the 2025-26 College Football Playoff?

The 2025-26 College Football Playoff begins December 20th with four first-round games. The national title game is scheduled for Monday, January 19th, 2026.

Where is the 2026 CFP Championship game being played?

The 2026 CFP Championship game is being played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Who won the national championship last season?

Ohio State won the national championship last season, defeating Notre Dame 34-23 in the first-ever 12-team playoff.

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Archived NCAAF CFP National Championship Odds:

• 2023
• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019