National Championship futures for the 2025-26 football season are now available to wager on. Ohio State (+450) leads Texas (+650), Georgia (+650), and Oregon (+650) according to opening odds for next year’s National Title. Watch for movement of these numbers according to coaching changes and major transfers this offseason. Check back for 2025-26 college football previews as fall approaches.
College Football National Title odds
Compare College Football National Title odds from top betting sites and betting apps below. Click to place a bet.
Strategy For Betting Longshots
Rather than listing multiple teams, it’s best to share helpful criteria and hints for looking at longshots. While college football is dominated by the biggest programs (above), we saw longshots make their way into the four-team CFP (2019 LSU, 2021 Michigan and Cincinnati, 2022 TCU, 2023 Washington). With the field expanding to 12, more longshots have an opportunity to make a run.
What those teams had were a combination of returning talent, coaching, and a schedule favorable for the Playoff, not necessarily for an easy 12-0. Look for:
- Strong out-of-conference slate
- A returning QB who was good, maybe not great
- Coaching continuity – you rarely see first year coaches in the Playoff (although this likely changes in the expanded playoff)
Basics of NCAA football futures
Sports betting is legal in many U.S. states, with more legislation moving towards legalization every day. There are several top sportsbooks with user-friendly apps that are available to serve as a platform for betting on NCAA futures. You will also want to view the best college football betting sites before wagering.
When a sport is in season, the “Futures” tab can usually be found next to the game lines. But if you want to bet on the CFP before the season starts, most books will bring you right to the Futures section.
The odds for each team are primarily indicated in two ways. Most books will list a team as a +200 favorite, indicating that a $100 bet on that team to win the national title will pay out $200 if successful.
Some books list those odds as 2/1, but the math is the same. Those books will use those odds as fractions as well. As an example, a team listed as an 11/2 favorite to win the title would pay out 5.5x the investment. That same multiplier would be listed as +550 under the other format.
These odds can change throughout the season and even during the preseason if any news surfaces about injuries, transfers, or scandals related to the athletic department or coaching staff of a program.
History and favorites
Due to the top-heavy recruiting system in place for college football programs, it’s been extremely rare for an unknown team to win the national title. However, playoff expansion opens the door for more teams to make a postseason run.
Ohio State was the fourth-ranked team in the field of four when it won the 2014 CFP title. TCU made the National Championship after the 2022 season in between 5-7 seasons.
There is some value to be found if you’re willing to bet against the consensus favorites. There is also value if you find the right sportsbook on which to take one of those favorites, so be sure to shop around for the best odds at online books.
When it comes time to bet the actual matchup in the College Football Playoff title game, keep in mind favorites won and covered in five straight matchups from 2019-23. Prior to then, Alabama was favored in four straight title games, covering none, and going 2-2 outright.
Best college football betting sites
Browse the best college football betting sites and promotional offers below. Click PLAY NOW to get started.
Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets if Your First Bet Doesn't Win*
*Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms. 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Use Bonus Code: THELINES
- Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose
- OR First Bet Safety Net up to $1,000
- 30% Extra on Same Game Parlay Profit
- T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER 21+
- Use Bonus Code: THELINES
- Stream NFL Games In-App for Free
- 21+ Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
- Use Promo Code: THELINESDYW
Get $200
- Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins
- Available on Desktop, Android & iOS
- Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 21+
- To Claim: Click Play Now
- Up to $100 in Bonus Bets if First Your Bet Doesn't Win
- Get Your Bets Boosted
- 21+. Gambling Problem? Call/Text 1-800-Gambler. T&Cs apply
- To Claim: Click Play Now
- Bet and Get up to $1,000 in No Sweat Bets
- Earn FanCash & Spend it on Team Swag or More Bets
- 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
- To Claim: Click Play Now
Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets + Score a No Sweat Parlay Every Day
PLUS Get a $50 Bonus Bet on Deposit
PLUS up to $1,000 Deposit Bonus
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2025 – 2026 College Football Playoff and National Title game?
The new 12-team College Football Playoff debuts Dec. 19, 2025. The 2026 National Championship kicks off Monday, Jan. 19 from Miami Gardens.
How many teams will be in the college football playoffs in 2025?
The CFP field features 12 teams. The first round is played on the campus of higher-seeded teams; four teams receive a bye. The quarterfinals and semifinals are comprised of New Year’s Six bowls on a rotating basis. In 2025-26, the Fiesta and Peach Bowls host semifinal games.
Where can I bet on the College Football Playoff in the US?
Sports betting is legal and live in more than 30 states. Some notable exceptions relevant to the college football landscape: Alabama, California, Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas.
Note that some states restrict what colleges and types of bets you can wager on. For example, Virginia outlaws betting on in-state teams; so Hokies and Hoos bettors are out of luck. Iowa, Tennessee, and a dozen other states ban betting on college player props while Illinois requires you to bet those in-person (for now) and excludes in-state player props. Oregon takes it to an extreme and bans all college sports betting, period.
Find the legal base for betting college sports for legal states below:
| State | Legal Sports Betting? | Bet On College Sports? | Bet On College Props? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | ||
| Alaska | No | ||
| Arizona | Yes | Yes | No |
| Arkansas | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| California | No | ||
| Colorado | Yes | Yes | No |
| Connecticut | Yes | Yes, no in-state* | Yes, no in-state* |
| Delaware | Yes, Retail only | Yes, no in-state | Yes, no in-state |
| Florida | No | ||
| Georgia | No | ||
| Hawaii | No | ||
| Idaho | No | ||
| Illinois | Yes | Yes, in-person on in-state teams | Yes, no in-state |
| Indiana | Yes | Yes | Yes, no live props |
| Iowa | Yes | Yes | Yes, no in-state |
| Kansas | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kentucky | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Louisiana | Yes, by parish | Yes | No |
| Maine | Legal, not yet live | ||
| Maryland | Yes | Yes | No |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Yes, no in-state* | No |
| Michigan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Minnesota | No | ||
| Mississippi | Yes, retail | Yes | Yes |
| Missouri | No | ||
| Montana | Yes, retail | Yes | Yes |
| Nebraska | Yes, retail | Yes, no in-state | No |
| Nevada | Yes, retail | Yes | Yes |
| New Hampshire | Yes | Yes, no in-state^ | Yes, no in-state^ |
| New Jersey | Yes | Yes, no in-state^ | Yes, no in-state^ |
| New Mexico | Yes, retail | Varies | Varies |
| New York | Yes | Yes, no in-state | No |
| North Carolina | Yes, retail | Yes | Yes |
| North Dakota | Yes, retail | Varies | Varies |
| Ohio | Yes | Yes | No |
| Oklahoma | No | ||
| Oregon | Yes | No | No |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes | No |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Yes, no in-state^ | Yes, no in-state^ |
| South Carolina | No | ||
| South Dakota | Yes, retail | Yes, no in-state | No |
| Tennessee | Yes | Yes | No |
| Texas | No | ||
| Utah | No | ||
| Vermont | Yes | Yes | No |
| Virginia | Yes | Yes, no in-state | No |
| Washington | Yes, retail | Yes, no in-state | Yes, no in-state |
| Washington, DC | Yes | Yes, no in-state^ | Yes, no in-state^ |
| West Virginia | Yes | Yes | No |
| Wisconsin | Yes, retail | Yes, no in-state | Yes, no in-state |
| Wyoming | Yes | Yes | Yes |
*No in-state betting on teams or props except when those teams are playing in tournaments.
^No betting on in-state teams OR games taking place inside the state.
- Join TheLines.com’s free sports betting Discord — with over 5,000 community members and our staff sharing bets daily.