Conference play is underway, which means plenty of big-time matchups that will shift the college football national championship odds leaderboard.
The latest: In Week 5, the Oregon Ducks and Alabama Crimson Tide earned statement road wins that have them sitting inside of 10-to-1 odds to win it all. Everyone is still chasing the top-ranked — and defending champion — Ohio State Buckeyes, though.
Entering Week 6, here are the latest college football national championship odds for the 2025-26 NCAA Division I season.
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College football national championship odds
Best CFP title odds
The favourites: Ohio State Buckeyes (+450)
Despite losing to the rival Michigan Wolverines and failing to reach their conference championship game, the Buckeyes ripped through four CFP opponents to claim the first national title of the 12-team era.
As you might expect, No. 1 Ohio State (4-0) lost a bunch of key contributors from the championship squad. A whopping 14 players were plucked at the NFL draft, including quarterback Will Howard, both 1,000-yard running backs and the team's top three sack leaders.
Oh, and both primary coordinators, Chip Kelly (offence) and Jim Knowles (defence) left for other jobs in the offseason.
Still, the Buckeyes boast arguably the best player on offence (receiver Jeremiah Smith) and defence (safety Caleb Downs) in the country. That's a good place to start.
The Buckeyes opened the year with a 14-7 win over then-No. 1 Texas, and they haven't been properly tested since. Ohio State has allowed just 22 total points through four games.
On paper, the Buckeyes' next notable matchup test is at No. 22 Illinois on Oct. 11. And everyone should have their calendars circled for when No. 7 Penn State comes to town on Nov. 1.
Betting notes
- The Nov. 1 matchup between Ohio State and Penn State (+750) will be another chance for the Nittany Lions to win a big game ... something they often struggle to do. Penn State is 4-21 against top-10 teams under head coach James Franklin after losing at home to No. 2 Oregon in Week 4.
- Speaking of the Oregon Ducks (+600), their road win in State College bumped them up to the second-shortest odds to win it all. Dante Moore (14 TDs, 1 INT) is the current Heisman favourite, and Oregon only has one currently-ranked opponent on the schedule the rest of the way (No. 8 Indiana, who Oregon will host on Oct. 11).
- Texas (+700) held 6-to-1 odds before its underwhelming season opener, and I'm nowhere near ready to write this team off. But a trio of wins in pay games isn't selling me on Arch Manning and Co. at this price.
Pay attention to what happens Oct. 11 when No. 9 Texas faces No. 5 Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. The Sooners are +1,900 right now, which seems like excellent value relative to the Longhorns.
- Alabama (+800) drew even on the odds leaderboard with Georgia (+800) after the Crimson Tide beat the Bulldogs between the hedges on Sept. 27. It was a big win for Kalen DeBoer's group, but the Tide have plenty of tests to come. Five of their next six opponents are currently ranked.
