STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI - NOVEMBER 08: Chauncey Bowens #33 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after a touchdown during the first half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium on November 08, 2025 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesThere are days until we get college football every Saturday for months. Today’s preview focuses on the preseason top five. Flip a coin, hedge your money or sit back and watch how the season unfolds for the favorites. I see a few teams outside of the top ten crashing the party (stay tuned).
National Championship odds by Caesar’s Sportsbook.
It’s the last weekend until we get college football every Saturday for months. Today’s preview focuses on the preseason top five. Flip a coin, hedge your money or sit back and watch how the season unfolds for the favorites. I see a few teams outside of the top ten crashing the party (stay tuned). If you want to see what I got on teams 6-10, click over here.
National Championship odds by Caesar’s Sportsbook.
AUSTIN, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 14: Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns warms up before the game against the UTSA Roadrunners at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 14, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Getty Images#5 Texas Longhorns +700Road to the title: Ohio State, Oklahoma, LSU, SEC Championship game
Texas might be the most undervalued team in the top ten. I would have them ranked ahead of Georgia (maybe) and Notre Dame. The proving ground begins early with a big game against top ranked Ohio State on September 12th.
The Heisman hype machine for Arch Manning begins in earnest if he plays well and Texas wins. The annual affair with Oklahoma is never a sure thing, visits to Tennessee and LSU are potential bumps in the road and the season ender at Texas A&M will set up the Longhorns playoff seeding. A potential SEC title game against Georgia also looms large. This is not the easiest schedule in the country by any stretch so an undefeated or one loss trek through the season places Texas squarely in the driver’s seat for a number one seed in the CFP.
Prediction: One loss (not including SEC title game). Texas makes a run to the National Championship game.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 09: Jayden Thomas #83 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates after defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions 27-24 in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on January 09, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)
Getty Images#4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish +600Road to the title: Miami and anyone in the playoffs
This team will go as CJ Carr goes. The Irish are very good on both sides of the ball and Carr is a Heisman favorite. He is overvalued there but take nothing away from him. He is a great quarterback. Notre Dame will put up stupid numbers against a soft schedule. The Miami game in November will determine playoff seeding. Talent wise, they are as good as anyone. The test against Miami will provide a great deal of information on how they stack up against Texas, Georgia, Ohio State etc. I’m not sold on the Irish going all the way. As always though (unfairly), they’re in the conversation.
Prediction: one loss and a quarterfinal exit.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: Gunner Stockton #14 of the Georgia Bulldogs dives for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Ole Miss Rebels during the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 01, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Getty Images#3 Georgia Bulldogs +800Road to the title: at Alabama, at Ole Miss
The most favorable schedule of any team outside of Notre Dame in the top five belongs to Georgia. The Bulldogs will steamroll into a big matchup at Alabama on October 10th. Depending on how Alabama’s fortunes play out, this could be the biggest game in the SEC all year or just a tune up for Georgia. Gunner Stockton is a top three SEC quarterback. The defense is stout. Kirby Smart has followed the Nick Saban blueprint better than anyone else and Georgia is a perennial contender. A potential SEC title game against Texas is must see television. Bring it on.
Prediction: Undefeated and the number one seed overall. The Bulldogs are title game bound.
COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 11: Travis Dye # 26 of the Oregon Ducks scores a touchdown during the 3rd quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on September 11, 2021 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gaelen Morse/Getty Images)
Getty Images#2 Oregon Ducks +700Road to the title: at USC, at Ohio State, Michigan
I love the Ducks. I don’t love them enough to see them as favorites over any of the top five teams though. Dante Moore will throw, run, make plays and generate highlights all season along. Oregon will score points, kill teams and then (history says) fall short at absolutely the wrong time. These are your father’s Oregon Ducks. Until they find some steak with the sizzle, Oregon may fall short yet again. I hope not because they are a blast to watch.
Prediction: Two losses and a semifinal appearance.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Head coach Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes hoist the trophy after beating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 34-23 in the 2025 CFP National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Getty Images#1 Ohio State Buckeyes +575Road to the title: Texas (more than once), at Indiana, Oregon, Michigan
They’re number one for a reason. Two Heisman contenders (Sayin, Smith) on offense by default makes you one of the best. Two things can derail the Buckeyes march to another national title: schedule (it’s tough) and defense. When you lose seven guys (five in the first two rounds) to the draft, something’s gotta give. Call it reloading, next man up, whatever you want to. There are questions that need to be answered. Fortunately the offense will put up 35-40 points a game. The defense will have time to find its footing, develop chemistry and complement maybe the best offense in the country.
Prediction: One loss (Texas? Oregon?) and on the cusp of the title game (Texas again? Georgia?)
Seedings will tell the story of who plays for the championship. As of today I’m going with Texas vs. Georgia. Ohio State will have plenty to say about all of this.
Georgia wins the natty.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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