The Buckeyes are once again the favorites after earning the right to take the title back to Columbus on Monday night.
After the Ohio State Buckeyes won the 2025 national championship game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 31-23, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday evening, the Texas Longhorns now have +650 odds to win next year’s title, according to FanDuel.
That’s the second-highest behind the Buckeyes at +450, setting up a rematch of the Cotton Bowl in the 2025 season opener in Columbus between the two powerhouse programs that should rank among the best non-conference games next season as expectations remain sky high for both.
With Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian locked in for a fifth season on the Forty Acres thanks to his recent contract extension that also served as a refutation of his interest in NFL openings, rising redshirt sophomore quarterback Arch Manning takes over a program that has to replace four starting offensive linemen and numerous players headed to the next level in what should be an historic draft class for the Horns.
But Sarkisian and his staff have recruited well enough to reload instead of rebuild, a reality confirmed by the oddsmakers.