The Ohio State Buckeyes were just crowned National Champions after beating Notre Dame in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. The first rendition of the expanded playoff wasn’t perfect, but it allowed for a much more intriguing season with the best teams vying for a championship at the end.
With the 2024 season in the books, it’s time to shift our focus to 2025 and dive into some way-too-early CFP predictions (BetMGM odds).
Texas (+650)
Two words: Arch Manning. With Quinn Ewers off to the NFL, the spotlight now shifts to the next Manning star. After two seasons of learning under Steve Sarkisian, Arch is ready to take the reins. In limited action, he’s already shown poise, confidence, and undeniable talent. The Longhorns will need to rebuild their offensive line after losing key players to the draft, but with the transfer portal and the allure of Texas football, that shouldn’t be a problem. Running back CJ Baxter is also a key piece returning in 2025. Injuries sidelined him last season, but he was the team’s top back heading into 2024. If he’s fully healthy, he adds another dimension to this offense.
Penn State (+900)
The Nittany Lions fell short in the CFP semifinals against Notre Dame, but there’s plenty of optimism heading into next year. Drew Aller will return at quarterback, and their dynamic backfield duo of Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen is back to cause headaches for opposing defenses. The biggest challenge? Replacing tight end Tyler Warren, who’s headed to the NFL. James Franklin also faces a glaring issue at wide receiver—none of them caught a pass in the semifinal loss. If Penn State wants to hang a championship banner, Franklin will need to hit the transfer portal hard to bring in talent at that position. Still, with their core intact and a favorable regular-season schedule, the Nittany Lions are primed for another playoff push.
Notre Dame (+1200)
Yes, the Irish came up short in the National Championship, but they’re well-positioned to make another run in 2025. While they lose quarterback Riley Leonard, Notre Dame will have their pick of top transfer portal talent to replace him. Defensively, they’ll lose some key players, but a solid core remains. On offense, running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, along with wideouts Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse, are all returning. With a favorable schedule and a renewed focus after their shocking loss to NIU earlier this year, Marcus Freeman’s squad has all the tools to stay in the title conversation. Freeman’s leadership and ability to motivate will be key to turning this year’s heartbreak into next year’s success.