The Big Ten has owned the national title conversation lately, stacking three straight college football championships and cashing in on the expanded playoff era. But the preseason board tells a different story this time. The league that’s ruled the sport may not be the one sitting at the top of the odds when the season opens.
The Buckeyes still lead the pack, but the rest of the picture is crowded, and every major conference has at least one team with a real path to the trophy.
In the Big 12, Texas Tech is the name that jumps out first. The Red Raiders are coming off that historic conference championship from a year ago, and even with some key pieces gone from the defense, Joey McGuire still has enough back to keep the program in the mix.
A strong rushing game should help, especially with a powerful offensive line clearing the way for incoming quarterback Will Hammond. Hammond is back from an ACL tear a year ago and is set to take over full time after Brendan Sorsby’s controversial exit.
Big 12 team odds: Texas Tech (+2200), Utah (+8000), BYU (+8000), Oklahoma State (+8000), Iowa State (+10000).
The ACC picture is thinner, but Miami stands as the conference’s best shot. The Hurricanes were playing for the title a year ago and added quarterback Darian Mensah through the transfer portal. He’ll be working with skill players like wideout Malachi Toney and rusher Mark Fletcher, though Miami still has to prove it made the right calls replacing some defensive stars up front.
Clemson is trying to look more like the dynasty version of itself from a decade ago after a 7-6 season in 2025. The Tigers bring back a promising group of receivers, but they also have to break in a new quarterback who is still inexperienced.
ACC team odds: Miami (+1100), Clemson (+5000), Florida State (+10000), Louisville (+10000).
Notre Dame sits second in the national championship odds behind Ohio State, a strong sign of respect even after losing its two brilliant backs this offseason. The Irish still have a sturdy base at quarterback, receiver and in the secondary, and the schedule ahead looks very manageable.
The Big Ten has been on a strange but effective run, with Michigan, then Ohio State, and then unexpectedly Indiana all winning national championships over the last few seasons. Now Oregon could be next in line to carry the league. The Ducks bring back what might be college football’s best defense, along with a loaded group of skill players and star quarterback Dante Moore.
Ohio State remains the favorite. Jeremiah Smith is back to fuel the offense, and Heisman finalist Julian Sayin is under center again. The concern is on defense, where the Buckeyes lost some elite production, and their schedule is tougher this year.
Big Ten team odds: Ohio State (+600), Indiana (+750), Oregon (+800), Michigan (+2500), USC (+3500), Penn State (+5000).
The SEC has spent three years out of the national championship spotlight after dominating much of this century, but the conference looks ready to push back into the center of the race in 2026.
Georgia, the back-to-back reigning SEC champion, may be the league’s strongest contender. A third title in the Kirby Smart era would help build something that looks a lot like a Bulldogs dynasty, and the roster brings back an experienced offense along with important pieces on defense.
Texas is right there too, with Arch Manning hoping his second-half form from his debut season as starter shows up more often than the first-half version. He’ll have help from a wave of incoming transfers, and the Longhorns’ defense has the size to bang around through an SEC schedule.
SEC team odds: Texas (+650), Georgia (+900), Alabama (+1500), LSU (+1500), Texas A&M (+1500), Ole Miss (+2500), Oklahoma (+3000).
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Maiava was USCs starter last season and helped guide an offense that functioned effectively, which gives Rileys confidence some real backing. The bigger takeaway for the Trojans is that the quarterback conversation already feels far more settled than it did a year ago, with Maiava positioned to open 2026 carrying the full support of the staff behind him. [Read more 🡒]
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USCs New Roster Just Raised Bigger Questions About This Team
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The physical changes are just as revealing. Some players have clearly been asked to carry different roles, from offensive linemen and tight ends to defensive linemen and corners, and the new measurements suggest USC is still sorting out how this roster wants to look in August. The most interesting part is not just who arrived, but how many players seem to have changed in ways that could affect the two-deep before the opener even gets here. [Read more 🡒]