2024-25 College Football Playoff National Championship
Ohio State‘s Buckeyes captured the first 12-team College Football Playoff National Championship, defeating Notre Dame 34-23 on January 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The Fighting Irish mounted an impressive comeback after trailing 31-7, narrowing the deficit to eight points in the fourth quarter. However, the Buckeyes held firm to secure the victory and end their championship drought.
Notre Dame’s pursuit of snapping their 37-year national championship drought will continue in the 2025 season.
CFB Key Dates 2025-2026
This is the 12th year of the CFP era, and the second year with the 12-team format.
- Current Champions: Ohio State Buckeyes (2024/25)
- Regular Season Start: Saturday, August 23, 2025 (Week 0)
- Week 1 Start: Saturday, August 30, 2025 (Most teams)
- Regular Season End: Early December 2025
- Selection Day: Sunday, December 7, 2025
- First Round (On-Campus Games): December 19-20, 2025
- Cotton Bowl (Quarterfinal): Wednesday, December 31, 2025 at 7:30 PM ET
- Orange Bowl (Quarterfinal): Thursday, January 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET
- Rose Bowl (Quarterfinal): Thursday, January 1, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET
- Sugar Bowl (Quarterfinal): Thursday, January 1, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET
- Fiesta Bowl (Semifinal): Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET
- Peach Bowl (Semifinal): Friday, January 9, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET
- College Football Playoff National Championship: Monday, January 19, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET
2025-2026 CFP National Championship Location
- 2026: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida — January 19
- 2027: To be announced
12-Team College Football Playoff Format
The 2025-2026 season marks the second year of the expanded 12-team playoff format. Here’s how it works:
- The five highest-ranked conference champions receive automatic bids
- The seven highest-ranked remaining teams complete the 12-team field
- Teams ranked No. 1-4 receive a first-round bye (seeded 1-4)
- Seeds 5-12 play in the first round, with higher seeds hosting on campus
- All playoff games are broadcast on ESPN/ABC
Note: In 2024-25, the four highest-ranked conference champions received byes. Starting in 2025-26, the top four ranked teams regardless of conference champion status receive the first-round byes.
What is the schedule for 2025-2026 CFB?
The regular college football season will start August 23, 2025 (Week 0), with most teams beginning August 30, 2025, running through early December. The CFB postseason begins on December 19, 2025, and ends January 19, 2026, with the College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Notable Week 0 Game (August 23, 2025):
- Aer Lingus College Football Classic: Iowa State vs. Kansas State (in Dublin, Ireland) – 12:00 PM ET on ESPN
Notable Week 1 Games (August 30, 2025):
- No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State
- No. 8 Alabama at Florida State
- No. 9 LSU at No. 4 Clemson
Who Are the 2024/25 Champions?
The 2024-2025 NCAA Division I FBS football regular season began on August 24, 2024, and ended in early December. The College Football Playoff National Championship took place on Monday, January 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ohio State defeated Notre Dame 34-23 in the CFP National Championship game.
This was Ohio State’s first national championship in the 12-team playoff era and marked the culmination of an impressive playoff run that included wins over Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame.
College Football Futures Betting
Despite the NFL being America’s most-watched football league, many purists think the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision is unbeatable.
The NFL might have the marquee players earning big bucks that the average fan could only dream of making, but college football will always have a special place in the hearts of the American public.
Not only does college football have a longer, richer history than the NFL, but it has particular appeal in those towns and cities that the professional game has neglected. Passion for these teams has frequently been passed down through the generations, with college players regarded as hometown heroes by many fans.
Betting on the NCAAF Futures odds is also hugely popular with fans, with opportunities to wager on national championship winners, conference champions, Heisman Trophy winners, and individual team win totals.
College Football Conferences
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Football is comprised of three divisions: Division I, Division II, and Division III. The Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) represents the highest level of college football competition.
As of 2025, FBS consists of multiple conferences with over 130 schools. Gamblers can wager on teams from every conference in the NCAA.
Major FBS Conferences (2025-2026):
- Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)
- Big Ten Conference
- Big 12 Conference
- Southeastern Conference (SEC)
- American Athletic Conference
- Conference USA
- Mid-American Conference (MAC)
- Mountain West Conference
- Sun Belt Conference
- FBS Independents (Notre Dame, etc.)
CFB Odds
| Team | Win | Spread | Total | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri State | -135 | -2.5 (-115) | O51 (-115) | Oct 8 - 19:30 |
| Middle Tennessee State | +115 | +2.5 (-105) | U51 (-105) | |
| Liberty | -125 | -2 (-110) | O47.5 (-110) | Oct 8 - 20:00 |
| UTEP | +105 | +2 (-110) | U47.5 (-110) | |
| Louisiana Tech | -250 | -7 (-105) | O45.5 (-110) | Oct 9 - 19:00 |
| Kennesaw State | +210 | +7 (-115) | U45.5 (-110) | |
| East Carolina | +200 | +6.5 (-105) | O54.5 (-110) | Oct 9 - 19:30 |
| Tulane | -240 | -6.5 (-115) | U54.5 (-110) | |
| Jacksonville State | -310 | -7.5 (-110) | O55.5 (-110) | Oct 9 - 20:00 |
| Sam Houston State | +255 | +7.5 (-110) | U55.5 (-110) | |
| Southern Mississippi | -165 | -3.5 (-105) | O60 (-110) | Oct 9 - 20:00 |
| Georgia Southern | +140 | +3.5 (-115) | U60 (-110) | |
| South Florida (#24) | -115 | -1 (-105) | O68 (-110) | Oct 10 - 19:30 |
| North Texas | -105 | +1 (-115) | U68 (-110) | |
| Fresno State | -250 | -7 (-110) | O46.5 (-110) | Oct 10 - 21:00 |
| Colorado State | +210 | +7 (-110) | U46.5 (-110) | |
| Rutgers | +315 | +11 (-110) | O58 (-115) | Oct 10 - 21:00 |
| Washington | -420 | -11 (-110) | U58 (-105) | |
| Alabama (#8) | -150 | -3 (-110) | O51.5 (-115) | Oct 11 - 12:00 |
| Missouri (#14) | +130 | +3 (-110) | U51.5 (-105) | |
| Central Florida | +325 | +11.5 (-110) | O55.5 (-110) | Oct 11 - 12:00 |
| Cincinnati | -435 | -11.5 (-110) | U55.5 (-110) | |
| Charlotte | +575 | +17.5 (-115) | O46.5 (-105) | Oct 11 - 12:00 |
| Army | -900 | -17.5 (-105) | U46.5 (-115) | |
| Houston | -625 | -14 (-120) | O48 (-110) | Oct 11 - 12:00 |
| Oklahoma State | +430 | +14 (EVEN) | U48 (-110) | |
| Miami Ohio | -450 | -11.5 (-110) | O46 (-110) | Oct 11 - 12:00 |
| Akron | +335 | +11.5 (-110) | U46 (-110) | |
| Ohio State (#1) | -650 | -14 (-115) | O50 (-110) | Oct 11 - 12:00 |
| Illinois (#17) | +450 | +14 (-105) | U50 (-110) | |
| Pittsburgh | +300 | +10.5 (-115) | O57 (-110) | Oct 11 - 12:00 |
| Florida State (#25) | -400 | -10.5 (-105) | U57 (-110) | |
| Stanford | +700 | +19.5 (-110) | O55 (-110) | Oct 11 - 12:00 |
| SMU | -1200 | -19.5 (-110) | U55 (-110) | |
| Toledo | -420 | -11 (-110) | O49 (-110) | Oct 11 - 12:00 |
| Bowling Green | +315 | +11 (-110) | U49 (-110) | |
| UCLA | +240 | +7.5 (-110) | O55.5 (-105) | Oct 11 - 12:00 |
| Michigan State | -290 | -7.5 (-110) | U55.5 (-115) | |
| UL Lafayette | +600 | +18 (-110) | O47.5 (-110) | Oct 11 - 12:00 |
| James Madison | -950 | -18 (-110) | U47.5 (-110) | |
| Washington State | +32.5 (-110) | O58.5 (-110) | Oct 11 - 12:45 | |
| Mississippi (#4) | -32.5 (-110) | U58.5 (-110) | ||
| Northern Illinois | -115 | -1 (-110) | O48 (-105) | Oct 11 - 13:00 |
| Eastern Michigan | -105 | +1 (-110) | U48 (-115) | |
| Massachusetts | +125 | +3 (-115) | O50.5 (-110) | Oct 11 - 14:30 |
| Kent State | -145 | -3 (-105) | U50.5 (-110) | |
| Air Force | +185 | +6 (-105) | O67.5 (-115) | Oct 11 - 15:30 |
| UNLV | -225 | -6 (-115) | U67.5 (-105) | |
| Appalachian State | -135 | -2.5 (-115) | O55.5 (-115) | Oct 11 - 15:30 |
| Georgia State | +115 | +2.5 (-105) | U55.5 (-105) | |
| Ball State | +260 | +8 (-110) | O43 (-110) | Oct 11 - 15:30 |
| Western Michigan | -320 | -8 (-110) | U43 (-110) | |
| Indiana (#7) | +235 | +7 (-105) | O55 (-110) | Oct 11 - 15:30 |
| Oregon (#3) | -285 | -7 (-115) | U55 (-110) | |
| Iowa State (#22) | -150 | -3 (-110) | O53 (-110) | Oct 11 - 15:30 |
| Colorado | +130 | +3 (-110) | U53 (-110) | |
| NC State | +950 | +21.5 (-110) | O59.5 (-115) | Oct 11 - 15:30 |
| Notre Dame (#16) | -2000 | -21.5 (-110) | U59.5 (-105) | |
| Nebraska | -270 | -6.5 (-120) | O47.5 (-110) | Oct 11 - 15:30 |
| Maryland | +220 | +6.5 (EVEN) | U47.5 (-110) | |
| Northwestern | +800 | +21.5 (-110) | O48 (-105) | Oct 11 - 15:30 |
| Penn State | -1600 | -21.5 (-110) | U48 (-115) | |
| Oklahoma (#6) | +110 | +2.5 (-110) | O42.5 (-110) | Oct 11 - 15:30 |
| Texas | -130 | -2.5 (-110) | U42.5 (-110) | |
| Old Dominion | -600 | -14 (-110) | O55 (-110) | Oct 11 - 15:30 |
| Marshall | +425 | +14 (-110) | U55 (-110) | |
| TCU | -110 | +1 (-115) | O56 (-110) | Oct 11 - 15:30 |
| Kansas State | -110 | -1 (-105) | U56 (-110) | |
| Virginia Tech | +460 | +15 (-110) | O55.5 (-110) | Oct 11 - 15:30 |
| Georgia Tech (#13) | -675 | -15 (-110) | U55.5 (-110) | |
| Wake Forest | -145 | -3 (-110) | O51.5 (-110) | Oct 11 - 15:30 |
| Oregon State | +125 | +3 (-110) | U51.5 (-110) | |
| Navy | -320 | -9 (-110) | O53 (-110) | Oct 11 - 16:00 |
| Temple | +260 | +9 (-110) | U53 (-110) | |
| Arkansas | +370 | +12.5 (-110) | O68.5 (-110) | Oct 11 - 16:15 |
| Tennessee (#12) | -510 | -12.5 (-110) | U68.5 (-110) | |
| UAB | +180 | +5 (-110) | O69.5 (-110) | Oct 11 - 18:00 |
| Florida Atlantic | -220 | -5 (-110) | U69.5 (-110) | |
| Florida | +235 | +7.5 (-115) | O46.5 (-110) | Oct 11 - 19:00 |
| Texas A&M (#5) | -285 | -7.5 (-105) | U46.5 (-110) | |
| Iowa | -180 | -3.5 (-115) | O37.5 (-110) | Oct 11 - 19:00 |
| Wisconsin | +155 | +3.5 (-105) | U37.5 (-110) | |
| San Jose State | -130 | -2.5 (-115) | O49 (-110) | Oct 11 - 19:00 |
| Wyoming | +110 | +2.5 (-105) | U49 (-110) | |
| UL Monroe | -145 | -3 (-105) | O43.5 (-110) | Oct 11 - 19:00 |
| Coastal Carolina | +125 | +3 (-115) | U43.5 (-110) | |
| Clemson | -650 | -14.5 (-105) | O55 (-110) | Oct 11 - 19:30 |
| Boston College | +450 | +14.5 (-115) | U55 (-110) | |
| Georgia (#10) | -165 | -3 (-115) | O46 (-110) | Oct 11 - 19:30 |
| Auburn | +140 | +3 (-105) | U46 (-110) | |
| Kansas | +410 | +13.5 (-105) | O59.5 (-115) | Oct 11 - 19:30 |
| Texas Tech (#9) | -585 | -13.5 (-115) | U59.5 (-105) | |
| Michigan (#15) | +115 | +2.5 (-115) | O57.5 (-110) | Oct 11 - 19:30 |
| USC | -135 | -2.5 (-105) | U57.5 (-110) | |
| Purdue | +260 | +7.5 (-110) | O51 (-105) | Oct 11 - 19:30 |
| Minnesota | -320 | -7.5 (-110) | U51 (-115) | |
| Rice | +355 | +12 (-110) | O48.5 (-120) | Oct 11 - 19:30 |
| UTSA | -490 | -12 (-110) | U48.5 (0) | |
| South Carolina | +270 | +8 (-110) | O43.5 (-115) | Oct 11 - 19:45 |
| LSU (#11) | -340 | -8 (-110) | U43.5 (-105) | |
| BYU (#18) | -125 | -2 (-110) | O48 (-110) | Oct 11 - 20:00 |
| Arizona | +105 | +2 (-110) | U48 (-110) | |
| Troy | +285 | +9.5 (-110) | O54.5 (-110) | Oct 11 - 20:00 |
| Texas State | -370 | -9.5 (-110) | U54.5 (-110) | |
| New Mexico | +550 | +16.5 (-110) | O61.5 (-105) | Oct 11 - 21:45 |
| Boise State | -850 | -16.5 (-110) | U61.5 (-115) | |
| Arizona State (#21) | +175 | +5 (-105) | O48 (-110) | Oct 11 - 22:15 |
| Utah | -210 | -5 (-115) | U48 (-110) | |
| San Diego State | -290 | -7.5 (-110) | O42 (-110) | Oct 11 - 22:30 |
| Nevada | +240 | +7.5 (-110) | U42 (-110) | |
| Utah State | +1.5 (-110) | O57.5 (-115) | Oct 11 - 23:59 | |
| Hawaii | -120 | -1.5 (-110) | U57.5 (-105) |
College Football Conferences and Divisions
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Football is comprised of three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III. The main reason for Division II and Division III schools to compete in Division I is that certain sports have either only a single division or only Divisions I and III.
As of 2022, there are 10 conferences and 131 schools in FBS. Gamblers can wager on teams from every conference and division in the NCAA.
NCAA Conferences
- American Athletic
- Atlantic Coast
- Big 12
- Big Sky
- Big South
- Big Ten
- Colonial Athletic Association
- Conference USA
- Independents (FBS)
- Ivy League
- Mid-American
- Mid-Eastern Athletic
- Missouri Valley
- Mountain West
- Northeast
- Ohio Valley
- Pacific-12
- Patriot League
- Pioneer League
- SEC
- Southern
- Southland
- Southwestern Athletic
- Sun Belt
College Football Betting - Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular bet types in the NCAAF?
The most popular types of NCAAF bets are the Moneyline (which is simply betting on the game winner), the Point Spread markets and Totals betting. You can find full explanations of these bets below.
What is the Moneyline in NCAAF betting?
The Moneyline is the easiest wager to understand and is the most popular way to bet on College Football, consisting as it does of simply selecting the winning team in any game. This makes the Moneyline particularly popular with novice bettors.
The good news for NCAAF bettors is that with the games being less predictable than many in the NFL, the betting odds are generally more attractive for those wanting to back favorites.
What is the Point Spread bet?
The Point Spread is another popular wager. Here the sportsbook attempts to level the market by giving the underdog team a theoretical points advantage.
Rather than simply having to win the game (as is the case with the Moneyline), the Point Spread requires the team deemed to be the favorite to win the game doing so by a specified number of points (the spread) for any wager on them to win.
For example, if the underdog were given a Point Spread of +5.5, that means that they would have to either win the game or to lose it by no more than 5 points for a wager on them to win. Conversely, if you bet the favourite at -5.5 then they will need to win by 6 or more points for you to collect.
What is Totals betting (Over / Under)?
Totals betting is another very popular market and one that can usually provide interest for the majority of any game.
This market is a simple bet on how many points will be scored overall in the game. A sportsbook might set the Total at 51.5 points (the half-point “hook” being there to prevent a push).
That means that you would have two options to wager on when betting – Over 51.5 points (the combined points scored by both teams) or Under 51.5 points.
What is a Parlay bet?
Parlays are another popular betting option for NCAA College Football.
Parlays consist of combining two or more bets, so increasing your potential winnings. For a parlay bet to win, all your selections must win.
Parlays can be a good way to boost the odds when you are looking to back several short odds favorites in a market such as the Moneyline, although the more selections you choose in your parlay, the greater the risk that one or more of them will let you down.
Is there 'Live Betting' on college football?
Yes. Live NCAAF betting when the game is 'In-Play' enables bettors to bet on the live odds (which will change as time passes in the game and based on the score) once the game has started.
With live betting, you can bet on the result of the game, the point spread and totals or outcomes such as the next touchdown, interception or field goal.
What is the order of play of College Football Bowls?
The Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and Peach Bowl are all college football bowl games played annually at the end of the college football season.
These bowl games, along with several others, are known as the New Year's Six bowls.
- The Rose Bowl is played in Pasadena, California, and is the oldest of the New Year's Six bowls, dating back to 1902. It is traditionally played on New Year's Day and features a matchup between the Pac-12 Conference and the Big Ten Conference.
- The Sugar Bowl is played in New Orleans, Louisiana, and is also played on New Year's Day. It features a matchup between the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the Big 12 Conference.
- The Orange Bowl is played in Miami Gardens, Florida, and features a matchup between the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and either the SEC or the Big Ten.
- The Cotton Bowl is played in Arlington, Texas, and features a matchup between the SEC and the Big 12.
- The Fiesta Bowl is played in Glendale, Arizona, and features a matchup between teams from the Pac-12 and the Big Ten or the SEC
- The Peach Bowl is played in Atlanta, Georgia, and features a matchup between teams from the SEC and the ACC or the Big Ten.
The College Football Playoff National Championship is a separate game that determines the national champion of college football. It is played at a neutral site and features the winners of the two semifinals, which are the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl. The semifinals are rotated among the New Year's Six bowls, with the other four bowls serving as host for the semifinals on a rotating basis. The College Football Playoff system began in 2014 and has been used to determine the national champion since then.