And then there were two.
The College Football Playoff Semifinals came down to the wire, but Ohio State and Notre Dame made the game-winning plays in crucial moments to advance to Monday’s CFP National Championship Game in Atlanta.
Below, I’ll assess the latest betting odds and make my 2025 CFP National Championship prediction.
CFP National Championship Odds 2025
College football odds used for these National Championship predictions are current as of Monday, Jan. 13, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Ohio State (-360)
- Notre Dame (+280)
Stay on top of all the college football betting markets throughout the season with our odds comparison tool.
Who Will Win the 2025 College Football National Championship?
Ohio State (-360)
After routing Tennessee in the first round, Ohio State showcased its National Championship credentials by demolishing previously unbeaten Oregon 41-21 at the Rose Bowl in a contest that wasn’t even as close as the final score would indicate.
The Buckeyes then backed those victories up with a hard-fought 28-14 win over Texas at the Cotton Bowl. Senior linebacker Jack Sawyer made the biggest play of the day, stripping Quinn Ewers on a fourth-quarter sack and taking the ball 83 yards for the game-sealing score.
- Stay up to date with our College Football Playoff bracket & Schedule.
Although Chip Kelly’s offense failed to put up 40 points for the first time in the postseason, quarterback Will Howard continued to distribute the ball to his arsenal of talented playmakers effectively. Pass-catchers Carnell Tate and Emeka Egbuka stepped up with freshman sensation Jeremiah Smith drawing extra coverage, and Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins plowed his way into the end zone twice.
Ryan Day has played the underdog card to perfection since losing at home against rival Michigan in the regular-season finale, which could be the motivating factor for his team’s National Championship charge. Back the well-balanced Buckeyes to win it all as one of your best college football bets today.
CFP National Championship Contender
Notre Dame (+280)
The Fighting Irish haven’t earned the style points that the Buckeyes have in the College Football Playoff, but they’ve reached their first National Championship in over a decade on the back of a tenacious defense and a strong rushing attack.
Jeremiyah Love broke open Notre Dame’s first-round victory over Indiana with a 98-yard touchdown run, and his team’s defense and special teams made the key plays in the quarterfinal win over Georgia. The defense came up big again in the victory over Penn State, as did quarterback Riley Leonard, who led a fourth-quarter fightback after taking a big hit that knocked him out for a drive before halftime.
Marcus Freeman’s squad is an 8.5-point underdog against Ohio State, so the odds are stacked against the Irish. However, they can pull off the upset if they control the clock and win the turnover battle.
Past CFP National Championship Winners
2024: Michigan
2023: Georgia
2022: Georgia
2021: Alabama
2020: LSU
2019: Clemson
2018: Alabama
2017: Clemson
2016: Alabama
2015: Ohio State
