First Look at 2024-25 College Football Championship Futures Odds

The maize and blue confetti is still likely being swept up at NRG Stadium in Houston following Monday’s dominant win by Michigan. The Wolverines stymied Washington’s offense and pulled away late for a 34-13 win for the school’s first undisputed national championship since 1948.

It was a slow build for Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh. After being unable to beat rival Ohio State for much of his tenure, the Wolverines have now done so on three straight occasions, winning the Big Ten each of those years, and now finally solving the College Football Playoff puzzle with a title.

Now, as is tradition here at Sidelines, it’s time to take stock the day after and present our first look at who could be celebrating next year in Atlanta. Here’s our first look at the college football championship futures odds.

While teams like Washington and TCU last year have had tremendous seasons to reach the championship game the last two years, another college football blue blood was the last team standing. While it wasn’t an SEC school this year, Michigan is still a gigantic name in the sport. The champions of the first 10 years of the College Football Playoff era have been: Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Georgia, and Michigan.

However, a new era begins next year. The playoff field increases from four to 12. That opens the door for teams to absorb a loss or two, still reach the playoffs, and get hot to win it all. As we’ve seen in Major League Baseball, an increased playoff field has led to more uncertainty. We also had No. 8 seeds in both the NBA and NHL reach those leagues’ final round a year ago. Will the same happen in college football?

Even with more teams in next year’s playoffs, the schools at the top of the odds board are the ones you would expect. Here’s a look at the favorites at DraftKings.

Remember, conference realignment takes place before the kickoff to the 2024 season. That means this list is now exclusively SEC and Big Ten teams. Texas (along with Oklahoma) moves to the SEC, while Oregon (plus Washington, USC, and UCLA) go to the Big Ten.

Georgia (+450), despite not making the playoffs this year after an untimely loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship, still has lost just twice over the past three seasons. Their entire front seven on defense returns. And while Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey are departing, returning quarterback Carson Beck will have some weapons coming back to Athens. The Bulldogs’ schedule is loaded (games at Alabama, Texas, and Ole Miss, along with a kickoff game vs. Clemson in Atlanta), but the new format will allow the Bulldogs to get into the playoffs with two losses.

For a Big Ten favorite, we’ll bypass Ohio State, who will be bringing in another quarterback and has Marvin Harrison Jr. departing for the NFL. Instead, look to conference newcomer Oregon (+1100). The Ducks were 12-0 against teams not named Washington this year. After Bo Nix was a success story from the transfer portal, coach Dan Lanning is trying it again with Dillon Gabriel. The former UCF and Oklahoma star was the top QB in the portal for the 2024 season. Looking ahead at the Ducks’ schedule, the nonconference shouldn’t be a problem, and two of the top-three Big Ten opponents (Ohio State and Washington) come to Autzen Stadium. The only difficult road matchup is at Michigan on Nov. 2.

Ole Miss (+1600) is on page 1 of the odds board, but there are four SEC teams ahead of the Rebels. Many of their offensive weapons, including quarterback Jaxson Dart, return. On the other side of the ball, head coach Lane Kiffin has gone into the transfer portal early and often to put together a loaded and experienced unit.

This year, Ole Miss was 11th in the final CFP rankings and would up ninth in the postseason AP poll after handling Penn State in the Peach Bowl. If the playoffs were a 12-team affair this year, Ole Miss would’ve been in.

Finally, with an expanded field, expect the ACC champion to get an invitation to the dance next year. That could very easily be Clemson (+2000). Head coach Dabo Swinney hasn’t been as aggressive in the portal as many of his contemporaries, and that was costly over the past couple of years while the Tigers had young players at key positions. Now, most of the offense (besides running back Will Shipley) return. On defense, key members of the front line and secondary are also back. Potential tough opponents Louisville and North Carolina State are at home. The Tigers go to Florida State, but the Seminoles likely won’t be as strong as they were this year after several departures. Clemson has to be the ACC favorite, which would put them safely in the playoffs.