Georgia and Alabama rounded out the top two returning teams this season, making the SEC the favorites to win the 13th National Championship in the last 17 years.
But what teams are ready to challenge these superpowers and strive to win the College Football Playoff title? Here are the latest odds from Caesars Sportsbook.
T-10. Wisconsin. The #1 national-ranked defense will need to add some new pieces, but it’s still a unit that can keep this team in the Big Ten West all season. Braelon Allen looks like a phenomenon to fall back, behind another solid attacking streak. But how far can Graham Mertz finally improve at the quarterback? College football playoff odds: 60/1
T9 Michigan. Jim Harbaugh saved his job last fall (even if he tried to find a new one in the winter), sending the Wolverines into the playoff. Now comes work to consolidate those gains, but he will do so without a one-and-two punch both on the backcourt and on the defensive line as the top playmakers head to the NFL. Cade McNamara returns to QB with some promising skill options back to make this offensive move. College football playoff odds: 50/1
T-9. LSU. Brian Kelly is filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission with a track record of winning games, but he faces a much tougher competition now. He’ll do so with promises in the middle, but as work continues to finalize his offensive line and seven defensive back unit entering the Wild West division table. College football playoff odds: 50/1
T-9. Oklahoma. Nearly half of first-year coach Brent Venables’ roster didn’t play badly for the OU, but group OC Jeff Lebby and QB Dillon Gabriel – who together managed the UCF’s Top 10 offensive – should keep the urgent in the bafflement of the Big 12 title race. College football playoff odds: 50/1
T-9. Our Lady. A tough schedule for rookie coach Marcus Freeman, opening in Ohio, and with games against BYU, Clemson, and likely USC, plus a huge decision to make at the quarterback. College football playoff odds: 50/1
A tough timeline stands between Notre Dame and College Football Playoff
T 6. Texas. Analysts remain ahead of the Longhorns after several high-quality transfer additions such as quarterback Quinn Ewers and linebacker Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey, who will pair with current skill features in return Bijan Robinson and receiver Xavier Worthy. College football playoff odds: 40/1
T 6. Utah. Pac 12 reigning champions brought back the 1-2 attacking strike from quarterback Cameron Rising and arrogant captain Tavon Thomas, but they have to find new additions at full-back and safety for another run. College football playoff odds: 40/1
T-5. Texas A & M. This could be the year Jimbo finally puts it all together after signing an elite recruiting class loaded on the defensive front, already bragging about his top players to make that attack a little easier. See when the Aggies mid-season in Alabama can determine the seasons for both teams. College football playoff odds: 25/1
T-5. USC. Vegas approves of Lincoln Riley’s pre-hype and his transfer-laden roster that includes 5-star quarterback Caleb Williams and Pelletnikov receiver Jordan Addison, among other elite pickups. But improving the 89th-ranked Trojans’ defense will tell the whole story. College football playoff odds: 25/1
4. Clemson. Players returning from injury in the elite defense should help the Tigers recover their losses from 2021 and make another stab at the ACC, but this team is replacing both coordinators and needs to play a lot better than quarterback DJ Uiagalelei to truly compete for another title. College football playoff odds: 14/1
3. Georgia. The National Champions have some loopholes to fix this fierce defense, but they’ve recruited more than good enough to recover. Add Stetson Bennett back under the center and a group of elite targets, and the Bulldogs shouldn’t have to face a competitor in the SEC East all year. College football playoff odds: 4/1
2. Ohio State. 1 Attack Core returns to the Nation to take another stab at the Big Ten, though the real issue is how well new coordinator Jim Knowles can fix a tightening of the screws on a defense that was costly to Oregon and Michigan losses and struggled to get into the quarterback. College football playoff odds: 15/4
1. Alabama. Nick Saban takes on the field once again as the best coach in the sport’s history making another elite roster, with experience in defense, a Heisman quarterback winner, and a host of high-profile transfer additions. College football playoff odds: 9/5
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