With Ohio State eliminated from the college football playoffs, a new college football champion will be crowned before the end of January.
Oregon, Ole Miss, and Indiana each shoot for their first National Championship, while Miami aims to grab its first since 2001.
We will break down who could win the 2026 College Football National Championship and the current payouts for each team’s Championship Futures on PrizePicks Team Picks.
With PrizePicks Team Picks, you can get in on who you think will win the College Football Playoff National Championship in the CFB futures section, and earn real money if you're right.
Who Will Win the College Football National Championship?
The top-ranked Indiana Hoosiers are currently the favorite to win the 2026 College Football National Championship, per PrizePicks Team Picks, with a 2.12x payout when picked to win it all.
However, Ole Miss (5.55x payout to win it all) has an upset victory over Georgia, and Miami (3.84x payout) has two wins over Texas A&M and Ohio State. At the same time, Oregon (4.16x payout) seeks revenge for its earlier loss to Indiana this season.
College Football National Championship winner payouts courtesy of PrizePicks Team Picks, where you can pick which player you think will be crowned the champion and earn money if your picks are correct in 30 states, including Florida and California!
All College Football National Championship payouts listed are at the time of writing and are subject to change.
#4: Oregon Ducks
Oregon QB Dante Moore’s performance could be under a microscope, as he is potentially a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Accuracy is one of his stronger attributes, as his 72.9% completion rate ranks third in the country, and it’s even better in the playoffs at 75%.
They also have a strong ground game with team-rushing leader RB Noah Whittington, whose big-play ability helps him rank 17th in yards per carry (6.4), along with the fifth-most 30+ yard runs (8). They use RB Jordan Davison at the goal line, and his 15 rushing TDs rank sixth in the nation.
Defensively, Oregon excels against the pass, ranking fourth in the FBS in passing yards allowed per game (156.6). They did well at keeping Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza relatively quiet to the tune of 215 passing yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT in the 30-20 loss in Week 7.
The Ducks struggle to prevent opponents from scoring inside the 20-yard line, ranking 100th in opponents' red-zone conversion rate at 87.1%. They allowed 3 TD on five red-zone possessions in the last game against the Hoosiers.
For Oregon to get its revenge on Indiana, it needs to improve its offensive performance against Indiana and play more cautiously. In the regular season contest, they finished with a season-low 267 total yards, and Moore threw 2 INTs, both in the fourth quarter.
College Football National Championship Winner Payout via PrizePicks Team Picks: 4.16x Yes | 1.2x No
#3: Ole Miss Rebels
Much of Ole Miss's success is due to the rise of QB Trinidad Chambliss, and his story is one of the most exciting of the 2025-26 college football season. A former zero-star recruit with no Division I offers, Chambliss won two National Championships at the Division II program Ferris State.
Transferring to Ole Miss this past offseason, Chambliss replaced an injured QB Austin Simmons in Week 3, and he never relinquished the job.
Chambliss made history quickly, becoming the first SEC quarterback in 30 years to throw for 300+ yards and run for 50+ in his first three games.
Chambliss and the Ole Miss offense are carrying this team, but the defense is struggling, especially when compared to the playoff teams. They rank 41st in the country in total yards allowed (340.1) and 65th in rushing yards allowed per game (146.1).
If the Rebels want to stay alive, they must contain the Miami Hurricanes’ pass rush in the semifinals, and give Chambliss time to exploit the secondary.
College Football National Championship Winner Payout via PrizePicks Team Picks: 5.55x Yes | 1.12x No
#2: Miami Hurricanes
Miami made it into the playoff amid some controversy, climbing from No. 12 in the College FootballPlayoff rankings in the final week of the regular season to No. 10 without playing a conference championship game.
They are proving they deserve this spot with two upset wins, including one last week against the reigning champion Ohio State in the quarterfinals as huge 8.5-point underdogs. They now have a nation-leading six wins against ranked opponents.
Their defensive front is a big reason for their success. Neither Texas A&M nor Ohio State was able to stop the Miami pass rush; according to Pro Football Focus, they combined for 35 pressures and 11 sacks the past two games.
Miami’s offensive line has been a brick wall. According to PFF, they have the best pass-blocking grade (87.6) in the country and allow the lowest pressure rate (16.9%). This is also allowing the Canes to lean on the run with RB Mark Fletcher, who has 36 carries in the playoff.
They are reducing Miami QB Carson Beck’s potential mistakes by having his receivers run shorter routes, as Beck is averaging just 5.2 yards per attempt in the playoff, compared to 8.7 in the previous 12 games. He is relying on the explosiveness of players like WR Malachi Toney, who is third in the nation in yards after the catch (662).
They could continue to lean on the run game against Ole Miss' poor run defense, which ranks 77th in rushing yards allowed per carry (4.5). The Canes might also find success with yards after the catch against the Rebels, who are 79th in that category (3.6).
College Football National Championship Winner Payout via PrizePicks Team Picks: 3.84x Yes | 1.21x No
#1: Indiana Hoosiers
In the new 12-team College Football Playoff system, teams with a bye in the first round are 1-7 in the quarterfinals. The one win came from the Hoosiers, who demolished Alabama, 38-3. Indiana now has seven victories against teams with at least nine wins this season.
In the win over Alabama, RBs Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby plowed through the Tide’s defense, with Black rushing for 99 yards and 1 TD, and Hemby with 89 rushing yards and a TD.
Heisman Trophy winner QB Fernando Mendoza tossed three TDs of his own. They are tough to stop when they are in a position to score, as their 4.1 red zone scores per game ranks seventh in college football.
Indiana’s defense over the last two games held Alabama to just a field goal, and Ohio State to a season-low ten points. They bring a top-tier pass rush that’s 13th in sacks per game (2.8) and eighth in pressure rate (41.3%).
They take on Oregon for the second time this season, and they held the Ducks to their lowest total yards (267) in the first meeting.
College Football National Championship Winner Payout via PrizePicks Team Picks: 2.12x Yes | 1.66x No
2026 College Football National Championship Futures, Payouts
Here are all of the payout projections for college football futures on teams to win the 2026 National Championship, via PrizePicks Team Picks. College football futures payouts are live as of publishing, but are subject to change.
- Indiana Hoosiers - 2.12x Payout
- Miami Hurricanes - 3.84x Payout
- Oregon Ducks - 4.16x Payout
- Ole Miss Rebels - 5.55x Payout
Make National Championship Futures Picks on PrizePicks
With Ohio State out of the playoffs, a new champion will be crowned in college football this year. It could be a return of the blue bloods, with Miami claiming its sixth National Championship, or Indiana ushering in a new era with its first-ever football championship.
Whichever team you back, there’s plenty of time to make your College Football Playoff National Championship pick with futures on PrizePicks Team Picks. Just go to the PrizePicks app, open Team Picks, select the team you think will win, and earn cash if you're correct.
Keep it here with the Playbook for continued CFB picks, predictions, futures, and more as we get closer to the CFB Playoff National Championship.
Team Picks and Culture Picks are event contracts offered by Performance Predictions II, LLC d/b/a PrizePicks Predict, a CFTC-registered FCM and NFA Member. All event contract customers must be U.S. residents and 18+. Some event contracts may not be available in every state. Event contract trading carries significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. No guarantee against loss is offered. Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results. Void where prohibited by law. Restrictions apply. For full terms of service see prizepicks.com/predict-regulatory. Team and Culture Pick Early Payouts subject to market liquidity. The content provided is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, or a recommendation to trade any commodity interest.
