Ohio State and Notre Dame enter the 2026 season as consensus frontrunners to reach the College Football Playoff National Championship game, joined closely by Oregon, Texas, and Georgia in early futures pricing. The expanded Big Ten features multiple title-caliber rosters, with Ohio State’s Ryan Day-led squad and Oregon’s defense under Dan Lanning highlighted for depth and experience, including quarterback Dante Moore’s return. Notre Dame benefits from Marcus Freeman’s continuity and a favorable schedule. Indiana’s recent championship appearance adds momentum, while schedule strength, injury management, and conference title implications will shape playoff seeding. The regular season’s early results and strength-of-schedule battles will drive the first major shifts in implied probabilities for reaching the title game.