While Ohio State hoisted the national title in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, experts are now turning their attention elsewhere for the 2025 season. Notably, a prominent analyst has left the Buckeyes out of his championship prediction, favoring two other powerhouse programs instead.
Texas Longhorns and Notre Dame Fighting Irish Predicted To Face Off in 2025-26 National Title Game
On3 college football analyst Andy Staples made his call for the upcoming national championship matchup, and his two-team prediction is surprising, to say the least. Despite the Ohio State Buckeyes’ dominant run last season, Staples is backing the Texas Longhorns to defeat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the College Football Playoff National Championship next season.
NEW: 2026 College Football Playoff Projection via @Andy_Staples👀
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— On3 (@On3sports) February 3, 2025
Although the Buckeyes are still expected to be contenders, Staples envisions them falling short in the semifinals against Texas—a rematch of their recent Cotton Bowl showdown.
With quarterback Arch Manning expected to take over Texas’ offense, the Longhorns are widely projected to open the season ranked in the top two.
Ohio State, meanwhile, is having quite a troublesome offseason. They have lost key personnel, including both of its coordinators. To add to the problems, several key defensive players are leaving for the NFL.
The Buckeyes and Texas are set to meet in a high-stakes regular-season clash in Columbus to kick off the 2025 campaign. If Staples’ prediction holds, this could be the first of two meetings between the programs in a pivotal season for both teams.
The Numbers Still Favor Ohio State
While Staples’ projection shifts the spotlight away from the Buckeyes, several statistical models and expert analyses still see Ohio State as the frontrunner. According to ESPN’s Matchup Predictor, Ohio State has a 55.3% chance to defeat Notre Dame in the 2025-26 College Football Playoff National Championship.
Similarly, a majority of CBS Sports writers favor the Buckeyes over the Fighting Irish, with Ohio State entering as a 9.5-point favorite. Sporting News analyst Bill Bender also leans in Ohio State’s favor, predicting a 27-17 victory over Notre Dame if the two teams meet again.
SEE WHERE WE RANKED THE BUCKEYES IN OUR WAY-TOO-EARLY TOP 25
He notes that while both squads showed strong rushing performances in their last encounter, the Buckeyes’ ability to capitalize on key second-half plays gives them an edge.
If Ohio State can overcome the offseason setbacks and maintain their championship-winning form, they may yet defy the skeptics and defend their title.
With differing expert opinions and unpredictable variables still at play, the race for the 2025 national championship remains wide open.
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