Three Big Ten schools have among the best odds in college football to make the playoffs, according to Bet Online and an X post by SI columnist Pat Forde, and it's a long, long way down the list to find anyone else from the conference.
Odds to make the College Football Playoff, according to Bet Online:
Ohio State | 76% |
Texas | 75% |
Oregon | 72% |
Georgia | 71% |
Penn State | 71% |
Alabama | 60% |
Notre Dame | 60% |
Clemson | 56% |
LSU | 42% |
Ole Miss | 42% |
Boise State and Miami come next at 34 and 33 percent, with Michigan of the Big Ten next at 31 percent, 13th on the list, just outside the playoff cut line.
The BetOnline Odds board puts USC at 15%, Illinois at 14 percent, Indiana at 13 percent and Nebraska at a 27/4 longshot to make the final 12, 12.9%., just ahead of Iowa at 12.5 percent.
Washington stands a 10 percent chance of making the playoffs with odds of 19/2. Purdue has the longest odds of any Power 4 team at 100-1.
Because it’s June and the CFB hunger is setting in, and I’m tired of fans arguing about Michigan’s NCAA case in my mentions, and people love this stuff, here are the top candidates to make the playoff per BetOnline. pic.twitter.com/ap9WMgBuqw
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) June 16, 2025
The odds board is interesting because it's a look at the upcoming college football season free of regional biases or fan or sportswriter agendas, compiled by analysts and handicappers whose only motive is to make money.
Look out for Clemson. The ACC favorite Tigers were 10-4 last season and return a Heisman candidate at quarterback in Cade Klubnik. Their defense will be tested however, with a season-opening game at home versus LSU and Garrett Nussmeier, a game in November at South Carolina facing LaNorris Sellers and the Gamecocks.
They're at Georgia Tech in September and at Louisville on November 14, but don't meet conference contender Miami unless both make the ACC Championship.
In all Dabo Swinney's squad faces four top quarterbacks, Nussmeier who threw for 4,052 yards last year with 29 touchdowns, Georgia Tech's Haynes King who improved his completion percentage to 73 percent while scoring 11 rushing touchdowns.
SMU's Kevin Jennings, spurred the Mustangs to the College Football Playoff with 3,245 yards passing and 23 TDs, then Sellers, who gashed them for 166 yards rushing and two TDs last season.
New defensive coordinator Tom Allen disguises the pass rush and excels at creating pressure. Edge rusher TJ Parker should benefit, 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss in 2024.