The latest edition of the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship is officially in the books with Ohio State defeating Notre Dame, 34-23 on Monday in Atlanta, Georgia.
But it is never too early to look ahead to the next one, and several sportsbooks are view the Texas Longhorns as major contenders for next year’s title.
The FanDuel Sportsbook currently has Ohio State at +450 to repeat, with Texas right behind them at +650. The Oregon Ducks were also at +650 with Georgia (+700), Penn State (+850) and Notre Dame (+1200) behind them.
It is not at all unreasonable to give Texas an early Natty winner prediction, considering the Longhorns have come up just one game short of a national championship appearance for the past two years consecutively.
Texas comes into the upcoming season with several players who either graduated or departed to the 2025 NFL Draft, but the Longhorns also retain some impact players like safety Michael Taaffe, Colin Simmons and Anthony Hill.
Throw the expectations surrounding Arch Manning into the mix, and if he ends up being as advertised as a formerly highly-touted recruit, he could be just what the Longhorns need to get over the hump.
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Texas Longhorns No. 1 in ‘Way-Too-Early’ 2025 Top 25 ranking
Once again the Texas Longhorns will be home watching the college football playoff national championship game. Texas has come up just short two years in a row in the CFP, losing in the semifinal both times, once to Washington and once to Ohio State.
There’s always next year. But if Ari Wasserman and Andy Staples of On3.com are right, 2025 might be a banner year for the Horns. The two analysts have put together a “way-to-early” 2025 Top 25 and the pair lists Texas as the No. 1 team in the nation.
Texas as lost a lot of players from the 2024 campaign already. 19 players have declared for the NFL Draft and 10 players have hit the transfer portal. But On3 believes in Texas coach Steve Sarkisian’s ability to replace talent.
“Are we putting too much on Arch Manning when Texas will be losing four starting offensive linemen and several skill position playmakers? Maybe. But Steve Sarkisian has shown in his time in Austin that he understands how to build and replenish a roster. Under Sark, the Texas future NFL player factory has chugged back to life following a long dormant period. Time for that assembly line to keep humming.” — Andy Staples, On3.com.
Texas opens the 2025 season at the Horseshoe against Ohio State, so the Longhorns and new quarterback Arch Manning will get a huge test right out of the gate.
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