2019 College Football Playoff National Championship favorites

The Alabama Crimson Tide have won five of the past 10 college football national titles. In addition to sound assistant coaches and coordinators, Nick Saban's recruiting chops helped land talent from Hackensack to Honolulu as he built this most recent dynasty. Yet, after Clemson dismantled the Tide in last year's college football national championship game, 44-16, many wonder if Dabo Swinney's Tigers have supplanted Alabama as college football's most elite program. With that loaded rhetorical question dropped like an Acme anvil, here are the top 20 favorites to win the college football national championship this January.

Odds via Bovada

Odds: +8,000
2018 record: 9-4
Last game: lost to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl, 27-24

Trace McSorley was one of those college athletes who many believed started at quarterback the past seven seasons. It was only the past three, but now Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin is scrambling to find his new starting trigger. Projected incumbent Tommy Stevens transferred and left sophomore Sean Clifford atop the depth chart. The young and inexperienced PSU offense will need defensive leaders like Yetur Gross-Matos (pictured) to step up and keep the score tight. Gross-Matos led the team with eight sacks last season.

Odds: +8,000
2018 record: 7-6
Last game: lost to Wisconsin in the Pinstripe Bowl, 35-3

Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz is hoping Ohio State transfer quarterback Tate Martell is the answer to the team's offensive woes. With suboptimal quarterback play last season, Miami ranked 113 ^th in passing and 105^th in total offense. As has been the case in recent seasons, the Hurricanes rely on their defense to make plays and hand their offense short fields. The unit ranked 18^th against the rush, first against the pass and fourth in total defense last season, but that elite secondary returns only one starter: junior cornerback Trajan Bandy. On the bright side, the front seven return four senior starters. So that rush defense could crack the nation's top 10 units.

Odds: +7,000
2018 record: 8-5
Last game: beat Miami (FL) in the Pinstripe Bowl, 35-3.

Running back Jonathan Taylor was a bright spot for the Badgers in what was a dark 2018 season. The now junior Heisman Trophy hopeful rushed for nearly 2,200 yards with 16 touchdowns. The one-dimensional, rush-first, rush-second offense was a byproduct of Alex Hornibrook’s inefficient passing game. Hornibrook elected to transfer to Florida State instead of return to Wisconsin. The quarterback opening leaves two guys — Jack Coan and true freshman Graham Mertz — fighting for the starting gig. Regardless, Paul Chryst’s offense will have to struggle through some growing pains with only three starters back. To make matters worse, only one returning starter on defense is a senior: outside linebacker Zack Braun.

Odds: +7,000
2018 record: 4-8
Last game: lost to Iowa, 31-28 (no bowl game)

One year after leading the University of Central Florida to a 13-0 record, Scott Frost experienced plenty of growing pains in a return to his alma mater. The former Cornhusker quarterback tabbed true freshman Adrian Martinez to run Nebraska’s offense last season. All Martinez did was set a school record by averaging 295 yards of offense per game. His playmaking ability will offset the fact that the Cornhuskers lost a 1,000-yard rusher, Devine Ozigbo, and 1,000-yard receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. The biggest area for improvement to be made to even consider Nebraska a national title contender is — without question — on defense. The bread and butter of a heartland football program is defense, and Nebraska ranked 94 ^th last season.

Odds: +6,600
2018 record: 9-4
Last game: beat NC State in the Gator Bowl, 52-13

The difference between Nick Saban at Alabama and Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M is one coach reloads, while the latter rebuilds. Running back Trayveon William rushed for 1,760 yards and 18 touchdowns but left early for the NFL. The Aggies rush defense, which ranked third nationally last season, returns only one starter. Adding injury to insult, Fisher’s squad plays road games at Clemson in Week 2 and at Georgia and at LSU the final two weeks of the season.

Odds: +5,000
2018 record: 10-4
Last game: lost to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, 28-23

The good: The 2018 Huskies ranked fifth in scoring defense, 15^th against the rush, 25^th against the pass and 12^th in total defense.

The bad: The 2018 Huskies ranked 88^th in scoring offense and 55^th in total offense.

The ugly: While the 2019 Huskies return seven offensive starters, they’ll start a new quarterback — Jacob Eason — for the first time in four years following the conclusion of the Jake Browning era. To add to the ugly, that elite collegiate defense returns only two starters from the 12^th-ranked squad of a season ago.

Chris Peterson has his work cut out for him in this, his sixth season at the helm of the Huskies.

Odds: +5,000
2018 record: 9-5
Last game: lost to Northwestern in the Holiday Bowl, 31-20

The reigning Pac-12 South champs return eight offensive and seven defensive starters from last year’s squad and, more importantly, have a soft schedule conducive to national championship aspirations. Head coach Kyle Whittingham lucked out when lead running back Zach Moss elected to return for his senior season. Moss rushed for nearly 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Quarterback Tyler Huntley (1,788 pass yards and 12 TDs) missed the last handful of games after breaking his collarbone but will return in 2019 as the team’s starting quarterback. The Utes ranked fifth against the rush last season (100.3 RYAPG) and return two starting defensive tackles and a defensive end.

Odds: +5,000
2018 record: 8-5
Last game: routed Purdue in the Music City Bowl, 63-14

Head coach Gus Malzahn contends the 49-point bowl win over Purdue last December played a role in why eight NFL-potential players elected to return for their senior seasons. As is often the case in the SEC, the schedule can mimic a gauntlet but even more so for the 2019 Tigers. Aside from the non-conference season opener against Pac-12 power Oregon, Auburn plays three consecutive road games — over the span of four weeks — right in the heart of the season before hosting the final four. However, at LSU and home to Georgia and Alabama in the final six weeks of the season is far from a picnic nor a College Football Playoff-friendly schedule.

Odds: +4,000
2018 record: 12-1
Last Game: lost 30-3 in the CFB semifinals to eventual national champs, Clemson

The dark days of Notre Dame football feel like a decade ago, but it was just three seasons ago when Brian Kelly’s Irish finished 4-8. The mighty Fighting Irish won four measly games. However, since that program low back in 2016, Notre Dame has won 22 of its past 26 games and came two wins shy of a national title last season. Quarterback Ian Book replaced Brandon Wimbush as the team’s starter four games into the 2018 schedule but still managed to post more than 2,600 passing yards with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. On the defensive side of the ball, the Irish possess a likely 2020 NFL first-rounder in defensive end Julian Okwara. For the Irish to earn another CFB Playoff bid, they’ll need to pick up tough road wins at Georgia and Michigan this season.

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Odds: +3,300
2018 record: 10-3
Last game: beat Michigan in the Peach Bowl, 41-15

Under Jim McElwain, the 2017 Gators finished 3-5 in the SEC and 4-7 overall. A year later, under first-year head coach Dan Mullen, Florida improved to 10-3 (5-3) and ran Michigan off the field come bowl season. Junior quarterback Felipe Franks should be able to build upon 2,457 passing yards and 24 touchdowns. Three senior starters return at wide receiver, and running back Lamical Perine (6.2 yards per rush) has one more shot to prove to NFL scouts he can ball at the next level. Although Mullen turned this program around overnight, whether the Gators are an SEC and/or national championship favorite in 2019 is another story.

Odds: +2,500
2018 record: 10-3
Last game: beat UCF, 40-32, in the Fiesta Bowl

For the better part of this century, the Tigers have been known for their rush-first, control-the-clock offense and a shut-down defense. However, when you see LSU ranked outside the top 25 in scoring, rush and pass defense last season, Ed Orgeron’s decision to flip the program’s offensive script makes a lot of sense. It was time for change. Former New Orleans Saints offensive assistant Joe Brady was hired to become LSU’s passing game coordinator and implement some of his former team’s pass-happy play calls. It should be interesting to see how senior quarterback Joe Burrows adjusts to the new system. Reports suggest he’s more comfortable in the run-pass option (RPO) that Brady embraces. On top of that, the Tigers did land the nation’s second-ranked running back recruit, John Emery Jr., who possesses enough talent to become a starter as a true freshman.

Odds: +2,200
2018 record: 9-4
Last game: beat Michigan State, 7-6, in the Redbox Bowl

The Ducks return 12 offensive starters, including three fourth-year starters on the offensive line and the star of the show, senior quarterback Justin Herbert. Herbert (3,151 pass yards and 29 touchdowns) was projected to be the top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft had he left early. Because he elected to return for his final season, Oregon’s national championship aspirations remain relatively high under head coach Mario Cristobal. While the high-octane offense lost its top receiver, Dillon Mitchell, running back CJ Verdell rushed for over 1,000 yards and recorded over 300 receiving yards as a freshman.

Odds: +2,000
2018 record: 10-4
Last game: a 28-21 Sugar Bowl win over Georgia 

It’s hard to fathom how a team that lost nine defensive starters and three starting offensive linemen are among the top eight favorites to win a national title. However, Tom Herman’s Longhorns did manage a 2018 series split against four-time Big 12 Conference champs, Oklahoma, and boast back-to-back elite recruiting classes. Considering Texas ranked 67 ^th in total defense last year and then lost those nine starters, one needs to look at junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger as the 2019 catalyst. He passed for nearly 3,300 yards last season with 25 touchdowns and only five picks. While he lost his top receiver, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, senior Collin Johnson looks to build upon 985 receiving yards and seven scores.

Odds: +1,500
2018 record: 12-2
Last game: lost to Alabama in the CFB semifinal, 45-34

Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray may have both transferred to Oklahoma, won a Heisman Trophy and helped make Lincoln Riley a household name and potential NFL coaching candidate. However, neither won a national championship. Will Alabama-transfer quarterback Jalen Hurts buck that trend and propel both him and coach Riley into the pros? Before Tua Tagovailoa worked his way atop the Crimson Tide depth chart, Hurts was 26-2 as Alabama's starting quarterback. He’ll have some weapons with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (1,158 rec. yards, 11 TD’s) ready to break out of Marquise Brown's shadow and running back Trey Sermon who — despite ranking behind lead back Kennedy Brooks (1,056 rush yds.) and Murray (1,001 rush yds.) — still managed to rack up 947 rush yards and score a team-high 13 rush touchdowns as the third-run option. The Sooners defense, which returns nine starters, must improve upon its 130 ^th-ranked — that’s dead last in college football — pass defense.

Odds: +1,400
2018 record: 10-3
Last game: lost 41-15 in the Peach Bowl to Florida

If defense does indeed win championships, the Wolverines are in trouble. Michigan ranked second in total and pass defense last season, finished 23^rd against the rush and 16^th in points allowed per game (19.4). Yet, Ohio State managed to drop a 62-burger before the Florida Gators carved 'em up, 41-15, a month later. The rigors of the Big Ten may challenge Jim Harbaugh as he enters his fifth season at the helm, but at least he gets to enjoy some consistency at the quarterback position. Shea Patterson passed for exactly 2,600 yards with 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions last season and is one of seven returning offensive starters. Not only did the defense lose six starters, but also defensive line coach Greg Mattison departed south to Columbus to join Ryan Day’s staff. The rivalry rolls on, on the field and the sidelines.

Odds: +950
2018 record: 13-1
Last game: beat Washington, 28-23, in the Rose Bowl

Urban Meyer is gone. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins, his 4,800 pass yards and 50 touchdowns are gone. Edge rusher Nick Bosa also graduated to the NFL, but ( don’t say it, don’t say it, don’t say it, don’t say it) it’s a new "Day" at Ohio State. 

I’m apologize for nothing. 

Ryan Day inherits a program that returns only four offensive starters but includes highly touted, Georgia-transfer quarterback, Justin Fields. Running back J.K. Dobbins returns for his junior season after racking up more than 1,000 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Typically when a squad returns nine defensive starters it's a good problem to have, but the Buckeyes allowed a school-record 25.5 points per game last season. That unit will look to tighten things up under new co-defensive coordinators Greg Mattison and Al Washington who migrated south from...huh, would you look at that, Ann Arbor.

Odds: +650
2018 record: 11-3
Last game: loss to Texas, 28-21, in the Sugar Bowl

What was once “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia” is now “Bama, Bama, Bama” as in the Bulldogs are tired of hearing about the Crimson Tide. However, this SEC David needs to finally slay Goliath if it wants to win its first national championship since 1980. Quarterback Jake Fromm returns for his junior season after passing for more than 2,700 yards and 30 touchdowns with only four interceptions last year. Kirby Smart’s defense returns seven starters and six guys who were once deemed five-star recruits. The Bulldogs ranked 14 ^th in scoring (19.2 PAPG) and 12^th in pass defense (180.3 PYAPG) last season.

Odds: +225
2018 record: 15-0
Last game: beat Alabama, 44-16, to win the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship

The million dollar question is what will sophomore quarterback Trevor Lawrence do for an encore? As a freshman, Clemson’s trigger passed for more than 3,200 yards with 30 touchdowns and four interceptions and, oh yeah, won a national championship. Head coach Dabo Swinney has advanced the Tigers program to the point where it isn't just in the same conversation as Alabama, but it's also fighting for the headline lede. Yet, the only thing more challenging than winning a national title is winning them back-to-back, as the NFL ransacks the cupboard on an annual basis. So,Swinney’s 2019 squad will face some challenges on defense as only four starters return.

Odds: +225
2018 record: 14-1
Last game: lost 44-16 to Clemson in the College Football Playoff championship game

Life, death, taxes and the Crimson Tide among the favorites to win a college football national title. However, with the way Clemson ran Alabama off the field in the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship game, any previous presumed dynasty is over. Nick Saban will need to lean on an offense that returns six starters, including three wide receivers and Heisman Trophy runner-up quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The NFL has plucked Alabama’s cream of the crop defense the past few years. So the depth chart could be tested should injuries mount up throughout the season.