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Predicting College Football's Next 5 National Champions

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Predicting College Football's Next 5 National Champions

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Holleran | Last updated May 31, 2026 11:43 AM ET

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Much has been made about the Big Ten's dominance in the world of college football over the past three years. Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana have made it three straight national championships for the Big Ten. The SEC, which dominated the sport for much of the 2000s and 2010s, has been taken down a notch.

The SEC, unsurprisingly, continues to downplay the Big Ten's success.

“This league stands alone,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said. “In fact, we saw metrics out of the College Football Playoff presentation where there’s no doubt we’re the strongest league.”

Of course, the College Football Playoff results say differently. But perhaps the 2026-27 season will be the year that the SEC gets back on track.

Jan 21, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; The College Football Playoff National Championship trophy at press conference at The Westin Peachtree Plaza, Savannah Ballroom. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

But who will actually be holding up the College Football Playoff national championship trophy this year? And for the next five years?

Here are our picks for college football's next five national champions.

2026 season: Ohio State

The Buckeyes, led by offensive stars Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith, could have one of college football's most potent offenses of all-time in 2026.

Ryan Day will have to replace some standouts on defense, and the schedule does OSU no favors, but the Buckeyes will win their second national championship in three seasons come January.

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) motions for a first down during the NCAA football game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 22, 2025. Ohio State won 42-9.© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

2027 season: Notre Dame

That's right - Marcus Freeman will restore Notre Dame's championship greatness in 2027-28. The Fighting Irish could be really good in 2026, too.

However, in 2027-28, C.J. Car could return as a junior quarterback, perhaps as the best player in the country, with Notre Dame on track to be a dominant, championship-caliber team.

It's been more than 30 years since Notre Dame won a national championship, but 2027-28 will change that.

2028 season: LSU Tigers

Few things are as certain in college football as the head coaches of the LSU Tigers winning a national championship (Brian Kelly excluded).

Nick Saban did it. Les Miles did it. Even Ed Oregeron did it.

Lane Kiffin will be next.

It'll take him until Year 3, but by the 2028-29 season, he should have everything in place that he needs - if not sooner.

2029 season: Georgia Bulldogs

You're not going to keep Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs out of the national title picture for very long.

Smart, who has two national championships under his belt, will add a third during the 2029-30 season, ending a bit of a drought for the Athens, Georgia program.

2030 season: Penn State Nittany Lions

Matt Campbell is a program builder and it'll take him some time to build up Penn State, back to a championship-caliber team. But by the 2030-31 season, all will come into place for State College, Pennsylvania.

Penn State will become the Big Ten's fourth college football program to win a national championship in the last decade, joining Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana.

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Who do you see winning it all in the next five years?

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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