The college football season is finally here, which means it's time to take a look at how things will shake out when January rolls around.
Of all of my futures, I have one College Football National Championship pick I really love at the price out in the market.
With that said, let's dive into my college football futures and NCAAF picks for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
College Football Futures, Picks
Out of all the top 10 teams, this is the one I feel best about betting on.
Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack led this unit that put up insane numbers last year. This defense was top-of-the-line, and it has only gotten better.
Now, the offense is where a lot of this team’s magic could happen.
Ryan Grubb stepping in to run DeBoer's offense is a game-changer. It’s like they’re putting the main engine back in gear from the Washington team that made it to the National Championship.
Meanwhile, Nick Sheridan will focus exclusively on the quarterbacks, and that’s huge because they really need that kind of attention. The big question is, can Ty Simpson bring leadership with his program experience?
Then they have Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard at receiver, so good luck to the rest of the conference defending that with pre-snap motion and post-snap trickery. It’s going to be tough to defend.
Now, the wild card here is Keelon Russell. I’ve watched enough tape, and it feels like there’s a secret plan brewing for this guy. I don’t know if he’ll step in against Georgia on Sept. 27 or if they’ll hold him out until Simpson and Mack have had their run.
Maybe he comes alive in the playoff. Whatever it is, there’s definitely a plan and some special package being worked on that we won’t see until it’s absolutely necessary.
If Alabama takes a loss, you can bet I’m doubling down on national title futures for the Crimson Tide. I really like this team because of the Russell factor. Sometimes a player emerges and carries a team over that final hurdle to a championship, and that could be him.
Defensively, things are downright incredible. Last year, the Tide ranked fourth in Finishing Drives Allowed and seventh in Quality Drives Allowed. Opponents struggled just to get into scoring range, and if they did, scoring was a mess.
Alabama limited EPA, ranked in the top 20 for Rushing and Passing Success Rate Allowed and finished second nationally in tackling. That was Wommack’s first shot at working hands-on with this team, and they already finished second in tackling.
When Wommack first stepped up to the Power 4 level, he already had one of the best defensive units out there, and the numbers they put up proved it. This year, Alabama boasts one of the top three defensive units across all levels.
Plus, plenty of players opted to return for another season, including a huge retention in middle linebacker Deontae Lawson.
I’d like to see them create more Havoc after finishing 41st last year in that department. Maybe they’re dialing back blitzes and just letting the defense flow. Either way, they’re cooking and will keep cooking.
Here’s a quick look at Alabama’s schedule concerns: Four SEC teams will have a bye week before facing the Tide: Georgia, Missouri, LSU and Oklahoma.
LSU and Oklahoma’s games are back-to-back, with both coming off a bye, which might be a tough test for Bama’s health and depth. I see only one SEC game swinging within a touchdown, and that’s the clash with Georgia.
The floor here is 10 wins this season, with a ceiling of 12. They might lose a game, but with what I consider the strongest defense in the conference, multiple quarterback options, and a reunion with Grubb, this team is a legit national title contender.
When we did the Big Ten podcasts, and I picked Penn State to win it all from that conference, but I had reservations and was worried about semifinal matchup complications. This isn’t a number I’m sweating. I’m not hedging. Out of all the elite teams, Alabama’s the one I believe can take it all this year.
Pick: Alabama to Win 2026 National Championship (+1000)
