Despite the loss to Texas Sept. 12, Ohio State retained its status as the betting favorite to win the 2026-27 football national championship, according to BetMGM. In fact, the Buckeyes' odds got better after the loss.
Before the season, the Buckeyes had +600 odds to win the national championship, per BetMGM on July 20.
OSU held a 20-point lead over Texas in the fourth quarter before the Longhorns began their comeback and won 24-23. The Buckeyes started in control of the game after beginning with 10 points off turnovers from Texas' first two drives. Ohio State freshman Jay Timmons caused a turnover on the first Longhorns offensive play of the game when he forced Texas running back Raleek Brown to fumble, which led to a field goal for the Buckeyes.
After outpacing Texas in yards 320 to 186 through three quarters, Ohio State's offensive production dipped with three first downs and no third-down conversions in the fourth quarter. Texas, meanwhile, converted four of five third-down tries and outgained Ohio State 152 to 50 in the fourth quarter en route to scoring 21 unanswered points.
What are Ohio State football's odds to win the national championship in the 2026-27 season?
Ohio State's odds to win the national championship next season are +500, according to BetMGM on Sept. 14. The odds lead all teams in college football.
- Ohio State +500
- Texas +600
- Georgia +700
- Notre Dame +700
- Miami (FL) +700
- Indiana +900
- LSU +1100
- Oregon +2000
- Texas Tech +2200
Texas' national championship odds shot up from +750 to +600 after its victory against Ohio State, but still remain behind the Buckeyes. Georgia, Notre Dame and Miami (FL) sit tied for third at +700 through two weeks of the season.
After losing to Oklahoma State in Week 2, Oregon's odds took the biggest dip from +800 in the preseason to +2200, putting them outside the top five.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State lost to Texas, but its title odds just got even better
Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside. It is your sole responsibility to act in accordance with your local laws.
Gambling involves risk. Please only gamble with funds that you can comfortably afford to lose. While we do our utmost to offer good advice and information we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of gambling. We do our best to make sure all the information that we provide on this site is correct. However, from time to time mistakes will be made and we will not be held liable. Please check any stats or information if you are unsure how accurate they are. No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain. All forms of betting carry financial risk and it is up to the individual to make bets with or without the assistance of information provided on this site and we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of following the betting tips provided on this site. Past performances do not guarantee success in the future and betting odds fluctuate from one minute to the next. The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice.
Prediction Markets: Certain prediction markets are event contracts regulated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or other applicable regulatory authorities and are legally distinct from traditional gambling and sports betting. Eligibility requirements to participate in prediction markets differ from those for sports betting and gambling — you may be required to be 18 or older (or such other age as the applicable platform requires) and to satisfy other eligibility criteria established by the relevant platform and governing law. Prediction market trading involves financial risk and may not be available in all jurisdictions. The legal and regulatory status of prediction markets varies by jurisdiction and by platform. It is your sole responsibility to confirm that participation is lawful where you reside and to comply with all applicable laws and platform terms.
