The Big Ten has been the home to college football's national champion each of the past three seasons. But our staff at Nittany Lions Wire agrees that that reign is about to come to an end this fall. However, our staff is not in unison on which team will be the one sitting on college football's throne at the end of the season.
The Big Ten does have some strong national title contenders with teams like Ohio State and Oregon helping pace the preseason rankings, and Indiana will be out to prove last season's national championship run was not a fluke. A Big Ten team winning it all certainly would not be out of the question in 2026, but our staff is going in a few different directions with this year's College Football Playoff victors.
Here are our national
championship predictions for the 2026 college football season.
Kevin McGuire, Lead Writer: Georgia
I think the Big Ten's string of national championships will be snapped by a school from the SEC. Georgia is my pick to come out on top of the college football world once again as Kirby Smart will once again have the Bulldogs playing some of the best football in the country. Outside of a road trip to Alabama and perhaps a road game at Ole Miss, Georgia has a pretty favorable schedule on its hands, so making the playoff is not in too much doubt. Gunner Stockton will be a reliable passer without being the most impressive-looking prospect out there, but with a defense stacked on the other side of the ball, he won't have to do too much. Cornerbacks KJ Bolden and Ellis Robinson IV and linebacker Chris Cole will help make the Dawgs one of the nastiest defenses in the nation.
Christopher Sheppard, Contributor: Notre Dame
It doesn't seem right, but out of everyone in contention, Notre Dame seems to have the fewest questions. They return quarterback CJ Carr and an elite defense headlined by cornerback Leonard Moore. Their receiving corps is deep and talented. But most importantly, there aren't many tests outside of Miami and BYU on their schedule. After last season’s painful ending, this is the Fighting Irish’s redemption tour. Expect them to cruise through the regular season and then a College Football Playoff bracket with a ton of parity.
Paul White, Contributor: Texas
We saw Arch Manning look much better down the stretch of the 2025 season, so he could elevate the Longhorns to championship contention if he continues that progression. This was one of the most hyped quarterback prospects of all time, and I’m banking on his pedigree transferring to the field and taking Texas to new heights.
Be sure to check out our Big Ten championship predictions to see who we have coming out on top of the Big Ten in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: College football national championship predictions for 2026
