It wasn’t long ago that the Indiana Hoosiers completed their undefeated season and won their first national championship in program history. And while those students are only just finishing up the end of the school year, it’s already time for us to put some serious thought into what the College Football Playoff looks like at the end of 2026.
It’s a new era defined by NIL and the transfer portal. We’ve already seen countless moves that will greatly impact rosters this fall, and incoming freshmen aren’t even on campus yet. Those factors, among others, make this a unique time to bet on college football futures.
There are more questions than answers this time of year, but if you play your cards right and read between the lines, you can always find value. We searched through the best offshore sportsbooks for college football to find five bets you must make today.
Best College Football Futures to Bet Today
We’re taking a look at four conference winner props and making an early call on this year’s Heisman winner. All odds are provided by BetOnline and are current as of Wednesday, May 6.
ACC Winner: Miami (FL) (-135)
There’s really no other way to bet the ACC than to take Miami as the outright winner. The next few contenders include SMU (+700), Louisville (+750), and Clemson (+1600), and while they could potentially provide significantly higher payouts, the odds are stacked against them.
The Hurricanes are fresh off a trip to the College Football Playoff National Championship, where they lost to Indiana, 27-21. And while they lost top contributors Rueben Bain Jr., Francis Mauigoa, and Akheem Mesidor to the NFL Draft, Miami loaded up through the transfer portal.
Former Duke QB Darian Mensah replaces Carson Beck, providing the Hurricanes with one of the best arms in the nation. He threw for over 3,900 yards and 34 touchdowns to just six interceptions in 2025. Miami also added Mensah’s standout WR, Cooper Barkate, who will complement a group led by second-year phenom Malachi Toney.
Perhaps most importantly, the Hurricanes have an incredibly favorable schedule. There are matchups at Clemson and at Notre Dame that can’t be overlooked, and a late-season home game against James Franklin’s Virginia Tech Hokies could be interesting. Florida A&M and Central Michigan are also on the agenda though, so this shouldn’t be a sweat.
Big 12 Winner: BYU (+550)
Texas Tech is the overwhelming favorite to win the Big 12 at +105, but there’s reason to be apprehensive about that price. Incoming QB Brendan Sorsby, who shone at Cincinnati last season, is under investigation for sports betting and could lose his eligibility as a result. Until that situation is settled, I would hold off on backing the Red Raiders.
That leaves BYU as the “safest” bet at +550. RB LJ Martin, the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, is back for another year. The Cougars also nabbed standout LB Cade Uluave via the transfer portal, as well as OL Paki Finau and TE Walker Lyons.
The schedule has its challenges, including visits to Utah and TCU, plus a mid-October home game against Notre Dame. There are non-conference matchups with Utah Tech and Colorado State, though, and the rest of the conference schedule is bulked out by lesser opponents.
Ultimately, there’s a lot to like about the Cougars’ situation. Their only losses came to Texas Tech in 2025, and their 12 wins were their most in a season since 2001.
Big Ten Winner: Indiana (+240)
Indiana is 27-2 since Curt Cignetti took over ahead of the 2024 season. In that time, they’ve twice reached the College Football Playoff and won the Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl, Big Ten Championship, and national championship. Why, then, are oddsmakers still pretending that the Hoosiers’ success is unsustainable?
Indiana is second only to Ohio State (+190) to win the Big Ten, but Oregon (+275) isn’t far behind. The Buckeyes and Ducks are obvious giants, but that feels a little disrespectful to the Hoosiers, no?
Yes, Indiana lost Fernando Mendoza and a number of other key contributors. But it added former TCU QB Josh Hoover and Michigan State WR Nick Marsh and shored up the line on both sides of the ball. Most importantly, Cignetti’s immaculate coaching staff remains intact.
Until proven otherwise, the Hoosiers should be favored to represent the Big Ten. Circle their home game against Ohio State on Oct. 17 and see where the odds stand then.
SEC Winner: Texas (+300)
Is this the year that Arch Manning lives up to his Heisman pedigree? He came on toward the end of the 2025 season and delivered an incredible performance against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl, throwing for 221 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 155 yards and another pair of scores.
Texas has done its part to surround him with top-tier talent. WR Cam Coleman arrives via Auburn, and standout RB Daylan “Hollywood” Smothers transferred from NC State. Improvements were also made to the offensive line.
The schedule will test this team’s strength. Texas gets Ohio State at home in Week 2, plus trips to Tennessee, Missouri, LSU, and Texas A&M. The home slate includes Ole Miss and Florida, among others – and don’t forget about the Red River Rivalry.
Despite that, it feels like the Longhorns made more marked improvements than their SEC rivals. They’re the favorites at +300 for a reason, and they’re worth betting in that spot.
2026 Heisman Winner: Trinidad Chambliss (+1100)
Chambliss won his appeal for a sixth year of college eligibility, and there’s a chance he earned himself a Heisman Trophy in the process. The former Division II standout thrived this past season at Ole Miss, throwing for over 3,900 yards and 22 touchdowns to only three interceptions.
Chambliss won’t have Lane Kiffin calling the shots on the sideline this time around, but he impressed under the direction of Pete Golding in the College Football Playoff, throwing for 921 yards and four interceptions against Tulane, Georgia, and Miami (FL).
Chambliss has a strong arsenal at his disposal that should help him find the success he needs to fuel his Heisman campaign. Kewan Lacy, who rushed for 24 touchdowns and hauled in 29 receptions in 2025, is back. Returning WR Deuce Alexander is flanked by incoming transfers Darrell Gill Jr. and Johntay Cook II.
He’ll face stiff competition from Arch Manning (+750), CJ Carr (+800), and others, but Chambliss has everything he needs to make a compelling case for the Heisman Trophy.
Responsible Gaming
The first rule of responsible gaming is that sports betting should be entertaining, not a way to make money. Never bet more than you can afford to lose. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER or visiting ncpgambling.org.
Final Thoughts
It might feel distant, but we’ll be talking about the most hyped Week 1 matchups and looking forward to College Gameday before we know it. Now is the best time to beat the surge of incoming college football bets and lock in your predictions for the coming season.
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
