5 teams most likely to become next ‘new’ college football champion following Indiana
By Adam Spencer
Published:
The Indiana Hoosiers’ victory over Miami in the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship Game was a seismic shift in the sport’s hierarchy.
By finishing 16-0 and hoisting the trophy, Curt Cignetti’s squad became the first “new” national champion since the Florida Gators broke through in 1996 under Steve Spurrier.
Yeah, that’s a crazy stat.
For decades, college football was a gated community. Between 1997 and 2024 (nearly 3 decades for those of us who are math-challenged), every single national title was won by a program that had already won at least 1 championship before. Indiana has officially picked the lock, proving that in the era of the 12-team Playoff, the transfer portal, and NIL, the “Old Guard” no longer has a monopoly on the podium.
With the glass ceiling shattered, the question is no longer if another first-timer will rise, but when. Here are the 5 teams most likely to follow Indiana’s blueprint and become college football’s next first-time national champion.
1. Oregon Ducks
This is the clear No. 1 choice for this list.
It is almost a statistical anomaly that Oregon hasn’t won a title yet. The Ducks have been the most consistent “new money” program in the country for 2 decades. They have the uniforms, the facilities (thanks to Phil Knight), and the recruiting trail dominance that typically mirrors Alabama or Georgia.
Why they’re next: Dan Lanning has transformed Oregon from a finesse-based “speed” team into a physical powerhouse that can win in the trenches of the Big Ten. The Ducks have reached the national championship game twice (2010 and 2014) and were a mainstay in the 2025 Playoff conversation. With a top-5 recruiting class and a relentless approach to the transfer portal, Oregon looks like a serious contender.
2. Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Red Raiders are the hottest team in the country right now. After a dominant 11-1 regular season in 2025 and a top-5 CFP ranking, Joey McGuire has turned Lubbock into a legitimate center of power. Fresh off a contract extension through 2032, McGuire has built a program that balances Texas high school recruiting with elite portal shopping.
And if you don’t think Cody Campbell is going to keep the Red Raiders’ NIL funds among the top in the sport, I don’t know what to tell you.
Why they’re next: Tech just pulled off one of the best portal moves of the 2026 offseason, landing 5-star transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby (formerly of Cincinnati and Indiana) to lead the offense. With an NIL collective that recently secured 5-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo and elite defensive additions like Trey White, the Red Raiders have a roster that looks like an SEC giant. In a Big 12 where they are now the hunted rather than the hunters, the path to a top-4 Playoff seed is clearer than ever.
3. Utah Utes
The 2025 season marked the end of an era as Kyle Whittingham stepped down, but the transition to Morgan Scalley has been mostly seamless. Scalley, a former Ute All-American who served as defensive coordinator for a decade, was the “head coach in waiting” for a reason.
Why they’re next: Utah is the ultimate developmental program. Scalley has maintained the “Sack Lake City” identity while navigating the Big 12 with a brand of physical football that is plain to see. A Playoff berth could be in the near future for the Utes.
4. Ole Miss Rebels
The Oxford landscape shifted in late 2025 when Lane Kiffin departed for LSU, but the Rebels quickly promoted defensive coordinator Pete Golding to the top spot. Golding immediately galvanized the roster, leading Ole Miss to its first-ever CFP win and a historic upset of Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.
Why they’re next: Under Golding, the Rebels have a seemingly bright future. There are certainly some question marks facing the offense moving forward after losing Kiffin and OC Charlie Weis Jr., but landing QB Deuce Knight from Auburn in the transfer portal is an encouraging first step.
5. Missouri Tigers
Did you think I was going to end this list without mentioning my alma mater?
Mizzou is currently experiencing a resurgence under Eli Drinkwitz. Much like Indiana, the Tigers have utilized a state-of-the-art NIL collective to keep local talent at home while supplementing the roster with savvy portal additions.
Why they’re next: Mizzou plays a disciplined, efficient brand of football that travels well. Is Mizzou a long-shot to win a national title? Absolutely. But heck, Indiana had the most losses in college football history before going 16-0 and winning a national title this year. So let’s just say crazier things have happened.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
