Top-ranked Texas is the consensus favorite to win it all, though it’s a crowded field. The Longhorns are +450 favorites at BetMGM Sportsbook, followed by third-ranked and defending champion Ohio State (+525). Four other teams — No. 2 Penn State, No. 4 Clemson, No. 5 Georgia and No. 7 Oregon — are between 7-1 and 9-1.

Even at the end of the year, the ESPN analyst believes that the quality of Clemson will make it all the way to the national championship. He predicts a rematch with Texas in Miami to close out the year, losing again to the Longhorns and quarterback Arch Manning.

Texas’ 2026 recruiting is one of the best in the country, coming in at No. 5 on On3 Sports. The Longhorns have five-star commits from quarterback Dia Bell, linebacker Tyler Atkinson and edge rusher Richard Wesley.

The team that won its league championship (Clemson) is a big, 12-point underdog to a league runner-up (Texas). Clemson wants to bolt from its conference. Texas has completely embraced its new one.

Pro Football Focus has predicted the College Football Playoff, and the Clemson Tigers get their revenge on the Texas Longhorns.

Texas beats Clemson, advances to CFP quarterfinals Texas is onto the CFP quarterfinals and the Peach Bowl vs. No. 4 Arizona State, as the Longhorns take down No. 12 Clemson 38-24.

The Texas defensive line will get another chance to prove itself Saturday against Clemson. Led by Austin-raised quarterback Cade Klubnik, Clemson is scoring 35.5 points per game.

Though Clemson's season ended with a 38-24 defeat against Texas, the performance affirmed Dabo Swinney's program as a national contender. It also revealed the Tigers' path back to elite status.

Clemson won national titles in 2016 and 2018 but missed the playoff the last four seasons. Texas is the only one of last year’s four playoff teams to make it into the expanded field this season.

Q2: 0:48 Clemson 10, Texas 21Now it's Texas trying to score before the half. Quinn Ewers' 12-yard run gives the Longhorns a new set of downs.Texas at the Clemson 37-yard line.

No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Penn State each had three players selected for the preseason AP All-America team. The Southeastern Conference had 12 players on the 27-man first team determined by media members on the AP Top 25 voting panel. Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Pittsburgh each had two players on the first team.