Can a team go undefeated in this era of college football?

With the expanded College Football Playoff adding games to the season, it’s becoming more and more difficult for a team to finish a season with a perfect record. Both Georgia and Michigan went undefeated at 15-0 in 2022 and 2023, but Ohio State went 14-2 in 2024 on its way to the national title. And had the Buckeyes made the Big Ten title game, they could have played 17 total games.

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Even Texas coach Steve Sarkisian openly wondered in the spring if there would ever be an undefeated national champion again.

The odds of a team going 16-0 or 17-0 to win a national title are very remote. But the chances of a team going undefeated in the regular season are much more realistic. According to BetMGM, there are 10 teams with odds of 10-1 or better to make it through the regular season without a loss. Can any of those teams do it? And who would you put your money on?

Notre Dame (+400 to go 12-0)

The Irish are the favorites to go 12-0 despite one of the toughest opening two games for any team in college football. Notre Dame visits Miami in Week 1 before hosting Texas A&M in Week 3. If Notre Dame can get through those two games, the rest of the season looks pretty good. A trip to Arkansas may be the toughest road game remaining for the Irish and both Boise State and USC play at Notre Dame. Yes, Notre Dame lost in Week 2 at home to Northern Illinois in 2024 before going to the national title game, but an upset like that won’t happen for a second straight year, right?

Clemson (+450)

Like Notre Dame, Clemson opens with a barnburner as LSU visits in Week 1 to cap what could be an incredible first full Saturday of college football. After LSU, Clemson hosts SMU on Oct. 18 in a rematch of the ACC title game.

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The Tigers also end the season with two road games that could be exceptionally difficult. Clemson visits Louisville on Friday, Nov. 14, and ends the season with its annual rivalry game at South Carolina. The Gamecocks won at Clemson in 2024.

Ohio State (+450)

The Buckeyes host Texas in Week 1 before a schedule that gets much easier for more than a month. Don’t sleep on Ohio State’s trip to Illinois on Oct. 11. The Illini are sleeper candidates to get to the Big Ten title game given their conference schedule. After Illinois, the only two ranked opponents that could be remaining on Ohio State’s schedule are Penn State and Michigan. Winning in Ann Arbor after winning the national title would be a very sweet victory for Ryan Day and his team.

Oregon (+450)

If you like Oregon’s chances of winning at Penn State, then the Ducks could be the best value among the favorites as they look to go undefeated during the regular season for a second straight year. After an off week following the trip to State College, Indiana visits Eugene. From there, Oregon’s two toughest games are at Iowa and at home against USC.

Penn State (+500)

The Nittany Lions have three easy games and an off week to get ready for Oregon. The 2024 Big Ten title game rematch happens on Sept. 27 in State College. If Penn State can topple Oregon, that trip to Ohio State on Nov. 1 could be what stands between the Nittany Lions and an undefeated season. Given how Penn State has struggled against Ohio State in recent years, it’s a tough hurdle.

Georgia (+600)

Remember when Georgia drew Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas all on the road in 2024? Well, the Bulldogs get all three of those teams at home in 2025 thanks to the SEC’s reverse scheduling for the season. It’s an incredible home schedule for Georgia fans, and it also means the road schedule is manageable with a trip to Tennessee on Sept. 13 looming as by far the biggest road game of the season for the Bulldogs.

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Boise State (+700)

The Broncos went 12-1 after giving Oregon all it could handle early in the season. And even though Ashton Jeanty is now with the Las Vegas Raiders, Notre Dame could be all that separates Boise State from an undefeated season in 2025. The Broncos are clear favorites in the Mountain West as they look to get back to the playoff again. The non-conference schedule outside of Notre Dame is very manageable and the conference slate includes trips to Air Force and San Diego State.

Texas (+700)

Arch Manning would be a Texas legend if the Longhorns beat Ohio State, Oklahoma, Georgia and Texas A&M in his first season as the starting quarterback. Texas’ schedule is pretty top-heavy, as a trip to Florida on Oct. 4 fills out the top five toughest games on the schedule. The other seven are very winnable and should see Texas as significant favorites.

Alabama (+900)

The Crimson Tide will need to clean a lot of things up in Kalen DeBoer’s second season to go undefeated. Alabama visits Georgia on Sept. 27 and also plays at South Carolina a week after hosting Tennessee in that annual rivalry game. November includes games against LSU, Oklahoma and a trip to Auburn to close out the regular season.

Miami (+1000)

Given that Notre Dame game in Week 1, we’ll obviously know very quickly about Miami’s chances of going undefeated. If the Hurricanes win in Week 1, their chances of going 12-0 may hinge on improvements by their in-state rivals. Florida visits Miami on Sept. 20 after the Hurricanes won in Gainesville a season ago. Two weeks after Florida comes to town, Miami heads to Florida State as the Seminoles look to bounce back from an absolutely disastrous 2024 season.