The Ohio State Buckeyes are once again the team to beat. As we head into October, Ohio sportsbooks have made the defending national champions the early favorites to win it all in 2025.
With a perfect 4-0 start and a commanding win in their Big Ten opener, Ohio State is staking its claim to go back-to-back.
At bet365 Sportsbook Ohio, the Buckeyes lead the National Championship odds board at +500, with Oregon trailing closely at +550.
If you want to bet on them, there are now 15 legal online betting platforms in the state offering college football futures, giving Buckeyes backers a variety of options.
Why Oddsmakers Are Backing the Buckeyes
Ohio State's path to the playoff remains challenging, but manageable. The Buckeyes still have three ranked opponents remaining on the regular season slate:
- Oct. 11: at No. 22 Illinois
- Nov. 1: vs. No. 7 Penn State
- Nov. 29: at No. 20 Michigan
The Buckeyes are expected to be a slight-to-solid favorite in all three, putting them in a strong position to control their destiny both in the Big Ten and the national title race.
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Buckeyes Impress in Big Ten Opener
Coming off a cross-country trip to face the then-undefeated Washington Huskies, many expected Ohio State to face its first major challenge of the season.
Not so fast.
Instead, the Buckeyes shook off a slow start and dominated the second half, outscoring Washington 17-3 en route to a 24-6 victory.
Sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin, in his first year as a starter, completed 22-of-28 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns, leading Ohio State to its fourth straight win and first Big Ten victory.
The Buckeyes (4-0, 1-0) will host Minnesota (3-1, 1-0) this Saturday, Oct. 4, in a primetime clash on NBC (7:30 p.m. ET).
➡️ Bet on Ohio State -23.5 this weekend at Prime Sports Ohio
A Look Back at Ohio State's 2024 Championship Run
Last season, Ohio State finished 14-2, with both losses coming by a combined four points. Their most painful defeat came at home against bitter rival Michigan, a 13-10 slugfest on Nov. 30. But that setback fueled a remarkable playoff run.
The Buckeyes responded by defeating Tennessee, Oregon (avenging a 32-31 regular-season loss on Oct. 12), Texas, and Notre Dame to win the National Championship — their first since the 2014 season.
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