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.

Being ranked No. 1 means more than just bragging rights. It places Texas squarely in the national spotlight while also setting the Longhorns up as the team everyone wants to beat. This is even more significant as the Longhorns start their second season in the SEC, where every week is a test against elite opponents.