Now that it’s all over and the Ohio State Buckeyes are the college football national champions, it can be definitively said: Expanding the College Football Playoff worked.

We grew up on a college football season that climaxed on New Year's Day. Is there a way back to that while keeping the excitement of the past month?

Oddsmakers have put up new, early odds for the 2026 title game and the Texas Longhorns have the best odds to win, with Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon, Penn State and Alabama following. The National Championship game will take place in Miami, Florida at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19.

Ohio State’s run to its first national championship in a decade enabled the Buckeyes to dominate the Associated Press’ all-College Football Playoff team. The AP changed the way it put together its postseason all-star teams this season as college football introduced an expanded 12-team playoff that had some schools playing as many as four postseason games.

And there you have it. The Ohio State Buckeyes have won their second College Football Playoff National Championship, their first since winning the inaugural one

Plus, more questions on whether the CFP format was a success, next year's rising teams and college football's longest season ever.

It's never too early to look ahead to the next college football season. Here's a look at the top matchups of a loaded schedule to start 2025:

Ohio State’s run to its first national championship in a decade enabled the Buckeyes to dominate the AP All-College Football Playoff team.