College Football Upset?! Notre Dame & Oregon's SHOCKING Odds!

Alright, College Football fans, the Indiana Hoosiers' improbable championship run might still be buzzing in your ears, but the oddsmakers are already looking ahead to 2026. And one name in particular, Geoff Schwartz, is dropping some early CFP picks that are definitely worth a look. Forget trying to predict another Cinderella story – Schwartz is focusing on value, and he sees it in two powerhouse programs: Notre Dame and Oregon.

College Football Upset?! Notre Dame & Oregon's SHO...

Now, Schwartz isn't saying these are guaranteed winners, but he's laying down some future tickets now, while the odds are still juicy. Let's start with the Fighting Irish. He points out their seemingly manageable 2026 schedule. He sees only one true toss-up game, a late-season home battle against Miami. BYU on the road and SMU at home present some hurdles, sure, but the other nine games *should* be pretty comfortable wins. Key word: should. We all know how College Football can be!

But beyond the schedule, there's the raw talent. Notre Dame is consistently pulling in top-tier recruits and making savvy transfer portal moves. Head coach Marcus Freeman has proven he can develop that talent and, crucially, win games. And then there's quarterback CJ Carr. This kid is already being talked about as a potential Heisman contender. He had a solid first year, and with a little more seasoning, he could be truly special. Losing a couple of running backs to the NFL hurts, but Aneyas Williams is ready to step up, and the offensive line remains a force to be reckoned with. Plus, they've bolstered their wide receiving corps through the portal. Smart move.

Defensively, Freeman has transformed Notre Dame into a real problem for opposing offenses. They consistently rank among the best in the nation in key stats like points per game and yards per play. And the best part? They're bringing back a ton of production at linebacker and defensive back. With playmakers at all levels, this defense is going to be nasty. All this, coupled with a relatively smooth schedule and the guarantee of a playoff berth if they crack the top 12, makes Notre Dame a very attractive pick for Schwartz.

PICK: Notre Dame (+700) to win the College Football Playoff

Then there's Oregon. The Ducks are viewing 2026 as their championship window. They've been building towards this for a while, and they've made some key moves to solidify their chances. They convinced quarterback Dante Moore to stick around for another year. Huge. They're also bringing back their starting center and Jamari Johnson, and upgrades are expected at offensive tackle. That's a recipe for a potent offense.

But the real strength might be on the other side of the ball. Oregon is bringing back their *entire* starting defensive line, along with key linebackers and most of their secondary. That's experience and talent in spades. Combined with strong coaching, especially head coach Dan Lanning's knack for avoiding those killer upset losses, Oregon is looking like a serious contender. They are loaded, folks, truly loaded.