College football experts select favorites for national title ahead of season kickoff

College football commentators and media staff are releasing national championship predictions as the season begins this Thursday. Experts from ESPN and Yahoo Sports remain divided on the potential winner, with Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas, and Oregon receiving significant support. Chris Fowler and several ESPN analysts identified Notre Dame as a primary contender, citing the team's path to the 12-team playoff bracket. Other voices, including Kyle Bonagura and Max Olson, favor Ohio State, while Heather Dinich and Ross Dellenger identified Texas as the team to beat. Meanwhile, polls from The Athletic suggest a strong consensus for Notre Dame, which holds nearly 42% of staff votes. These preseason projections highlight the primary candidates entering the year, though final results will depend on performance once the regular season concludes.

• 4:27 PMYahoo Sports — Tracking all the college football experts’ national title picks