Every team is 0-0 and all their goals for the coming year are in front of them.Many programs, coaches, and fanbases all believe they have a chance to win a national title, and in a mathematical sense they aren't wrong.I'm here to tell you, however, that it's rarely that wide open and, during any given year, only a handful of teams can actually win the whole thing.This year, I've identified eight teams who I believe can hoist a national championship trophy.MISSOURI'S ELI DRINKWITZ BECOMES LATEST SEC COACH TO MAKE RIDICULOUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT BIG TEN SCHEDULESThrough some combination of returning production, transfer portal talent, and elite coaching, one of these eight teams will more than likely be the last one standing next January.Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes attempts a catch in front of OJ Frederique Jr.#29 of the Miami Hurricanes in the second quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the 90th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on Dec.
31, 2025 in Arlington, Texas.(Alex Slitz/Getty Images)The Ohio State Buckeyes could probably get penciled into this list every year while Ryan Day is their head coach and their talent acquisition stays at the level it's currently at, but this year in particular feels like a big one in Columbus.Coach Day has assembled a staff consisting largely of former NFL coaches and coordinators, and the addition of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith feels like a particularly noteworthy one to keep an eye on.The Buckeyes have been recruiting at a top-five level for the past several cycles, and have supplemented that with a small but elite transfer portal class, including bolstering their defense with the likes of Alabama defensive linemen Qua Russaw and James Smith as well as Florida State safety Earl Little Jr.On offense, Ohio State returns what may end up being the best quarterback-wide receiver tandem in the country, as Julian Sayin looks to build on a quietly brilliant 2025 while Jeremia...