Who’s your pick to win the college football national championship?
Or, more intriguingly, Hoosier pick to win the championship?
That’s the question — kind of — put to Braden Gall, an ESPN radio host and owner of 440 Sports, a Nashville-based media company.
He’s also something of a college football maven. Braden the Maven.
Anyway, two years ago he proclaimed Iowa State and Indiana to be the “Playoff Deep Sleepers” of the 2024 season.
Iowa State went 11-3 and just missed reaching the College Football Playoff by losing in the Big 12 Championship Game.
However, Indiana, which had stumbled to a 3-9 finish in 2023, went 11-2. One of its losses was to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff.
Good calls.
Last year, Gall picked Georgia Tech as his Playoff Deep Sleeper. The Rambling Wreck rambled to a 9-1 start until wrecking in a 42-28 loss, which cost them a spot in the ACC Championship Game.
Close call.
The point is Gall has a pretty good track record. So, the question was put to him… Who could be this year’s Indiana — a team flying somewhat under the proverbial radar that can win the national title?
Remember, Indiana started the season ranked No. 20. The Hoosiers were one of only five teams since 2000 to win the national championship after starting outside the preseason AP top 10.
The others are Florida State (No. 11 in 2013), Auburn (No. 22 in 2010), Ohio State (No. 13 in 2002) and Oklahoma (No. 19 in 2000).
Only two other teams — No. 6 LSU in 2019 and No. 7 Florida in 2006 — started outside the top five.
That means 20 national champions (LSU and USC shared the title in 2003) started out ranked among the preseason top five.
Therefore, Gall figures being outside the top five counts as “under the radar.”
“Realistically, if you get out of the top four or five, you’re just searching,” Gall said. “I want coaching stability, talent at quarterback, good defense and a roster able to handle the rigors of playoff games. To me, that’s only a handful of teams.”
Gall picked No. 2 Oregon to win the national championship. Percentages are with him. Ten national champions since 2000 started No. 2. That’s more than triple the success rate of any other opening rank.
He also picked the Houston Cougars as his Playoff Deep Sleeper.
"What I care about most in a modern college football program is building and stability,” Gall said. “Willie Fritz is as good a coach as there is in college football. They have talent at quarterback (Conner Weigman). And they’re in a conference with just two or three hard games.
“I would not be surprised if Houston is 10-2 or 11-1 and competing for the Big 12 championship and to go in the playoffs.”
He doesn’t think Houston, which opens at No. 23, can win the national title, though.
So, we’re back to the original question. Hoosier … er, who’s your pick to possibly be this year’s Indiana — a team outside the top five that could win it all?
“I don’t think Miami has the coaching staff,” Gall said. “LSU doesn’t have the depth … yet. Oklahoma doesn’t have the balance. No one in the Big 12 is good enough.
“The only team outside the top five or six that has enough roster talent to win it all, the coaching stability to keep it together and the quarterback, defense, experience and motivation is the Texas A&M Aggies.”
A&M is ranked eighth in both the AP and coaches preseason polls. Alas, no national champion in the last 26 seasons started eighth.
Again, Gall isn’t picking A&M to win it all. He just thinks the Aggies have the ingredients to make a deep playoff run.
He stressed his opinion isn’t influenced by the allegiances of to whomever he may be talking. Protecting his credibility is too important.
“I got them at No. 8,” he said. “I really like that team. I’m not BS-ing you. That’s really what I think.”
So … who’s your pick? Or Hoosier pick?
Heisman watch
1. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss, QB: The transfer from tiny Ferris State, Chambliss hopes to improve on an excellent first year in Oxford. That won’t be easy. Last season, he finished eighth in the 2025 Heisman voting. Chambliss moved into the starting lineup in the third game. He promptly passed for 353 yards in a victory over Arkansas. That was the first of eight 300-yard passing performances. He finished with 3,937 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. Chambliss also rushed for 527 yards and eight scores. He led Ole Miss to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.
2. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State, WR: Often regarded as the top pro prospect, Smith finished sixth in the Heisman voting last year. In 2025, he caught 87 passes for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns — and that was considered a “down” year. As a freshman in 2024, he had 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. In his first two seasons combined, Smith has 23 catches of 30 yards or more. Of those, 16 have resulted in gains of at least 40 yards. Of course, his consistent production and big-play ability could boost the candidacy of Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin.
3. Julian Sayin, Ohio State, QB: A Heisman finalist last season, Sayin is expected to be even better this year. Blessed with outstanding receivers, like the aforementioned Smith, Sayin passed for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns while completing 77 percent of his attempts in 2025. He exceeded 300 passing yards in six games.
4. CJ Carr, Notre Dame, QB: A productive quarterback of a national championship contender is always in the Heisman hunt. Carr fills the bill. Notre Dame’s soft schedule should ensure the Irish reach the playoffs and Carr accumulates gaudy stats. As a freshman last season, he threw for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns. Expect those numbers to improve significantly. Also, just the fact that he represents Notre Dame will sway some voters.
5. Dante Moore, Oregon, QB: The Ducks lost twice last season. Both times were to national champion Indiana. They’ll be good again, so the productive quarterback of a national championship contender applies to Moore, too. But he has … well, more, to offer. Last season, Moore passed for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns while completing 71.8 percent of his attempts.
Games to Watch
Clemson at No. 11 LSU: The Lane Kiffin era begins at NFLSU. Probably everybody outside of Louisiana is hoping it starts with a loss.
Baylor vs. Auburn (Atlanta): This was actually a pretty good game last year. Auburn won, and its coach still got fired. The same could happen at Baylor this year.
Washington State at No. 17 Washington (Sunday): Most intense rivalry games are at the end of the season. Hey, at least the Apple Cup is still being played.
No. 24 Louisville vs. No. 9 Ole Miss (Nashville, Sunday): The only game of the weekend matching ranked opponents. Louisville was good last year and projects to be better. Ole Miss was even better last year. This year? We’ll see.
No. 19 SMU at Florida State (Monday): The Seminoles were unimpressive in an opening victory over New Mexico State. Should they fall to SMU, calls to fire FSU coach Mike Norvell will get an early start.
