College football bettors target long shots following Indiana championship

Following Indiana’s improbable undefeated 16-0 run to a national championship after entering the season as a 100-to-1 long shot, college football bettors are increasingly targeting high-odds dark horses for the 2026 season.

DraftKings sportsbook director Johnny Avello reports significant interest in several long-shot programs. Notable bets include Oklahoma State at 400-to-1, Kentucky at 450-to-1, and UCLA at 750-to-1. This shift in betting behavior suggests that the traditional perception of extreme long shots as mere donations to sportsbooks has been altered by Indiana’s success.

Analysts suggest that the rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal may provide a logical basis for this optimism, as these mechanisms allow programs to transform rosters more rapidly than in previous eras.