It was a bad time to be a high-roller at DraftKings this week, as the company reported a pair of massive bets on the College Football Playoff that turned out to be losses.
Key Takeaways
- Alabama was beaten by 35 points, the joint fourth-largest margin in CFP history.
- Ohio State and Miami are a combined 9-19 on the over/under following their quarterfinal matchup.
- Indiana is nearly a 50-50 favorite to win the national championship.
While the world was watching the ball drop on New Year’s Eve - and enjoying a day of rest immediately after - a DraftKings bettor was left to rue the first day of 2026.
The sportsbook shared to its X page that one bettor wagered $100,000 on Alabama to beat Indiana at +200 odds. A win would have paid $300,000.
🚨 BIG BET ALERT 🚨
— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) January 1, 2026
One bettor has placed $100,000 on Alabama ML (+200) vs. Indiana 💰
Possible Payout: $300,000 pic.twitter.com/YYrvQMgy6s
The SEC title game runner-up was a 6.5-to-7.5-point underdog ahead of the matchup at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Alabama was the only underdog in the quarterfinals to receive more than 50% of the moneyline handle, according to DraftKings’ insights shared Dec. 29. Only 37% of wagers but 74% of the money was on the Tide.
What transpired at college football's most famous venue was nothing short of a slaughter. Indiana was up by 24 before Alabama scored its first points, and the Hoosiers ultimately won 38-3. The 35-point margin of victory tied for the fourth-largest in CFP history.
Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza went 14-for-16 for 192 yards and three touchdowns, while the Hoosiers ran 50 times for 215 yards and two scores. Alabama only gained 193 total yards - 3.9 yards per play.
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$50K loss comes down to final seconds
While the $100,000 bettor never had a chance, another user who risked $50,000 was given the sweat of a lifetime - one that ended in defeat.
Just 25 minutes before the scheduled kick-off of the Miami-Ohio State matchup on New Year’s Eve, DraftKings posted that it accepted a $50,000 wager on more than 40.5 total points at -112 odds. If the game eclipsed the total, the bettor would have cashed $94,642.86.
🚨 BIG BET ALERT 🚨
— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) January 1, 2026
A bettor has placed $50,000 on Miami-Ohio State OVER 40.5 (-112) 👀
Possible Payout: $94,642.86 💰 pic.twitter.com/y7NRAw0Vds
It took a while for the offenses to get going. Miami took a 14-0 lead into halftime, and seven of those points came on Keionte Scott’s 72-yard interception return.
The Hurricanes powered the ball into the end zone with 0:55 remaining in the contest to make the score 24-14 and put the bettor one field goal away from a near six-figure payout. Ohio State also only needed to get within field-goal range to take the three points and set up an onside kick and potential Hail Mary.
It didn’t take long for those dreams to be crushed. With 0:48 seconds on the clock, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin threw an interception to Jakobe Thomas, who returned the ball for 3 yards and did not score. Miami kneeled the ball and ran out the clock, keeping the final score 2.5 points below the projected total.
Unfortunately for the bettor, the outcome was par for the course for both teams. Miami entered the matchup having cashed the under in eight of 13 games, while Ohio State was 9-4 to the under.
CFP semifinal, title odds
There are only three games remaining in the 2025 college football season.
The CFP semifinals feature Miami as a -2.5 (-122) favorite against Ole Miss and Indiana as a -4.5 (-108) favorite against Oregon, according to FanDuel’s odds.
CFP national championship odds have Indiana in pole position. The full odds are:
Indiana (+128) - 43.9% implied chance
Oregon (+320) - 23.8%
Miami (+330) - 23.3%
Ole Miss (+570) - 14.9%
