It’s the spookiest time of the year as Halloween approaches, and it’s not only because of the costumes. Some of the top College Football Playoff contenders are also preparing to face their fears as the 2025 season enters its final weeks.
Here’s a look at what the biggest fears are for the top CFP contenders — using the top 12 teams of the latest AP Top 25 Poll — entering Halloween and just days away from the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season.
No. 1 Ohio State: Michigan
Ohio State has lost four straight to Michigan. Even though the Buckeyes have been dominant this year, the season-ending game looms as a big test on the schedule.
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No. 2 Indiana: Past perception
The easy choice for Indiana here would’ve been Ohio State, the likely Big Ten Championship Game opponent. However, I think the bigger fear should be whether or not people can let go of Indiana’s past perception and evaluate the Hoosiers on how they are this year.
If not, that could mean a one-loss Indiana team could drastically fall, even if it runs the table in the regular season.
No. 3 Texas A&M: Ahmad Hardy
Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy might’ve slowed down a tad from his hot start when he led the nation in rushing yards and touchdowns, but he's still very good. The last time Texas A&M faced a running back on Hardy’s level was when they faced Notre Dame. It was then that running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price combined for 136 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
That game resulted in a one-point Texas A&M victory. If Hardy has a big day, the Aggies might not be so lucky.
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No. 4 Alabama: Playing in Jordan-Hare
Alabama has been on a roll, winners of seven straight, but the Tide close the season with an Iron Bowl road trip. Alabama has won five straight over Auburn, but when the Tide has visited Jordan-Hare Stadium, it hasn’t been easy.
2023 needed the iconic 4th-and-31 play, 2021 took four overtimes and 2019 was the last time Auburn won, by three points.
In 2025, Alabama’s only loss has come on the road to Florida State, and every other road win came by one possession. That’s in stark contrast to the 32.5 point margin of victory at home. The Tide will face a tough road battle to close the season.
No. 5 Georgia: Haynes King
Haynes King almost beat Georgia by himself last year with five total touchdowns and 413 total yards in an eight-overtime thriller. This year, the Bulldogs face Georgia Tech in a neutral site contest in Mercedes-Benz Stadium — within walking distance from Georgia Tech’s campus. Another big day from Haynes King could knock Georgia to the playoff bubble.
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No. 6 Oregon: Being this year’s Miami
In 2024, the Miami Hurricanes lost the regular season finale that gave them their second loss of the year. Miami looked like a near playoff lock until that loss, but ended up ranked No. 13 as the second team out. Could Oregon be in the same position this year?
The Ducks close the season with USC and at Washington, which won’t be easy wins. If Oregon loses one of those, they might not have a win over a ranked team this year. A second loss could leave what once looked like one of the nation’s best teams on the outside looking in.
No. 7 Ole Miss: An unranked loss
Ole Miss losing to unranked opponents isn’t an unfamiliar sight. The Rebels lost to Kentucky and Florida just a year ago, with the loss to the Gators knocking Ole Miss from the playoff picture with just two weeks to play.
Guess who Ole Miss plays in the second-to-last week of the 2025 season? You guessed it, Florida! Another unranked loss could leave the Rebels in a familiar, unfavorable position.
No. 8 Georgia Tech: Not finishing strong
Georgia to close the season. Then the ACC Championship.
A path to the CFP is right in front of Georgia Tech.
Yet, so could back-to-back losses to close the season. Consecutive losses could knock the Yellow Jackets out of the playoffs depending on the margins, a scary thought for the Tech faithful.
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No. 9 Vanderbilt: Rocky Top
Vanderbilt hasn’t beat Tennessee since 2018. During that stretch, the closest any game has been was 13 points. Not only has Vanderbilt struggled against the Vols, it hasn’t been competitive in most of the recent matchups. Vanderbilt’s CFP hopes may depend on changing the tune in this in-state rivalry.
No. 10 BYU: Only one Big 12 team getting into the CFP
The Big 12 represented the second-lowest-ranked team in the first edition of the 12-team College Football Playoff (Arizona State finished No. 12 in the rankings but earned a by as the fourth highest-ranked conference champion). Six different Big 12 champions didn’t make the CFP during the 10 years of the four-team playoff era. The conference is often overlooked when it comes to playoff selections.
Even though BYU is currently undefeated, the Cougars are tied for only 10th in the AP Poll. BYU is in a position with little room for error, which could leave the Cougars outside of the playoff with potentially one loss.
No. 10 Miami: Another late-season collapse
Miami lost two of its final three regular season games last year — with the No. 1 overall NFL draft pick on the team. With Rueben Bain in talks near the top of this year's draft, could there be déjà vu in the Sunshine State?
The Hurricanes currently aren’t in a position to make the ACC Championship Game, but can still make the CFP if it wins out with one loss. With two losses, Miami might not make it, so the Hurricanes can’t have a repeat of last year’s November.
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No. 12 Notre Dame: The first committee rankings
Notre Dame is the highest-ranked two-loss team in the AP Poll at No. 12, in front of multiple one-loss teams from the ACC and Big 12. Does the CFP committee think the same?
Where Notre Dame ranks in the first CFP rankings could determine if the Fighting Irish control their own destiny or need help for the remainder of the season.
No. 25 Memphis: November
Memphis plays Tulane and Navy in a four-week stretch of November that could decide the American Conference champion. Both Tulane and Navy are undefeated in conference play, while the Tigers have one loss. Yet, Memphis is the only ranked team of the trio.
Memphis has lost at least one game in November in each of the last four years. Another loss could ruin playoff hope on Beale Street.
Boise State, San Diego State, James Madison: The American champion
The American is the only non-ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 or SEC conference with a ranked team in the AP Poll. Mountain West teams Boise State and San Diego State aren’t ranked. James Madison out of the Sun Belt isn’t ranked either.
If the American champion ends the season on a winning streak, that could mean a champion from the Mountain West or Sun Belt misses out on the CFP.