Get ready for the gnashing of teeth and plentiful angry snarls down college football's final stretch this season. Entering Halloween weekend ahead of the playoff selection committee's first rankings, there are a few national championship contenders hoping to avoid nightmare scenarios. For others, the most terrifying matchups left won't come for a couple of weeks.
The scariest games remaining for playoff hopefuls are here. Scariest game: at North Carolina, Saturday Be careful with this one, Hurricanes. The moment the Tar Heels catch you peeking around the corner at Notre Dame in two weeks, this one could get terrifying inside Kenan Stadium.
Miami has lost five straight to UNC and hasn't won in Chapel Hill since 2017. Alarming, yes, but the Tar Heels didn't face either of Mario Cristobal's best teams the last two seasons. Miami is a double-digit favorite this weekend for a reason, but North Carolina did play Notre Dame tough at home a few weeks ago and has a defensive front that could put Darian Mensah on the ground if protection fails.
How is freshman quarterback Luke Fahey in his first start this weekend for the Buckeyes? Ohio State used its bye week to prep for life without Julian Sayin, but would've liked to see a tune-up game rather than an opponent loaded with talent. USC's response to last week's loss at Wisconsin could be the deciding factor here.
The Trojans have two losses, and they're unranked, but a win over the Buckeyes suddenly catapults them back into the CFP mix. Scariest game: at No. 12 Ole Miss, Nov. 7 Trinidad Chambliss probably keeps Georgia defense coordinator Glenn Schumann up at night. The Rebels scored 74 total points in two meetings last season, including a 39-34 victory in the CFP quarterfinals in New Orleans.
Chambliss gashed the Bulldogs in both outings and now has an opportunity to flex in front of his home fans. Last time Georgia went to Oxford, the Rebels came away with a 28-10 victory in 2024 and the Bulldogs won the SEC Championship a few weeks later. USC is the one remaining opponent capable of turning Indiana's afternoon into a track meet, which should be concerning given the Hoosiers' sputtering passing game.
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