For the first time since the COVID-adjusted 2020 season, college football fans will get a full slate of games on Halloween. It’ll be the last weekend before the first College Football Playoff rankings drop, so top contenders could get spooked if they can’t make a statement on the spookiest day of the year.
Here’s a look at the scariest games for top FBS contenders.
No. 2 Ohio State at Southern California
Who should be scared — Both teams
Ohio State’s reason to be scared is obvious: the Buckeyes will be without starting quarterback and Heisman finalist Julian Sayin.
Will Ohio State see a performance like Dwayne Haskins had against Michigan in 2017? A performance like Cardale Jones had in the 2014 Big Ten Championship Game and College Football Playoff?
The Buckeyes are no stranger to seeing backup quarterbacks shine when their number is called. Yet, any team entering a ranked matchup with a backup quarterback is a scary proposition.
USC has its own set of fears after losing to Wisconsin last week. If the Trojans lose consecutive games, one to an unranked team and another to a backup quarterback, alarms will ring in Los Angeles. An offensive-guru head coach like Lincoln Riley only scoring seven points against Wisconsin and failing to outscore a backup quarterback would be a terrible turn of events for USC.
No. 17 Florida vs. No. 3 Georgia
Who should be scared — Both teams
The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is on Halloween, and it’ll be held in Atlanta this year. In a rivalry game like this, fears should be high on both sides.
Georgia should be scared since the last time we saw the Bulldogs take the field, it lost to Auburn at home. Can UGA bounce back after a bye week? Florida has defeated two top-10 teams already this year.
Meanwhile, Florida should be scared as a two-loss team, meaning a third loss could have the Gators on the outside looking in once the first CFP rankings drop next week. Florida has little room for error entering this rivalry matchup, placing the Gators on tiptoes in the homestretch of the season.
No. 6 Utah at Cincinnati
Who should be scared — Utah
This matchup is a classic trap game for Utah. The Utes are coming off a close win over a ranked Houston team and will face rival BYU in the Holy War in two weeks. Square in between those matchups is a game against Cincinnati.
Cincinnati just knocked off an undefeated, top-10-ranked Big 12 team last week in a 37-24 victory over then-No. 8 Texas Tech. Utah should have its scare meter high as it heads to the home of Skyline Chili.
Auburn at No. 12 Ole Miss
Who should be scared — Ole Miss
Ole Miss is coming off a loss to Texas, and it could be in line for back-to-back losses if not careful. The Rebels now host Auburn, one week before a top-five Georgia team comes to town.
This game would be a typical trap game if Ole Miss wasn’t coming off of a loss. However, Auburn still presents a threat as a team that knocked off the Bulldogs when they were No. 1.
With two losses already — both in SEC play — Ole Miss can’t afford a loss to Auburn with Georgia still on the schedule, making the nerves run high on Halloween.
No. 25 Wisconsin at Iowa
Who should be scared — Wisconsin
Wisconsin is coming off of a big win over USC. The Badgers now play in the Battle for the Heartland against rival Iowa. Can Wisconsin refocus after a big-time win for a rivalry matchup? The Hawkeyes will surely be focused and looking to extend their four-game win streak in the series.
A loss to Iowa could end Wisconsin’s playoff hopes before November, ruining what’s been a surprising, standout season.