Top College Football Playoff and Conference Races to Watch in 2025
As the crisp autumn air settles in and the leaves start to show off their colors, college football fans know what time it is. The most thrilling part of the season is right around the corner.
With November almost here, the race for the College Football Playoff (CFP) and the Heisman Trophy is getting wild. This season feels different—there’s a ton of uncertainty, with several teams fighting for playoff spots and a handful of players making real cases for the Heisman.
Let’s poke around the key storylines and races shaping the rest of the college football season. It’s a lot to keep up with, but that’s half the fun, right?
Contents
College Football Playoff Picture
The CFP race? It’s a mess, honestly. Sure, Ohio State and Indiana look like locks for two of the 12 playoff spots, but after that, it’s anyone’s guess.
The Big Ten is still top-heavy, with Ohio State and Indiana out in front. Meanwhile, the SEC, ACC, and Big 12 are all a bit of a jumble—no one’s really taken charge yet.
Big Ten Dominance
The Big Ten has flexed its muscles this year, with Ohio State and Indiana leading the pack. Both are expected to snag playoff spots, mostly thanks to strong performances and manageable schedules.
Ohio State’s been rolling—numbers say they’ve got a 90.1% shot at finishing 11-1 or better. Indiana’s not far off, with an 87.8% chance to pull off a similar record. Those are pretty wild odds.
SEC Showdown
The SEC is always a dogfight, and this year’s no different. Alabama, Texas A&M, Georgia, and Oklahoma are all still in the mix for a playoff berth.
Alabama’s out front after moving to 4-0 in SEC play with a win over Tennessee. But their schedule’s brutal from here—LSU, Oklahoma, Auburn. Nothing’s guaranteed.
Key upcoming games in the SEC include:
- Ole Miss at Oklahoma (Week 9)
- Missouri at Vanderbilt (Week 9)
- Texas A&M at Missouri (Week 11)
- Oklahoma at Alabama (Week 12)
ACC and Big 12 Wildcards
The ACC and Big 12 have been chaos factories this season. Miami and Texas Tech both lost last week, and now nobody really knows what’s going to happen in those conferences.
Miami and Texas Tech were both aiming for undefeated seasons, but those dreams are gone. Suddenly, other teams have a shot at sneaking into the playoff conversation.
In the ACC, Georgia Tech has popped up as a surprise, with a 26.9% chance of taking the conference. The Big 12 is still up in the air, with Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Texas all hanging around.
Heisman Trophy Race
The Heisman race is a real toss-up this year. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Alabama’s Ty Simpson, and Georgia’s Julian Sayin are the names everyone’s watching, but honestly, it’s still up for grabs.
Top Contenders
Fernando Mendoza has been Indiana’s guy—he’s led them to an unbeaten record so far. Ty Simpson’s done some heavy lifting for Alabama, especially with that SEC schedule.
Julian Sayin’s been steady for Georgia, hitting his throws and keeping them in playoff talks. It’s a tight race, and it feels like any of these three could pull ahead.
Other players to keep an eye on:
- Marcel Reed (Texas A&M)
- Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt)
- Dante Moore (Oregon)
- Gunner Stockton (Georgia)
Potential Dark Horses
There are a few dark horses lurking, too. Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love has been tough to stop on the ground, and Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith has made plenty of big plays as a receiver.
Don’t count out some defensive guys either. Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. and Ohio State’s Caleb Downs could shake things up with some big games down the stretch.
Conference Title Races
Aside from the CFP and Heisman drama, there are some wild conference title races brewing. The American Conference, for example, is wide open after Memphis lost to UAB.
Now, five teams have a legit shot at the title. It’s going to be a fun finish.
American Conference
Memphis’ stumble against UAB really cracked things open. USF, North Texas, Navy, and Tulane are all in the hunt, with USF leading at 24.4% odds to win it all.
Key upcoming games in the American Conference:
- USF at Memphis (Week 9)
- Navy at North Texas (Week 10)
- Tulane at Memphis (Week 11)
- USF at Navy (Week 12)
Mid-American Conference
The MAC is another toss-up. Five teams—Western Michigan, Toledo, Miami (Ohio), Buffalo, and Ohio—are all still in the mix.
Miami (Ohio) could end up deciding the whole thing, depending on how the next few weeks go.
Key upcoming games in the MAC:
- Western Michigan at Miami (Ohio) (Week 9)
- Buffalo at Toledo (Week 10)
- Ohio at Miami (Ohio) (Week 11)
Conclusion
The college football season’s winding down, but honestly, it feels like the real drama’s just getting started. Playoff spots, the Heisman chase, and conference crowns—all still up for grabs.
Uncertainty is everywhere. There are so many teams hanging around in the mix, and November’s about to get wild.
If you want to dive deeper or just keep tabs on the madness, here’s the full article over at ESPN.
