With 12 teams again set to make the College Football Playoff for the second season in a row, the path is wide open for underdog programs to crash the party. More playoff spots mean more chances for schools outside the usual suspects to make noise.
Here’s a look at one dark horse from each Power Four conference with a real shot to break through in 2025.
SEC: Missouri Tigers
Missouri looks ready to take the next step under Eli Drinkwitz. The Tigers have serious talent, with nine players named to Phil Steele’s preseason All-SEC teams. Left guard Cayden Green anchors the offense as a First Team All-American and likely first-round NFL pick.
The roster’s bolstered by transfers like running back Ahmad Hardy and safety Jalen Catalon —impact players expected to contribute immediately. Despite losing some key starters, Missouri has depth, experience, and a manageable conference schedule. Don’t be surprised if the Tigers are in the playoff hunt by November.
Big Ten: Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana shocked the nation last season, clawing its way into the playoff behind the country’s best run defense. The Hoosiers gave up just 76.2 rushing yards per game — tops in the FBS — and made critical stops all season.
They rode that defense into the postseason, earning a first-round playoff matchup with Notre Dame. For a program long stuck in the bottom tier of the Big Ten, it was a massive leap.
Big 12: Arizona State Sun Devils
Kenny Dillingham has completely flipped the script in Tempe. After a forgettable 3–9 campaign, the Sun Devils came out firing in 2024. They opened the season 5–1, highlighted by a road win over No. 16 Utah.
The wins kept coming. Arizona State knocked off ranked opponents Kansas State and BYU, then beat Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship Game. That earned them the No. 4 seed in the playoff and validated Dillingham’s rebuild as one of the most aggressive and effective in the country.
ACC: South Carolina Gamecocks
Last season was supposed to be a rebuild. Instead, the Gamecocks turned it into a statement.
After a 5–7 year and a rocky start to 2024, South Carolina reeled off six straight wins — including a season-defining upset of No. 12 Clemson. That streak, combined with one of the nation’s toughest schedules, pushed them into playoff consideration.
They finished the regular season ranked No. 15, proving they could take punches and still make a run.
Final Take
The expanded playoff format changes everything. Teams that would’ve been written off by October now have a reason to fight. Programs like Missouri, Indiana, Arizona State, and South Carolina aren’t just feel-good stories — they’re legitimate threats. And with 50 days to go, the clock’s ticking on the favorites. The underdogs are coming.