With college football around the corner, I have put together my own top 25 ranking for the season, previewing teams that expect to be contenders in 2023. From the Big Ten to the SEC, there are going to be teams that shake up the playoff picture, especially late in the season—also included are each conference winner and a projected playoff bracket.
1. Ohio State (10-2)
Replacing experienced talent along the offensive line, especially at tackle, will be one of the questions facing Ohio State. Once the quarterback competition is resolved, this team will have a better idea of how high their ceiling is—no matter what, there are playmakers abound, and the Buckeyes yet again are poised to field an offense that features multiple early-round NFL Draft picks. Despite the illustrious QB class of 2023, there is a legitimate chance that Marvin Harrison Jr. plays his way into a heavy Heisman debate. Teams will have their hands full in defending this group. Trips to South Bend, Madison, and Ann Arbor will likely decide the fate of this team and their chances of making a second consecutive CFB playoff, while a visit from Penn State in November is going to test this team. The offensive skillset is there for Ohio State to rack up huge numbers yet again, but the state of the conference has improved, and there will be very little room for error in what should be a highly competitive race to the top-4 come December. (Losses: Penn State, Michigan)
2. Georgia (10-2) SEC Runner-up*
For nearly 100 years, college football has not seen a team win three consecutive national titles—Minnesota last did it in the 1930’s, albeit in a much different era of the sport—but Georgia returns enough talent to make them a contender to pull off this feat in 2023. The return of Brock Bowers alone gives the Bulldogs a devastating weapon on offense, and Bowers is in a position to put up his best season in Athens—had he been draft eligible in 2023, Bowers could have been a top-10 pick. Replacing production at quarterback and tailback will be a point of emphasis for Georgia, but Kendall Milton at tailback recorded 8 touchdowns on the ground last year and Carson Beck at quarterback has five quality receivers plus one of college football’s best offensive lines. Eyes will also be on how the offense fares now that Todd Monken has gone back to the NFL. Replenishing the talent Georgia has had on defense over the past few years will not be easy, but the strength of this defense will be at inside linebacker and potentially the secondary. Consistency on the defensive coaching staff buoys the Bulldogs’ chances of emulating their dominance from 2021 and 2022, but they’ll be tested early against an explosive Oregon offense, while teams like South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky could make things tough if this unit doesn’t come together as it has in the past. For the third year in a row, Georgia wins the East—but a talented team in Baton Rouge topples them in the SEC Championship game. (Losses: South Carolina, Ole Miss)
3. Alabama (10-2)
Rarely does Alabama find itself ranked outside of the top 2 in preseason polls, let alone number 1—but this Bama team has some questions to answer after losing premier talent at a handful of positions. While nothing new for the Tide, replacing Heisman winning and record setting quarterback Bryce Young is likely not going to happen with the current quarterbacks on the roster—the team bringing in Tyler Buchner as a transfer in spring indicates Nick Saban understood this and was not inspired by the likes of Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson. Elsewhere on the offense, Alabama will need better play from their line—the running back room is deep as usual, though, and should carry this offense early as the new quarterback settles in. There are stars on defense, plus some talent in the secondary that came through the transfer portal, so the defense should be as good as usual under Saban. Working against Alabama, however, is the talent elsewhere in the SEC—from Ole Miss and Texas A&M, to LSU and Tennessee, there are potential landmines all over this schedule. An opening win against Texas could help set the tone for this season, but losing a potential revenge game to the Longhorns could prompt some immediate shakeups from Saban and his staff. All in all, Alabama has a steep hill to climb, in terms of scheduling and replacing key players, if it expects to compete for a playoff bid. (Losses: Texas, LSU)
4. Michigan (12-0) Big Ten Champions **
With one of the nation’s best offensive lines—if not, the best—Michigan enters 2023 as a favorite to not only win the Big 10 for the third straight season, but also make another run at the playoffs. Having come up short in last season’s playoff loss to TCU, while returning two of the country’s best running backs, and an elite quarterback, the Wolverines are primed to take that next step under Jim Harbaugh and compete for a national title. All of that will come down to, however, the way they handle Ohio State, and subsequently fare in the Big 10 Championship game, if things go accordingly. Teams like Penn State and Wisconsin are, however, on the rise, plus the Wolverines face a trip to Maryland before hosting Ohio State for a season finale, which means Michigan will have to be playing its best football if it expects to defend its title as conference champs—Penn State, Maryland and Wisconsin all give Michigan a scare, but the Wolverines should find themselves undefeated throughout the regular season, and in turn securing a spot in the playoffs.
5. LSU (10-2) SEC Champions **
With talent across the board, LSU enters 2023 as a legitimate favorite to contend for a playoff spot—they’ll be led by star quarterback Jayden Daniels. One of the strengths to Daniels’ game is his scrambling ability—per ESPN’s stats, he led the nation in scramble yards, with 641. After putting on mass, Daniels should find himself in the mix of names for quarterbacks that could be selected early in the 2024 draft. The offensive line and weapons at receiver and running back can be considered to be among the best in the conference, respectively, which should help Daniels’ make yet another step forward. Noah Cain gives them a steady presence in the backfield, and there’s depth behind him with the Notre Dame transfer Logan Diggs. The defensive line and front seven features a handful of former five-star recruits, with Da’Shawn Womack and Quency Wiggins poised to make big impacts in 2023. Getting Haason Smith back could be the key to unlocking the potential on this defense, and with the firepower of the offense, the LSU Tigers are a sneaky pick to win back the SEC West. Even after dropping a week-one game against Florida State, LSU should get enough help along the way to make that next step and make a run at the playoffs. (Losses: Florida State, Texas A&M)
6. USC (10-2) Pac-12 Champions *
With reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams back at USC, the Trojans should find themselves competitive in every game this season—even if the defense underperforms, as it did last season, Williams is a bonafide star and has proven capable of handling the load to carry his team to victory. Lincoln Riley recognizes the window that the Trojans possess with Williams at the helm, which is why he brought in a handful of transfers from the portal to help fix the defensive front, including former five-star recruit Anthony Lucas and Arizona transfer Kyon Barrs. After surrendering nearly 28 points per game in 2022, and being especially vulnerable against the pass, USC is banking on their turnover ratio maintaining itself, and some of their returning players in the secondary taking a step forward. Even though USC faces a tough schedule and could see more meltdowns from their defense, with Williams at quarterback the Trojans are the best team in the Pac-12 South, and will be square in the mix for a playoff run in 2023. (Losses: Utah, Washington)
7. Florida State (12-0) ACC Champions **
For being a blue-blood program that has experienced a rough patch over the last few years, the Seminoles appear to be back. They enter 2023 with one of the nation’s top quarterbacks in Jordan Travis, and a stable of weapons surrounding him—heading into the season, Florida State has nine receivers on the roster measuring 6’3 or taller. Both Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson have pro potential—Coleman is a name to watch as a Biletnikoff finalist. Add in a defensive front seven that features future first-round pick Jared Verse, plus guys like Fabien Lovett and Kalen DeLoach, and Florida State is positioned to make a real run at an ACC conference that has more questions than answers. After last year’s barn-burner against LSU, the Seminoles’ repeat matchup against the Tigers has the potential to set the tone for the season—both teams enter the game with experienced, top-tier quarterbacks, and a lot at stake (could this game also preview a playoff matchup? We’ll see). Road games against Clemson and Pittsburgh pose the most threat for any in-conference slip ups, but on paper the Seminoles appear deeper and more talented than either team. This could be the year Florida State reestablishes itself as a powerhouse, and makes a run at the College Football Playoffs.
8. Texas (11-1) Big 12 Champions **
Not since the Longhorns’ 2019 Sugar Bowl victory against Georgia has there been this much excitement in Austin. With talent at key positions, and given the uncertainty around some of the traditional powerhouses in the conference, there is a real opportunity for the Longhorns to put a stamp on their time in the Big 12 by winning it in their final season. Not that Texas was the model for consistency in 2022—all five of their losses last season came within one score—but they did sign two five-star recruits along the offensive line last year in Kelvin Banks and DJ Campbell. The line is going to be a strength for this team, and that should make a difference against teams like BYU and Texas Tech, both of whom are expected to be tough up front. Texas also has some intriguing skill players, giving Quinn Ewers a supporting cast that should allow him to prove that he can make the next step in becoming elite—Ewers had moments where he flashed his potential, but also was dealing with injury and failed to remain consistent. Moreover, when Ewers went down against Alabama last year, this team looked different. On the other hand, Ewers was playing some of his best football towards the end of last season. Texas will have to play better in tight games if it expects to contend for a Big 12 title—even with a loss to Texas Tech to close the season, the Longhorns are good enough to make a push into the playoffs. (Losses: Texas Tech)
9. Oregon (10-2)
After landing some quality players in the transfer portal, this team has the talent, and big-time quarterback in Bo Nix, to push for a conference title. Nix last season was clutch when the team was tied or trailing, and now he has Troy transfer Tez Johnson at receiver. The threat Nix also brings as a runner helps keep this offense dynamic, and will prove to be a difference in key moments throughout the season—Nix is especially good at attacking the middle of the field, and should favor Johnson in that area. On defense, the Ducks will need to improve after surrendering more than 27 points per game—the return of Brandon Dorlus along the line, plus the addition of Jordan Burch should help fortify the unit. While manageable, the month of September should be a true test for the Ducks, with matchups against Texas Tech and Colorado on deck. By October, they should have found their groove, and will need to be playing their best football with away games at both Washington and Utah. This team was not spared any favors with their schedule, and given the overall strength of the conference, it’s hard to see them coming out of the Pac-12 without more than one slip-up. (Losses: USC, Oregon State)
10. Notre Dame (10-2)
The Fighting Irish enter 2023 with lofty expectations, especially after the way they finished last season and added a talented, experienced quarterback in Sam Hartman. Add in the fact that they have two elite offensive lineman in Joe Alt and Blake Fischer, and the ceiling of this offense could make major strides and become a top-ten unit. The defense took a step back last year, but with Al Golden at the helms, this unit should improve—preventing touchdowns in the red zone is an area that Notre Dame needs to especially improve upon, as in 2022 they were amongst the worst teams in the nation in this department. Finding pass rushers to step in and produce early will also be a point of emphasis, as the Irish need to replace a majority of their production in this field. With Clemson, Ohio State and USC on the slate, there’s a potential for Notre Dame to sneak into the playoffs, but doing so would require beating at least two of these teams, and then running the table on the rest of their schedule. (Losses: USC, Ohio State)
11. Penn State (11-1)
Penn State’s defense in 2022 got after the quarterback and forced turnovers at a high mark, and are expected to replicate that type of production with guys like Chop Robinson and Abdul Carter; Robinson is going to be an anchor for this defense and should be able to be even better in year two under Manny Diaz. Other playmakers include Kalen King at secondary, and Curtis Jacob at linebacker, giving this Penn State defense a handful of NFL prospects. It should be noted how significant the 2022 recruiting class was for Penn State, as they landed a number of starters and potential future stars in that cycle—one of them being Drew Allar. Breaking in a new quarterback is never easy, but the dual-threat ability of Allar should give this offense a spark. Allar possesses a big arm, and is mobile in and out of the pocket. Given the strengths of this team, they should be able to go toe to toe with teams like Ohio State and Michigan, and, even with a loss to one of those two, the Nittany Lions should be in contention for the Big Ten until the last week of the season. With enough parody amongst the top teams during the last two weeks of the season, the Nittany Lions could impress enough during the regular season (especially if the loss to Michigan is close) to sneak into the playoffs without winning their conference. (Losses: Michigan)
12. Clemson (9-3)
An experienced defense, plus playmakers in Will Shipley and Beaux Collins gives this Clemson team reason to be optimistic about returning to dominance in the ACC. With All-American candidates all over the defense, an improvement should be seen in the points allowed category, after the Tigers gave up more than 20 points per game last year. They get Florida State, Notre Dame, and North Carolina all at home, meaning the three biggest tilts on their schedule will be played with home field advantage. A loss to Florida State at the end of September shouldn’t spell the end of the Tigers’ season, but it will certainly hurt their chances of winning a tricky Atlantic division. One positive note for the offense: new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley coaxed a top-10 offense out of his team at TCU last season, and inherits tons of talent at Clemson. With pieces around him, this will come down to how well Cade Klubnik performs at quarterback, but if the former five-star recruit can disperse the ball effectively and limit turnovers, this team has the potential to win 10 games again and make a run at the conference title. (Losses: Notre Dame, Florida State, UNC)
13. Tennessee (10-2)
Despite having to replace highly productive players on offense, including star receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman, this Tennessee offense is poised to produce at a high level on offense with Joe Milton III at quarterback. When Hendon Hooker went down with injury last season against South Carolina, Milton filled in admirably in his absence, and later torched Clemson’s defense in the Vols’ bowl win. Assuming Milton can pick up where he left off, and the experienced offensive line can be a strength of this team, there’s reason to believe that Tennessee’s offense should be a menace, yet again, to the SEC. Adding to the intrigue behind the Volunteers is the fact that the vast majority of their projected starting lineup on both sides of the ball are seniors, and one of the transfers they landed in the portal, Dont’e Thorton, has been establishing chemistry early with Milton—Thorton is a burner and has the chance to really stand out in what is a crowded receiver room. Tennessee has a chance to take the next step as a program in 2023, and while they are away at both LSU and Georgia, there’s good reason to think they have a shot at stealing the SEC East from Georgia. (Losses: Alabama, Georgia)
14. Washington (9-3)
Entering his sixth season, and second at Washington, Michael Penix Jr. is a big reason why the Huskies are receiving attention as a team that could make some noise in not only the Pac-12, but also the playoff race. His health, however, makes them a polarizing pick to be a team that makes the next step in 2023 and seizes a playoff spot. With the return of his two stud receivers—Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan—as well as three other receivers from last season, Penix, no less, is in a position to claim the Heisman Trophy. Another name to watch on offense is Denzel Boston, who could crack the lineup as a redshirt freshman and make an impact for this team. The defense at Washington was a liability last season, especially against the run—a stronger showing from their defensive front, plus production from their transfers at linebacker and cornerback, could spell a surge for the Huskies. Standing in their way will be reigning Pac-12 champions Utah, runner-up USC, plus Oregon and Oregon State. The schedule gets tough once November hits, but if Washington can enter that closing stretch unscathed, they’ll be in a position to seize the north. This season will, perhaps more than anything, come down to Penix and how healthy he stays. (Losses to Oregon, Utah, Oregon State)
15. Wisconsin (10-2) Big Ten Runner-up*
A great unknown, considering the infusion of talent the Badgers received on offense, plus their recent hiring of Phil Longo at offensive coordinator and Luke Fickell as head coach, Wisconsin is a team that could steal the show in the Big 10 if things bounce a certain way. Fickell inherits a team that was stout on defense, but was also one-dimensional as an offense in 2022—running back Braelon Allen is set up to have a huge season, as Longo has coaxed highly productive rushing attacks out of nearly every offense he has overseen. Tanner Mordecai comes over from SMU, where he threw for more than 3,500 yards in his both of his seasons for the Mustangs, with a combined 72 touchdowns. Considering the Badgers played three games in 2022 where former starter Graham Mertz did not top 100 yards, this new offense is projected to look considerably different, and could become a force, especially with Chimere Dike coming back, plus a few intriguing transfers at receivers. A showdown with Ohio State at Camp Randall at the end of October could theoretically be the Badgers first, and only, regular season test—with an upset win, Wisconsin could find themselves in the driver’s seat for the Big Ten West. A late-season matchup against rival Illinois, however, could be a trap for Wisconsin, especially if Bret Bielema’s squad is finding their groove. Regardless, this will be a team that should rise considerably through the season, and likely earn a New Years Six bowl bid. (Losses: Ohio State, Illinois)
16. Utah (10-2)
Coming off back-to-back Pac-12 titles, the Utes enter this season with enough talent to give them a chance to make that feat three in a row. However, the rest of the conference—especially at the quarterback position—has caught up with Utah. This program is one of the most well-coached teams in the country, and they have proven the ability to develop lesser recruited players into key contributors, and sometimes stars. With gritty veteran Cam Rising at quarterback, the Utes have a mix of experience and talent that will make them again a tough outing each and every week. A name to watch is Brant Kuithe, their senior tight end who led the team in receptions in 2019 and 2020—he has All-American potential, and will be a focal point of this offense yet again. A strength of this team will also be the depth of their defense, with key linemen and edge players being a highlight of the group. Opening the season against a rebounding Florida squad, and closing out the season against Colorado—a team that could look wildly different in late November than they will in September—makes for an interesting schedule. Regardless, their trips to USC and Washington will be among the biggest tests for the defense. Even with a loss or two in the division, the Utes have a strong shot at playing for yet another Pac-12 title. (Losses: Oregon, Colorado)
17. Oregon State (11-1) Pac-12 Runner-up*
Not only do the Beavers return their three top leading rushers, but they added a former five-star talent at quarterback in DJ Ulaglelei. Couple that with an Oregon State defense that led the Pac-12 in points allowed, and this squad is a sneaky pick to steal the North from Utah. Aside from getting smacked by the aforementioned Utah during the 2022 regular season, the Beavers lost their other two games—against USC and Washington—by a combined 6 points. The rest of the conference has improved overall, which leaves little margin for error for Oregon State to make a run for a division title, but they get Utah at home this year. Oregon State has to travel to Oregon to close out the season in what could very well decide the North division. Overall, the addition of Ulaglelei to pair with a seasoned defense makes this team one to watch in 2023, and a squad that could very well be playing in a New Years Six bowl. (Losses: Utah)
18. Ole Miss (9-3)
With a stacked quarterback room, an All-American running back, and the duo of two potentially elite receivers (thanks to the transfer portal), Ole Miss could be cooking with gas this season. Coming off a season in which they averaged more than 33 points per game, while ranking as the third best rushing team in the country, Lane Kiffin’s squad has serious potential to be a threat to teams like Alabama, LSU and Georgia; on the flip side, two of those games are on the road, and the schedule itself is far from forgiving. This Ole Miss team needs new coordinator Pete Goulding to raise the floor of this defense if they are to truly contend in the West, but if they can get another highly productive season out of Quishon Judkins, and see Jaxson Dart elevate the play of his new weapons, which includes tight end and USC transfer Michael Trigg, this team should at least be able to keep teams like Bama and LSU on their toes. If the aforementioned teams each drop a game or two, the Rebels could find themselves in a compelling race for the SEC West as the season comes to a close. (Losses: Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M)
19. North Carolina (10-2) ACC Runner-up*
Replacing the offensive guru that is Phil Longo will be tough for North Carolina—they also must replace three starters on the offensive line, but with quarterback Drake Maye under center, the Tar Heels offense shouldn’t experience a drastic drop-off in 2023. The players North Carolina does return along the offensive line have lots of experience, plus they landed receiver Devontez Walker, a coveted transfer from Kent State who should help Maye make another step forward as he likely prepares for the NFL. Last season the Tar Heels were especially bad on defense, giving up 31 points per game plus more than 400 yards per game. A loss to South Carolina to open the season will leave some folks skeptical, but the Tar Heels manage an otherwise favorable schedule before meeting Clemson in Death Valley in November. Head coach Mack Brown has brought in consecutive top-15 recruiting classes, plus a handful of highly respected coaches to help mitigate the loss of Longo for this offense—so even with talent to replace, there is reason to believe that North Carolina can win the ACC Coastal division and make a run at a conference title. (Losses: South Carolina, Miami)
20. Kansas State (9-3)
Coming off a surprise season in which the Wildcats took home the Big 12 title for the first time since 2012, Kansas State is still not receiving the respect it deserves heading into 2023. With Will Howard coming off a breakout season, the quarterback could help drive Kansas State back to the title game, especially with Treshaun Ward in the backfield and an experienced offensive line—Howard is a proven winner and has NFL potential, and could play his way into early draft consideration with another solid season. Receiver Keagan Johnson has been drawing rave reviews at camp, so the offense has a chance to maintain its high production in the passing game. On the other hand, three of the Wildcats’ toughest games are on the road (Texas Tech, Texas and Kansas), and the conference has some sneaky spoiler teams lurking this year, so they will need to hope for chaos in the Big 12 if they’re going to return to the title game. (Losses to Texas Tech, Texas, Kansas)
21. Texas A&M (9-3)
Few programs underperformed as much as Texas A&M did in 2022; with three consecutive recruiting classes that ranked in the top-10, including an illustrious 2022 class, the Aggies fell significantly short of expectations, and find themselves under a lot of pressure heading into the year. Bobby Petrino being brought in to run the offense should bode well for a unit that struggled to put up points and looked inept at times in 2022. While an early loss to Appalachian State helped deflate A&M’s momentum in 2022, this team fought hard down the stretch against good teams like Alabama, South Carolina and LSU. A purge also occurred during the offseason, with the Aggies losing 31 (!) players to the transfer portal, particularly on defense, but A&M returns former five-star recruits and building blocks like Walter Nolan and Evan Stewart to help anchor both sides of the ball. If Petrino can right the offense, and some of the high-end talent that remains on this roster comes to form, the Aggies could find themselves again competitive in the SEC West, even if the division boasts a handful of high-octane offenses and thumping defenses. (Losses: Miami, Alabama, Tennessee)
22. Oklahoma (8-4)
For a program that annually contends for not only Big 12 titles, but also playoff bids, the Oklahoma Sooners were highly disappointing in 2022, registering just six wins in Brent Venables’ first season. Dillon Gabriel leads what is expected to be a better Oklahoma offense, given the transfers they received at receiver and tight end; Austin Stogner continues his wild path by returning to the team after a stint at South Carolina, and leads what should be a deep tight end group. This offense might experience some growing pains early, but could start rolling and get hot. As a defensive mind, Venables needs to see drastic improvement from this side of the ball, which allowed more than 29 points per game—a handful of transfers were brought in to fix the defensive line, while a few high-level recruits in the secondary offer versatility and promise to a unit that was especially poor against the pass in 2022. The rebuild in Norman is extensive and is expected to take another season, but a full year under Venabales should give this squad a higher ceiling—though, the Big 12 is crowded with teams that should be competitive on a week-to-week basis, so a nine-win season would be considered a success for this program, even if it will not come easy. (Losses: SMU, Texas, Kansas, TCU)
23. TCU (7-5)
Coming off a surprise playoff run, TCU enters 2023 having to replace both top-tier talent, especially on offense, and also quality coaching. Quarterback Chandler Morris comes in to replace Max Duggan, but the Horned Frogs need to replace their top-three receivers from last season, and their leading rusher, as well. The culture Sonny Dykes has built at TCU should help them remain competitive, but the loss of offensive coordinator Garrett Riley should not be underestimated. For the defense, they need to improve after surrendering tons of points per game last season, meanwhile being vulnerable against both the run and the pass; forcing turnovers helped fuel this TCU defense last season, so that metric needs to remain consistent if they’re going to stay competitive. An otherwise experienced unit should help the Horned Frogs be better on defense, and they also landed a handful of former four-star recruits through the transfer portal. Opening against a potentially feisty Colorado team, plus trips to Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Kansas State means the Horned Frogs will have to get steadier performances out of their defense, and hope playmakers step up, if they’re to maintain their leverage in the Big 12. (Losses: Colorado, Houston, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Texas)
24. Texas Tech (9-3)
The Red Raiders played spoiler to Texas and Oklahoma last season—beating both programs in the same season for the first time ever—and they’re set up to take another step forward with another year under Joey McGuire. We see them host Oregon in week 2, where they were 6-1 at home last year. The Red Raiders landed their best recruiting class in five years and return all nearly all of their starters on offense. Quarterback Tyler Shough was undefeated during the games he started and finished in 2022, which gives the Red Raiders an experienced and talented quarterback. After losing Tyree Wilson to the NFL, new transfer Steve Linton is a name to watch, and is in line to become the next Red Raider defensive prospect to be drafted early. The defense has to be better in 2023 if this team is going to hit its ceiling—the uptempo offense can keep them in most of their games last year, but the defense has to improve in all facets. With questions in both Norman and Austin, the Red Raiders could find themselves playing the most complete and balanced football down the stretch. A trip to Austin, Texas in the final week of the season could very well decide the Big 12. The biggest question will be: can Tyler Shough stay healthy? (Losses: Oregon, Kansas State, Kansas)
25. South Carolina (8-4)
With Spencer Rattler playing some of his best football down the stretch, and a few strong recruiting classes in the past, there’s reason to believe that Shane Beamers’ squad can go from playing spoiler to being a true contender in the SEC East. Rattler will be fascinating to watch, as he can help correct what has been a spiraling career arc with another solid season at South Carolina. The Gamecocks open against UNC, which should set the tone for the season for both programs; a win for SC could help give them momentum for what will be a tough early part of their schedule. Once they get through October, South Carolina has a chance to pick up some serious momentum, and could find themselves vying for a spot in the conference title game if Georgia and Tennessee stumble along the way. (Losses: Tennessee, Missouri, Texas A&M, Clemson)
Bubble teams that could cause some chaos:
Colorado Buffaloes (7-5)
After going 1-11 last season, and leading the FBS in a number of categories when it came to surrendering points and yards on defense, the Colorado Buffaloes underwent a complete makeover heading into 2023. Nearly their entire lineup on both sides of the ball is projected to be the product of the transfer portal. Now, with star power in the secondary, and at quarterback, tailback and potentially receiver, this Colorado team brings more intrigue than any team in the country. Effectively, they are the hardest team to project, in terms of how that talent will translate, and how quickly it will all come together for Deion Sanders, especially as the team will be relying on a handful of young players for meaningful snaps. An opening win against TCU could propel this team on a win-streak that could last until the end of October, when they visit Oregon State, especially if teams find themselves trying to keep up with this new-look offense. The questions will mostly come down to the defense, and how they can handle teams down the stretch like Oregon, USC, Washington, and even a rugged Utah squad. If Sanders can coax a bowl bid out of this team, the rest of the country will quickly be put on notice of not only what they can do next year, but also in the years to come. (Losses: Oregon, USC, UCLA, Oregon State, Utah)
Arkansas (8-4)
With KJ Jefferson and Raheim Sanders leading a rushing attack that ranked 7th best in the country last year, the Razorbacks were able to beat up some good teams in 2022; both players return, and they will be running behind a promising offensive line. While the run game is expected to be potent, Arkansas will be relying on small-school transfers at receiver to become a threat on offense. Fixing a defense that gave up more than 28 points per game, and tons of yards on the ground, is going to be the biggest obstacle for this squad. Sam Pittman has been steadily building a gritty, hard-nosed team in Fayetteville, and while Arkansas plays three of their hardest games on the road, this team should take yet another step forward in 2023. The Razorbacks will be switching to a more pro-style offense, and the schedule is less than forgiving, but if they can channel some of the swagger and physicality that helped them topple teams last year, there’s a chance they can not only play spoiler in the SEC, but also potentially contend in the West if there is enough chaos amongst the elite programs. (Losses: LSU, Alabama, Texas A&M, Ole Miss)
Honorable mentions:
Illinois – Bret Bielema is putting together a solid program at Illinois, and benefits from a smothering defense and accurate quarterback in Luke Altmyer coming over from Ole Miss. The Fighting Illini could play spoiler to Wisconsin and give Michigan a run for their money, all while contending down the stretch for a spot in the Big Ten Championship game.
Maryland – With senior Tualia Tagovailoa commanding this offense, there’s a good chance for fireworks yet again in Maryland. Though the offensive line is replacing four starters, there is optimism behind the running attack and new additions at receiver from the transfer portal. Mike Locksley has been aggressive in the transfer portal, and those moves will pay dividends in 2023. Questions in the secondary persist, which limits the ceiling for this team—but a few track meets should be in order this season, and the Terrapins are in position to play spoiler to teams like Ohio State and Wisconsin.
Pac-12 Winner: USC over Oregon State
SEC Winner: LSU over Georgia
Big Ten Winner: Michigan over Wisconsin
ACC Winner: Florida State over North Carolina
Big 12 Winner: Texas over Texas Tech
The Cool Ticket 
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