College Football 2023 Seaon Preview
The most exciting time of the year is almost upon us, college football season. There are so many storylines going into a new season. Will Georgia become the first school to three-peat as national champions? Will Alabama bounce back from a down year? Is this the year for Michigan or will Ohio State reclaim their dominance over their hated rival? All major storylines to watch this season.
Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs have been dominant over the college football world over the last two seasons, winning 29 of 30 games over that span. The Bulldogs will be met with some adversity this season as they will be replacing a hemp of talent that moved on to the NFL (mostly to the Philadelphia Eagles), and their Heisman candidate quarterback as well. Georgia also plays in the most competitive conference in the country, the SEC. Although the Bulldogs have a favorable schedule this season it will be interesting to see how the new faces fit into the Bulldogs system. Whomever the quarterback is for the Bulldogs he will have one of the best players in the country, Brock Bowers, to throw to to help him settle in. The Bulldogs have prided themselves on their defensive acumen, so they will almost certainly lean on their defense as their offense finds its footing.
Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide endured a challenging season last year. They finished 11-2, with their losses coming to Tennessee and LSU on the road. They failed to reach the conference championship game or the College Football Playoff, but would go on to win the Sugar Bowl over Kansas State. The Tide had to deal with injuries to their 2021 Heisman winning quarterback, Bryce Young and a rare lack of receiver talent for the Tide. There is no doubt the Tide are as hungry as ever to get back to the mountaintop of the SEC and back into the College Football Playoff. Nick Saban will also have a chip on his shoulder to prove that Georgia has not overtaken the Tide as the premier program in college football.
Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines, will play their first four games without their head coach due to a suspension handed down by the NCAA. Aside from this the Wolverines are coming into the 2023 season hot. Having only lost two games over the last two seasons, both coming in the College Football Playoff, and being dominant over their hated rivals Ohio State in the last two matchups. The Wolverines return a ton of production from the 2022 season including quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Heisman candidate Blake Corum, and standout corner Will Johnson. These Wolverines are deep, talented, and confident as ever heading into the 2023 season and will be looking for the school's first national title in 26 years.
Conversely Ryan Day’s Ohio State Buckeyes are hungry to get back to the top of the Big Ten. Day’s Buckeyes have fallen short to the Wolverines in back to back season, not having an answer for Michigan’s physicality. Although they sustained the loss to the Wolverines last season they were able to still make the CFP and face the number one ranked Georgia Bulldogs in the Dawgs homestate. In an electric game, the Buckeyes would miss the game winning field goal and lose in a shootout, 42-41. The Buckeyes lost their Heisman candidate quarterback CJ Stroud to the NFL, though they still have a bunch of returning talent none more important than All-American receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Kyle McCord will take over as quarterback of the Buckeyes and will lean on Harrison and standout running back Treyvon Henderson as he rounds into form.
Lincoln Riley’s Southern California Trojans are looking to fully return to prominence and claim the last Pac-12 title before they move to the Big Ten in 2024. Riley produced his third Heisman winning quarterback last year with Caleb Williams, and with Williams returning and an influx of defensive talent the Trojans have high hopes for this season. Williams will look to become only the second player to repeat as winner of the Heisman trophy, and lead his team to a CFP. The Trojans lost twice to the Utah Utes last season, once during the regular season and the other in the Pac-12 championship game. The outlying problem with the Trojans last season and in Lincoln Riley coached teams is the defense. The Trojans ranked 94th in total defense last season as it was the obvious weak spot on the team. This year with an improved defense the Trojans look to remedy the problem and take that next step towards a national title.
Last but certainly not least are Brian Kelly’s Louisiana State Tigers. LSU had a standout season last year, beating Alabama for the first time since 2019 and winning the SEC West to advance to the conferences championship game. Sadly, they would run into the eventual National Champion Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship game and lose, but they ended their season on a high note beating Purdue in the Citrus Bowl and finish the season with a 10-4 record. The Tigers in their second year with Kelly at the helm will be looking to take a step toward true contention this season. With electric quarterback Jayden Daniels, standout tight end Mason Taylor, and dominant edge rusher Harold Perkins all returning to the squad this fall. The Tigers will look to build off the momentum of last season and push for an appearance in the CFP.
Although I have highlighted six teams who are contenders for the 2023 National Championship, the beauty of the sport is that anything could happen. One of these teams could completely underperform and not make an impact or one of these teams could go 15-0 and hoist the National Championship trophy in Houston. The beauty is in the madness and let the greatest show ever played begin.
