Posted on August 9, 2023
|
The primetime Sunday night game features Florida State and LSU. The Sunday night opener in New Orleans was a doozy last season, and this one could be even better.
Week 0 will bring us a seven-game slate of FBS teams in action and the final day of August brings an additional 11 Thursday night games to enjoy.
While we get ready for all of that, here is our 2023 College Football Preseason Top 25.
1. Georgia Bulldogs
The Bulldogs enter the 2023 season as the winners of their last 17 games.Georgia lost a lot in the draft and will need to replace Stetson Bennett at QB. But then, they had to replace a lot of talent last season as well and things turned out rather well.
The Bulldogs reload. Carson Beck should be the QB and he has plenty of targets to throw to, including all-everything TE Brock Bowers.
When you’re the reigning two-time champion, you keep the top spot until someone takes it away.
Georgia opens at the top on our list, and we will see if they can become the nation’s first three-peat program since Minnesota pulled it off in 1934-36.
Opener: vs Tennessee-Martin (Sept 2)
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes enter the season having lost their last two games. That is hard to believe. OSU outplayed Georgia in the semifinal game and could have been playing for the title.
Ohio State also must replace their QB as CJ Stroud will play on Sundays, but the Bucks have 14 starters back from the 2022 squad.
The pass catchers on the outside are the best receiving group in the nation, and as a unit, it might not be that close between first and second.
The schedule is daunting, but should they be able to navigate it, another playoff appearance will be the reward.
Opener: at Indiana (Sept 2)
3. LSU Tigers
To find the best team in the SEC West this season you have to travel west of Alabama.Jayden Daniels is back at QB for Year Two in Baton Rouge and the second season with Brian Kelly at the helm.
The Tigers also return a full complement of blockers and Malik Nabers on the outside to catch the passes. This should be a potent offense.
LSU will also have plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball with Harold Perkins and Maason Smith up front and Denver Harris and Zy Alexander in the back.
Opener: vs Florida State in Orland (Sept 3)
4. Florida State Seminoles
The Noles are coming off their first 10-win season since 2016 and Mike Norvell may have this Florida State team close to a return to dominance.
Jordan Travis is back at QB and has his top receiver Johnny Wilson back as well. Tons of depth and explosiveness at the RB spot should have the offense clicking.
Jared Verse will be a load for any opposing offenses to handle on the edge.
Opener: vs LSU in Orlando (Sept 3)
5. Michigan Wolverines
Michigan welcomes back a lot of talent from last season.JJ McCarthy will once again be behind center and will have not one but two elite-level backs to handoff to in Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards.
All told it is eight starters back on offense for the national semifinalists last year. On the defensive side of things, the Wolverines have seven starters coming back.
The schedule shapes up nicely for them as they should be solid favorites in their first nine games ahead of a trip to Penn State.
Opener: vs East Carolina (Sept 2)
6. Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama enters the season with some question marks and holes to fill. Nick Saban is returning just 10 starters from last year’s team.
Most notably the Tide must replace Bryce Young on offense and Will Anderson on the defensive side of things.
This will still be an extremely talented team and should be one that improves as the season moves along.
Despite the early season questions, this team could be scary good in the latter half of the season.
Opener: vs Middle Tennessee (Sept 2)
7. USC Trojans
Caleb Williams is back and will have plenty of talent around him on the offensive side of things. USC should once again have an explosive offense that will put up a ton of points.
The question with the Trojans is if they will be able to stop anyone else this season. The defense was really bad at times in 2022. Porous.
The unit should be better this season and Alex Grinch-led defenses tend to create a lot of takeaways.
For the Trojans to take the next step the defense will need to be better.
Opener: vs Nevada (Aug 26)
8. Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State has lost its last 10 games against opponents ranked in the Top 10.
For the Nittany Lions to take the next step they will need to win some of those games. This season could supply the breakthrough.
Penn State will have an elite defense and a solid running game to rely on if Drew Allar needs time to get things going at the QB spot.
Opener: vs West Virginia (Sept 2)
9. Clemson Tigers
The Tigers took steps to shore up the offense, bringing in Garrett Riley from TCU to call the plays.
Cade Klubnik will run the offense at QB and it should look more like it did when Trevor Lawrence was there. Defensively Clemson was derailed last season by injuries.
The front seven could be the best group in the nation this season with the line leading the way.
Opener: at Duke (Sept 4)
10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Marcus Freeman era at Notre Dame opened with three straight losses. The Irish are 9-2 in their last 11 games played and that was despite injury issues at the QB spot.
Sam Hartman will be the QB this season and brings a lot of talent and records with him from Wake Forest. The defense should be a Top 10 unit.
With home games against Ohio State and USC and a road trip to Clemson, the Fighting Irish could play their way into the playoff picture.
Opener: vs Navy in Dublin Ireland (Agu 26)
11. Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns are loaded with talent on offense despite losing Bijan Robinson to the NFL.
Texas returns its offensive line, top three receivers, and QB Quinn Ewers. And should Ewers go down this season Arch Manning is there to take the reins.
Defensively Texas has playmakers that will keep them in games.
Opener: vs Rice (Sept 2)
12. Oregon Ducks
Oregon allowed 41.3 points per game in their three losses. This season, the defense should be much better.Brandon Dorlus and Jordan Burch will create all kinds of issues in opposing backfields.
On the offensive side of the ball, Bo Nix is back—and he was incredible last season. The Ducks have a Heisman candidate behind center and Troy Franklin gives him a legitimate target on the outside.
The offensive has a lot to replace from last season but the pieces to the puzzle are there.
Opener: vs Portland State (Sept 2)
13. Wisconsin Badgers
Normally a coaching change from the prior season is indicative of a struggling program. That certainly is not what Luke Fickell is stepping into with the Badgers.
Wisconsin also has a lot of experience in their new QB, Tanner Mordecai who transfers in from SMU with over 7,100 passing yards in his career.
Braelon Allen is also back in the backfield and while the offensive approach will shift from the power run to more of an air raid attack, look for Allen to play a big role.
Fickell inherits a team that has won 16 games in the last two seasons and should hit the ground running in 2023.
Opener: vs Buffalo (Sept 2)
14. Oklahoma Sooners
The Sooners are coming off their first losing season since 1998 but seem poised for big things in year two under Brent Venables.
Dillon Gabriel is back at QB but will have some new targets to throw the ball to. The defense was really the issue in 2022 as they ranked 123rd nationally on that side of the ball.
Look for transfer Dasan McCullough to make a huge immediate impact off the edge. Trace Ford should be another improvement on the defensive line.
Opener: vs Arkansas State (Sept 2)
15. Washington Huskies
Washington welcomes back a lot of firepower on the offensive side of the ball. Michael Penix Jr. is back and has his top two targets at his disposal.
Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan both topped the 1,000-yard mark receiving, marking the first time UW has ever had a pair of such receivers in a season.
Bralen Trice will be the leader of a defense that will open the season with some holes to fill from last year.
Opener: vs Boise State (Sept 2)
16. Utah Utes
Utah has a lot to replace from the 2022 squad. Cam Rising is not one of them though. The quarterback will be back in 2023, but how soon will he be at 100% is perhaps the biggest question for the Utes.
Clark Phillips is going to be tough to replace in the secondary, but there is still a lot of talent on defense including Cole Bishop at the back end.
Rising is an elite QB and Utah has been to back-to-back Rose Bowls, so don’t look for a huge drop-off in 2023.
Opener: vs Florida (Sept 2)
17. Texas A&M Aggies
You have to think this is going to be a big year for Jimbo Fisher. He needs to produce or the seat will be very hot.
The Aggies have a new offensive coordinator in Bobby Petrino (yes, some folks continue to fall up.)
Conner Weigman will be the signal caller and has a pair of talented receivers on hand in Evan Stewart and Moose Muhammad.
The defense should be a strength, but they will need to find a way to win the close ones. Five of their seven losses in 2022 were one-score games.
Opener: vs New Mexico (Sept 2)
18. North Carolina Tarheels
Drake Maye might be the best quarterback in the nation east of Los Angeles. Maye led the team in rushing last season while throwing for 4,321 yards and 38 TDs but struggled a bit late.
The Heels will go as far as the standout QB will take them.
The defense will need to be much better this season as they ranked near the bottom of the country in 2022. The linebackers have a chance to be good with Cedric Gray and Power Echols.
Opener: vs South Carolina in Charlotte (Sept 2)
19. Oregon State Beavers
The Beavers are coming off their first 10-win season since 2006 and just their third ever with as many wins. Oregon State has a lot of momentum and excitement into this season.
The offensive line should be very good and anchored by Josua Gray. Operating behind that line will be Clemson transfer DJ Uiagalelei and that should be an upgrade at the QB spot.
Damien Martinez is a bonafide star at running back and should be even better this season with Uiagalelei’s running ability.
The defense was stout last season and should be solid again.
Opener: at San Jose State (Sept 3)
20. Tennessee Volunteers
Joe Milton is poised to take over for Hendon Hooker at QB for the Vols. Milton is being given the keys to a sports car, but it may need to get a tune-up before the throttle can be cut loose.The expectations in Knoxville are very high, but this offense lost some pieces from last season.
UT was an offensive juggernaut in 2022 so even with a few hiccups it should still be a potent offense.
The defense creates havoc in opponents’ backfields and will get a boost this season in Keenan Pili and Gabe Jeudy-Lally, both of whom transferred in from BYU.
The Vols’ defense had a couple of rough outings last year (Alabama and South Carolina were not highlights for the defense), but were an improved unit.
This team will have the firepower on offense to win games, as they did last year. Heck, they even beat Alabama despite the rough game defensively.
Opener: vs Virginia in Nashville (Sept 2)
21. Toledo Rockets
Toledo won the MAC in 2022 and Jason Crandle has yet to have a losing season with the Rockets during his seven-year tenure.This is a Toledo team that is loaded with talent and ready for a great season.
Dequan Finn is a good QB: 10 of his 12 interceptions came in the Rockets’ five losses. He needs to get those under control and this team has tons of upside.
The defensive backfield is loaded with playmakers.
Toledo could position itself as the best team from the Group of Five in 2023.
Opener: at Illinois (Sept 2)
22. Kansas State Wildcats
The Wildcats won the Big 12 last season. Yes, TCU played for the national championship, Texas has a ton of hype, but it was in fact K-State that took the conference crown.
Chris Klieman has this program going and there will not be much of a drop-off from last season. The offense lost a lot at the skill positions, but the addition of transfers should keep things moving.
Deuce Vaughn is gone at RB, but DJ GIddens and Treshaun Ward should step in. Will Howard is back at QB and will have Keegan Johnson, who transferred from Iowa, as a target.
The defense has some questions. The secondary lacks experience and must gel quickly.
Opener: vs Southeast Missouri State (Sept 2)
23. Iowa Hawkeyes
Last season Iowa had a defense that was elite. A defense so good that it seemed at times that a safety might be enough to win the game.The problem was the Hawkeyes had an offense that made it quite clear that the defense may need to produce the points and keep the opponents off the board.
The offense was bad—painful-to-watch bad. But Kirk Ferentz still managed an eight-win season for the seventh time in the last eight years.
The defense will be good again and the offense will be better. (It can’t be worse!) Cade McNamara transfers in from Michigan and should be a boost at the QB spot.
Opener: vs Utah State (Sept 2)
24. Ole Miss Rebels
Last year Mississippi opened the season 7-0, only to close things out 1-5 in their final six games. The defense really let the team down over the last six games in 2022.
Former Alabama DC Pete Golding takes over control of that unit and only moderate improvements may be needed to turn the Rebels into contenders in the SEC West.
Offensively there is a battle for the starting QB spot between incumbent Jaxson Dart and incomers Spencer Sanders and Walker Howard.
Whoever wins the QB job will have one of the best backs in the nation in sophomore Quinshon Judkins.
Opener: vs Mercer (Sept 2)
25. UCLA Bruins
UCLA has some holes to fill, but the Bruins also have the talent to fill those spots.They have options at QB, and while they won’t get exactly what Dorian Thompson-Robinson gave them, they should get good production.
Carson Steele is going to be a beast at running back. On defense, the Bruins have some players who could be difference-makers in Laiatu Latu and Darius Muasau.
If Chip Kelly can get the most out of this squad, they could be major players.
Opener: vs Coastal Carolina (Sept 2)
-
2024 Week 3 Big Ten Football Top Games, Best Bets & Picks
Stephen Vilardo analyzes the matchups and breaks down what each team must do to win - September 12, 2024 -
2024 Week 3 MW+P12 Football Top Games, Best Bets, Picks
Stephen Vilardo analyzes the matchups and breaks down what each team must do to win - September 11, 2024 -
2024 Top Week 1 NFL Performances by SuperWest Players
Our Stephen Vilardo summarizes the highlights 0f some standout alumni veterans and rookies - September 10, 2024