College football is right around the corner, and a top-10 preseason rankings list is perfect to get us in the mood.
Last year, we saw multiple teams mature from the week 1 to the bowl games. A few of these teams on this list might be fools gold, but I’m highly confident in this list.
Needless to say, some teams on our list will be old faces with new leaders under center. Will these teams repeat what they did in 2022? Take a look at how we ranked the top-10 and the expectations for each team.
10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Do you believe in magic or the Fighting Irish? Don’t answer that. The Irish return a few players but lost many to the draft and transfer portal. Last season, the Irish left a lot on the table to be desired.
Obviously, the coaching change from Brian Kelly to Marcus Freeman had growing pain. However, that pain may not subside anytime soon. Freeman had to find a new offensive coordinator after last years coordinator Tommy Reese accepted the Alabama job.
Fortunately, the Fighting Irish will have a veteran quarterback under center. Former Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman will lead the Irish this year. Hartman is the ACC All-Time leader in touchdown passes.
9. Texas Longhorns
There might be a little surprise when we talk about a top-10 Texas Longhorns program, but the Longhorns have a good roster. Head coach Steve Sarkisian has rebuilt this roster to compete with any team in the country.
Sark made it known that second year quarterback Quinn Ewers will be the starter come week 1. Although 5-Star quarterback Arch Manning brought competition to the room, Ewers was just that much better. Nonetheless, Sark must make sure his team can play a full 4-quarters of football.
In 2022, the Longhorns let too many teams back into games that should have been blowouts. The motto for 2023 will be “Finish.”
8. Clemson Tigers
No matter the year, we can not count out Clemson. The Tigers won the ACC yet again for the 8th time in 12 years. Head coach Dabo Swinney will have a team itching to prove themselves. The Tigers loss a lot of talent from the defense, but the Tiger reload every year.
However, the Tigers will be a the mercy of quarterback Cabe Klubnik. Klubnik showed flashes last year when he came in. Most importantly, Cade played well in the win against North Carolina in the ACC Championship game and admirably against Tennessee in the bowl game loss.
Dabo Swinney brought in TCU play-caller Garrett Riley to fix the sluggish offense. Riley is the younger brother of USC head coach Lincoln Riley.
7. Penn State Nittany Lions
Last year, Penn State suffered losses to Ohio State and Michigan. In both games, Michigan and Ohio State had better talent across the board. Both programs scored 40-plus points against the Nittany Lions. In 2023, the expectations is for that gap to be closed.
Penn State’s 5-star freshman Drew Allar is expected to be the bridge to the next level. Outside of losing two talented players on defense, the Nittany Lions return a more than capable roster.
6. LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers are riding a strong wave from 2022 and should be the favored in most of their games. However, Brian Kelly has been known to have a solid team one year and a drop off the next. Jayden Daniels returns at quarterback with a good set of weapons too.
Equally important are the additions in the secondary that should fortify any loose ends. LSU has a roster that can win the SEC West again, however this will all depend on how fast the team starts in 2023. The next team on our list will see the Tiger first.
5. Florida State Seminoles
Quarterback Jordan Travis and defensive end Jared Verse are the bookends for the Seminoles in 2023. On offense, Travis is the heart beat of the notes. As he go so does the offense. He is what we call a gamer. when a team has a gamer under center, that team is never out of a game. Florida State returns their leading receiver, rusher, and a few defensive backs as well.
However, in 2022 no one expected much from Florida State. Head coach Mike Norvell did a stunning job at rebuilding this team. In 2023, we will know immediately whether or not the Noles are for real. LSU and Florida State will meet week 1 in Orlando.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide
Roll tide Roll is all I can say. The Tide are in my top-5 because it is hard to see them out of it. Besides the questions at quarterback, Alabama is set up to win. New offensive coordinator Tommy Reese will have to figure out the best option at QB to dominate.
Nevertheless, Alabama will have a strong defense again. Head Coach Nick Saban always finds a way to compensate for the lack of talent or belief under center. The key losses like QB Bryce Young and Edge rusher Will Anderson might seem significant, but ever two years we think the same thing about Bama.
Our expectation is that Alabama will roll back time and focus more on the run a then trying to compete through the air as much.
3. USC Trojans
Projected 2024 NFL Draft #1 overall pick quarterback Caleb Williams will have the Trojans favorites in ever game in 2023. With head coach Lincoln Riley as the offensive mastermind, USC in year 2 of his system can be lethal.
The difference in 2023 will have to be the defense. In order for USC to compete with the best teams in the country, the Trojans will have to be better defensively. The Trojans will not see real competition until Notre Dame in week 7.
2. Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines were able to get over the Ohio State hump again in 2002. Although Michigan took the loss in the playoff, but they learned a lot. The Wolverines learned they have the fire power to compete with the best.
Michigan returns quarterback J.J. McCarthy, running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, and a solid offensive line. The Wolverines are as ready as any team in the country to make a run at the title.
1. Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia will have a new quarterback under center in redshirt junior Carson Beck. Beck was a highly rated recruit with a strong arm. Georgia also returns star tight end Brock Bowers to assist Beck in the transition from Stetson Bennett. Needless to say, the defense will have taken some losses as well.
Since head coach Kirby Smart took over, the Bulldogs have been delivering great talent to the NFL year after year. Every year Georgia reloads, so there shouldn’t be any surprises that they will have a great defense.
Like 2022, Georgia will dominate most of the competition they see on the field.