Complete College Football Preview 2023

Carson Beck, Georgia

 Top 25 Rankings

1. Michigan Wolverines -- Last season's surprising CFB Playoff defeat at the hands of TCU should provide ample motivation for a balanced and experienced Wolverine team.

2. Georgia Bulldogs -- A three-peat in Athens? Carson Beck should lead an explosive offense and with a typically stout Bulldog defense, it's a real possibility. 

3. Alabama Crimson Tide -- It's been two "down" seasons in Tuscaloosa, but after shuffling their coaching staff, the mighty Tide will return to the Playoff in 2023. 

4. USC Trojans -- We know the Trojans are going to put up points under Lincoln Riley, but defensive improvement will be the key to making the program's first Playoff appearance. 

5. Ohio State Buckeyes -- Even as Ohio State breaks in a new signal-caller, a loaded receiver room will keep them firmly entrenched in the Big Ten Title hunt. 

6. Clemson Tigers -- Dabo Swinney made a necessary move bringing in Garrett Riley as the program's new OC, and the Tigers remain the team to beat in the ACC. 

7. Penn State Nittany Lions -- The Nittany Lions are so much more than a third wheel to Michigan and Ohio State in the East. With a bunch of impressive young talent, they will legitimately battle for a Playoff berth. 

8. LSU Tigers -- LSU and Brian Kelly won't give up their SEC West Title without a fight. Veteran QB Jayden Daniels and a ferocious defensive front keeps them firmly in the National Title mix. 

9. Florida State Seminoles -- Mike Norvell has engineered an impressive turnaround in Tallahassee and if things go right, they could overtake Clemson for the ACC crown this fall. 

10. Oregon Ducks -- As the Ducks prepare for life in the Big Ten, Bo Nix and company should set them up for a grand finale in 2023. 

11. Washington Huskies -- Kalen DeBoer's 11-win debut in Seattle was no fluke. With an elite aerial attack, the Huskies could win their first Pac-12 Title since 2018.

12. Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- It may not have been a ringing debut for Marcus Freeman in 2022, but the addition of Sam Hartman makes the Irish a threat this year.

13. Utah Utes -- The Utes are the model program in the Pac-12 and even with a brutal schedule, they'll be a tough out in the league once again. 

14. Texas Longhorns -- Is this the year Texas finally lives up to preseason expectations? They're loaded with talent and operating in a wide-open Big 12, but making definitive predictions about this program remains as difficult as ever.

15. Tennessee Volunteers -- Was 2022 a fluke or the new standard in Knoxville? The Volunteers should put up points again, but the defense will determine their ceiling this fall.

16. Kansas State Wildcats -- The ever-steady Wildcats return enough on both sides of the ball to keep a hold on the Big 12. 

17. Oregon State Beavers -- Jonathan Smith has built a winner in Corvallis, and if D.J. Uiagalelei acclimates quickly, the Beavers will be extra dangerous.

18. Iowa Hawkeyes -- With even modest offensive improvements, Iowa should be able to retake the Big Ten West in 2023.

19. Troy Trojans -- With plenty back and an infusion of former Power Five transfers, I'm picking Troy to become the Sun Belt's first New Year's Six representative.

20. Texas A&M Aggies -- Just about everything went wrong for A&M last fall, but the hire of Bobby Petrino as OC could spring a massive turnaround.

21. TCU Horned Frogs -- It's unlikely TCU will be able to completely replicate the magic of 2022, but if Chandler Morris can come in and make a difference, the Horned Frogs will remain a Big 12 Title contender.

22. Miami Hurricanes -- Miami is a much better team than what we saw last fall and a healthy Tyler Van Dyke should make a world of difference in Coral Gables.

23. SMU Mustangs -- With a wave of former Power Five transfers, I like SMU's chances to come out on top of a new-look American Athletic Conference.

24. Oklahoma Sooners -- 2022 should serve as a wakeup call for an Oklahoma program that will be embarking on a new challenge in the SEC next season.

25. Duke Blue Devils -- With dynamic QB Riley Leonard leading the way, the Blue Devils have a chance to be a dark horse in the ACC.

Conference Predictions

ACC

1. Clemson Tigers (12-1, 7-1 ACC)

2. Florida State Seminoles (10-3, 6-2 ACC)

3. Miami Hurricanes (8-4, 5-3 ACC)

4. Duke Blue Devils (8-4, 5-3 ACC)

5. North Carolina Tar Heels (8-4, 5-3 ACC)

6. Pittsburgh Panthers (8-4, 5-3 ACC)

7. Louisville Cardinals (7-5, 4-4 ACC)

8. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-6, 4-4 ACC)

9. NC State Wolfpack (6-6, 4-4 ACC)

10. Virginia Tech Hokies (6-6, 3-5 ACC)

11. Boston College Eagles (6-6, 3-5 ACC)

12. Syracuse Orange (5-7, 2-6 ACC)

13. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-7, 2-6 ACC)

14. Virginia Cavaliers (4-8, 1-7 ACC)

ACC Championship: Clemson over Florida State

Big Ten - East

1. Michigan Wolverines (13-0, 9-0 Big Ten)

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten)

3. Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten)

4. Maryland Terrapins (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten)

5. Michigan State Spartans (6-6, 4-5 Big Ten)

6. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-8, 1-8 Big Ten)

7. Indiana Hoosiers (3-9, 1-8 Big Ten)

Big Ten - West

1. Iowa Hawkeyes (9-4, 6-3 Big Ten)

2. Wisconsin Badgers (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten)

3. Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten)

4. Illinois Fighting Illini (7-5, 4-5 Big Ten)

5. Purdue Boilermakers (6-6, 4-5 Big Ten)

6. Nebraska Cornhuskers (6-6, 3-6 Big Ten)

7. Northwestern Wildcats (2-10, 0-9 Big Ten)

Big Ten Championship: Michigan over Iowa

Big 12

1. Texas Longhorns (10-3, 7-2 Big 12)

2. Kansas State Wildcats (9-4, 6-3 Big 12)

3. Oklahoma Sooners (8-4, 6-3 Big 12)

4. TCU Horned Frogs (8-4, 5-4 Big 12)

5. Oklahoma State Cowboys (7-5, 5-4 Big 12)

6. Baylor Bears (7-5, 5-4 Big 12)

7. Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-6, 4-5 Big 12)

8. Kansas Jayhawks (6-6, 4-5 Big 12)

9. BYU Cougars (6-6, 4-5 Big 12)

10. UCF Knights (6-6, 3-6 Big 12)

11. Houston Cougars (6-6, 3-6 Big 12)

12. Iowa State Cyclones (5-7, 3-6 Big 12)

13. Cincinnati Bearcats (5-7, 3-6 Big 12)

14. West Virginia Mountaineers (2-10, 0-9 Big 12)

Big 12 Championship: Texas over Kansas State

Pac-12 

1. USC Trojans (12-1, 8-1 Pac-12)

2. Oregon Ducks (10-3, 7-2 Pac-12)

3. Washington Huskies (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12)

4. Utah Utes (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12)

5. Oregon State Beavers (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12)

6. UCLA Bruins (8-4, 5-4 Pac-12)

7. Washington State Cougars (7-5, 5-4 Pac-12)

8. Arizona Wildcats (5-7, 3-6 Pac-12)

9. Arizona State Sun Devils (5-7, 3-6 Pac-12)

10. California Golden Bears (5-7, 3-6 Pac-12)

11. Stanford Cardinal (4-8, 2-7 Pac-12)

12. Colorado Buffaloes (3-9, 1-8 Pac-12)

Pac-12 Championship: USC over Oregon

SEC - East

1. Georgia Bulldogs (12-1, 8-0 SEC)

2. Tennessee Volunteers (9-3, 5-3 SEC)

3. Kentucky Wildcats (8-4, 5-3 SEC)

4. South Carolina Gamecocks (6-6, 4-4 SEC)

5. Florida Gators (6-6, 2-6 SEC)

6. Missouri Tigers (5-7, 2-6 SEC)

7. Vanderbilt Commodores (4-8, 1-7 SEC)

SEC - West

1. Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1, 7-1 SEC)

2. LSU Tigers (10-2, 7-1 SEC)

3. Texas A&M Aggies (8-4, 5-3 SEC

4. Ole Miss Rebels (8-4, 4-4 SEC)

5. Arkansas Razorbacks (7-5, 4-4 SEC)

6. Auburn Tigers (7-5, 3-5 SEC)

7. Mississippi State Bulldogs (6-6, 2-6 SEC)

SEC Championship: Alabama over Georgia

Group of Five

American Athletic Conference: SMU over Tulane

Conference USA: Western Kentucky over Liberty

MAC: Toledo over Ohio

Mountain West: Boise State over Air Force

Sun Belt: Troy over Appalachian State

Awards

Bronko Nagurski (Defensive Player of the Year): Harold Perkins, LSU (winner); Jared Verse, Florida State (finalist); Jackson Mitchell, UConn (finalist)

Dick Butkus Award (best LB): Harold Perkins, LSU (winner); Jackson Mitchell, UConn (finalist); Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State (finalist)

Davey O'Brien Award (best QB): Carson Beck, Georgia (winner); Caleb Williams, USC (finalist); Michael Penix, Washington (finalist)

Doak Walker (best RB) TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State (winner); Will Shipley, Clemson (finalist); Rasheen Ali, Marshall (finalist)

Frank Broyles Award (top assistant): Garrett Riley, Clemson (winner); Ryan Grubb, Washington (finalist); Kevin Steele, Alabama (finalist); Matt House, LSU (finalist)

Fred Biletnikoff Award (best WR): Xavier Worthy, Texas (winner); Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State (finalist); Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky (finalist)

Home Depot Award (Coach of the Year): Steve Sarkisian, Texas (winner); Nick Saban, Alabama (finalist); Jonathan Smith, Oregon State (finalist)

Jim Thorpe Award (best DB): Cooper DeJean, Iowa (winner); Travis Hunter, Colorado (finalist); Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama (finalist)

John Mackey Award (best TE): Brock Bowers, Georgia (winner); Luke Lachey, Iowa (finalist); Jake Briningstool, Clemson (finalist)

Lou Groza Award (best K): Will Reichard, Alabama (winner); Griffin Kell, TCU (finalist); Jack Browning (San Diego State)

Ray Guy Award (best P): Tory Taylor, Iowa (winner); Kai Kroeger, South Carolina (finalist); Jesse Mirco, Ohio State (finalist)

Heisman Trophy

1. Carson Beck, QB, Georgia (winner)

2. Michael Penix, QB, Washington (finalist)

3. Caleb Williams, QB, USC (finalist)

4. TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State 

5. Harold Perkins, LB, LSU

6. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

7. Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

8. Will Shipley, RB, Clemson

9. Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

10. Austin Reed, QB, Western Kentucky