Who Are The True 2023 Contenders In College Football?
Every year we enter the season with every team having hope, and thinking they can win it all. They can't, and we know that. But it is also our job to label every team who could realistically win a title this season. So let's go through with just over three weeks before the season starts, and see if we can narrow down the true competition. This is also in no order.
The Long Shot Contenders Of College Football: Penn State, Clemson, Ohio State, Texas, Florida State
So for each of these teams, I wouldn't be surprised; good schools to bet on, but don't expect it. Don't expect them to win their conferences (Outside of Clemson), but I'll briefly explain why they probably could and couldn't win it all. But it's always fun to see these teams, it is what makes college football great.
Penn State: An incredible core with an elite running back duo. A top-tier offensive line and defense look good, but with a still shaky quarterback in Drew Allar and James Franklin, who fumbles the bag every single time, I would wait to call them a favorite.
Clemson: Cade Klubnik is good and has a strong running back core to back him up. However, they're in the ACC. They don't have the degree of difficulty or the team they have had in the past required to win it all.
Ohio State: This will make some angry. This is the first time since 2017 that your quarterback hasn't been a guaranteed top-15 draft pick, and that guy is still a CFB legend (Shoutout to J.T. Barrett). Marvin Harrison Jr. still gives them hope; I don't think Ryan Day can get over that hump without an elite quarterback.
Texas: Texas is not back. Please stop it. There needs to be more than an elite quarterback prospect in Quinn Ewers. The moment they get faced with a genuine contender, their defense will be tested, and while they passed last year against Alabama, I'm not so sure they will this year.
Florida State: Jordan Travis gives me hope—one of the best stories in college football, surrounded by a substantial group of players. I just don't have complete confidence in this team to get it done and across the goal line.
LSU
Jaydon Daniels is incredibly good at the game of football. With your quarterback returning, you already have a leg up on your two biggest rivals, Alabama and Georgia. While that may not be enough to remove Goliath and Goliath, an elite defensive unit led by possibly the best college football player, Harold Perkins, could be. Not to mention wide receiver Malik Nabers who had over 1000 yards last season. With how LSU handles their wideouts, I wouldn't be surprised to see a breakout from him. Don't sleep on LSU when you look at the SEC this season.
USC
Plenty of people will be mad about this. But when your coach has made the playoffs multiple times, and you have a Heisman winner at quarterback returning, it's hard not to be a contender. This team may have lost Joran Addison and company, but they still have plenty left in the chamber to shock the west coast and make a push. Austin Jones could also be in for a massive season as a part of the option package with Caleb Williams. The running back had over five yards per carry last season, and his usage should only go up. While there are a few question marks here, you never count out the Heisman winner.
Alabama
Did you seriously not consider Alabama, a contender? Alabama is a contender any season that Nick Saban is coaching the tide going into the season. Despite losing Bryce Young to the draft, they still have an incredible amount of talent all across the field, as they typically do. Quarterback Jalen Milroe has exceptional talent; with a cannon for an arm and the ability to take off out of the pocket, Milroe's ceiling is incredibly high. With Jase McClellan also set to take over as the running back one for the tide, expect the young man who averaged nearly six yards per carry to become a large portion of this team's offense.
Michigan
Those damned Wolverines. Despite Jim Harbaugh getting slapped with a four-game suspension to start the season, those were all softballs, regardless. What is to say about this team? With most of the team returning, Michigan is poised for another playoff appearance. The elite duo of Corum and Edwards will support McCarthy while the offensive line continues to maul opponents. The only thing stopping them is another defensive collapse like what occurred against TCU.
Georgia
The back-to-back champs are here again. Is anyone surprised? Despite having a new quarterback, there is little else to stop Kirby Smart from dominating college football again. Brock Bowers, the second-best weapon in all of college football, is back for another year; the stout defense consistently trotted out will come back wholly reloaded despite losing Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith. With the development of the offense around their established weapons and the coaching on the defensive side of the ball, it'll take a lot of work for anyone to contend with the Bulldogs.
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