College football teams inside the top 25 enter every season with big expectations, and that is no different in 2023. The Georgia Bulldogs look for their third-consecutive national championship, and coach Kirby Smart knows that is a difficult task. What will make or break their quest?
“So starting to think about the next one, I do think it’s going to be much tougher,” Smart said last week after Georgia’s national championship victory over TCU. “And I do think we’re going to have to reinvent ourselves next year because you can’t just stay the same. Like these two guys up here, they’re coming back. And we have a lot of guys, in my opinion, that are going to come back and it’s easy to get comfortable. And comfortable does not win.”
Many other teams have big questions that lie ahead in 2023, but what are they exactly?
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Here is one challenge that each team in 247Sports’ way-too-early top 25 faces in its quest for a successful season:
Georgia is no stranger to losing talent. The Bulldogs lost a whopping 15 players to the 2022 NFL Draft, including eight from their remarkable defense in 2021. This year might bring less loss, but it is still significant. Georgia loses its leader in quarterback Stetson Bennett, while defenders Jalen Carter and Kelee Ringo figure to go high in the 2023 NFL Draft. Smart knows repeating is a challenge, and losing key players is something he is used to. That does not make it easy, especially losing the starting quarterback.
Young is expected to be a high pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and we got a glimpse of Milroe in extended action in 2022 against Arkansas and Texas A&M, as he started the latter game. In Alabama’s 24-20 win over the Aggies, he was 12-of-19 passing for 119 yards, throwing three touchdowns to one interception. The Crimson Tide did not find the end zone in the second half, leading to questions about the former four-star recruit.
Simpson is another name to watch in the battle, as the former five-star and No. 4 quarterback from the Class of 2022 saw some action this season. Four-star freshman Eli Holstein also enters the mix, but expect it to come down to Milroe or Simpson.
Michigan has not won a bowl game since Year 1 under Jim Harbaugh. His teams do not play well after the long layoff, and that was again the case in the College Football Playoff semifinal loss to TCU. Harbaugh and staff have to find a solution if they are going to be in the same position next season. Because the slow start against the Horned Frogs is what doomed the Wolverines.
Big play, after big play, after big play. That was the story of Ohio State’s downfall each of the last two seasons. The Buckeyes hired defensive coordinator Jim Knowles away from Oklahoma State, but he was unable to cure the issue in just one season. Offenses get going in college football, but Ohio State has to be able to stop the bleeding a little bit.
Michigan has beaten Ohio State in each of the last two seasons. Why can’t Penn State? The Nittany Lions are set to start former five-star Drew Allar at quarterback next season and have plenty of young talent returning, including true freshman Nick Singleton, who took the conference by storm this past season. Penn State gets Ohio State on the road and Michigan at home next season. It is time for James Franklin to get over the hump.
Not only has Florida State cleaned up in the portal for the 2023 recruiting cycle, but the Seminoles were one of the nation’s hottest teams exiting the season and got great news with quarterback Jordan Travis along with top defender Jared Verse announced their respective returns. That gives Florida State a pair of All-American candidates on both sides of the football, not to mention impressive talent elsewhere in the skill spots. The Seminoles are one of the nation’s most hyped teams in 2023.
LSU was in prime position for a berth in the College Football Playoff entering its final regular-season game at Texas A&M, and it just laid an egg. The Bulldogs thumped the Tigers in the SEC Championship Game, so it might have been all for nothing, but it still stung. With plenty of returning pieces in 2023, including quarterback Jayden Daniels, Brian Kelly wants to make sure something similar does not happen if his team is in that position. It all starts with a challenging opening game in Orlando against Florida State.
Grinch joined the Trojans in November 2021 when USC hired Lincoln Riley away from Oklahoma. However, Grinch’s status became a talking point for the last week after Tulane shredded the USC in a 46-45 Cotton Bowl loss by the Trojans. The Trojans allowed 18.7 points per game the first six games of this season, but routinely struggled in the second half of the year, allowing 37.1 points the final eight games of the season. During that second-half stretch, the only team the Trojans held below 25 points was Colorado. That needs to improve if USC wants to be the first Pac-12 team to reach the College Football playoff since 2016.
From 2018-21 at Indiana, Penix never played in double-digit games. He was even hurt in the shortened 2020 season. That changed in 2022 in his first year at Washington, as he started all 13 games. Can he have a clean bill of health for a second-straight season? That remains to be seen, but Washington’s ability to win the Pac-12 hinges on it. Penix was able to fast-track the rebuild in a big way under first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer, who inherited a messy situation.
Nix broke into college football as a five-star recruit in 2019 at Auburn, starting right away. He played his first two seasons under Gus Malzahn, as his offensive coordinator was Kenny Dillingham. After Dillingham’s departure, Chad Morris took over the offense and Nix did not take the expected leap. Struggles continued when Bryan Harsin took over for Malzahn and appointed Mike Bobo as offensive coordinator. Nix reunited with Dillingham in 2022 at Oregon under head coach Dan Lanning and flourished. Now, Dillingham is the head coach at Arizona State, with Will Stein arriving from UTSA. That is five offensive coordinators in five seasons. Will Nix be able to adjust for another big year in a campaign in which the Ducks have their eyes on the College Football Playoff?
No longer the likely preseason favorite to win the ACC given the personnel returning for another squad in the league, Dabo Swinney and the Tigers will try and turn back the naysayers who question the roster’s holes on defense following heavy NFL departures. Quarterback Cade Klubnik is coming off his first career start in the Orange Bowl against Tennessee, but things are different come his next one. Swinney fired offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter and went outside of the box to replace him, tabbing Broyles Award winner Gar
rett Riley, as he arrives from TCU. We all saw what the Horned Frogs’ offense looked like this season, and one would expect the former five-star in Klubnik to flourish.
This offense replaces Hooker and a couple of major playmakers, including wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, but new-look Tennessee did take down Clemson in the Orange Bowl with Joe Milton at quarterback. He figures to be on the preseason Heisman shortlist next season given his talent level under center. Josh Heupel’s program will hope to continue its surge nationally, but will be the hunted this time around. That is something that falls on everyone.
Notre Dame suffered a horrific Week 2 loss at home to Marshall and also a brutal defeat in South Bend to Stanford. Still, the program won nine games in Year 1 under Freeman and welcomes Wake Forest transfer quarterback Sam Hartman to the fold. The Fighting Irish have a difficult schedule, as there is no bye from the Week Zero game against Navy in Ireland through the Week 7 home contest against USC. That stretch includes road tests at NC State and Duke and a home game against Ohio State.
There is definitely plenty of noise about Arch Manning’s arrival to Texas, but Ewers figures to be the guy in 2023. The No. 1 player from the Class of 2021 completed 58.1% of his passes for 2,177 yards and 15 touchdowns with six interceptions in 10 games, numbers that should improve with more familiarity this year. Texas’ goal is to win the Big 12 in 2023, and the Longhorns need a big year from Ewers to do just that.
TCU played from behind quite a bit in 2022 and had some great fortune in one-score games. That may not continue in 2023, as that fortune allowed the Horned Frogs to enjoy an undefeated regular season and a national championship berth this past fall. Max Duggan announced his plan to enter the NFL Draft. Horned Frogs wideout Quentin Johnston leaves too, but the program has signed Alabama pass-catcher JoJo Earle among others in the portal to help off-set personnel losses.
16. UTAH UTES: NAVIGATING EARLY SEASON TESTS AGAINST FLORIDA, AT BAYLOR BEFORE LOADED PAC-12 SCHEDULE
Cam Rising is back, which is a massive boost. Like last season, the Utes have a difficult road to open the season, as Florida comes to Salt Lake City this time. Just one week later, it is a road game at Baylor. The Utes want to go into Pac-12 play unscathed, which was not the case a season ago.
17. KANSAS STATE WILDCATS: NAVIGATING EARLY SEASON TESTS AGAINST TROY, AT MISSOURI
After a home game against Southeast Missouri, the Wildcats welcome a Troy program that won 12 games in 2022. The Sun Belt was no stranger to upsetting Power Five folks, and the Wildcats learned that lesson the hard way when Tulane shocked them in September. Chris Klieman and company then travel to Missouri the following week. KSU handled the Tigers at home last fall, but those are some challenges ahead of Big 12 play.
18. OREGON STATE: THE PLAY OF D.J. UIAGALELEI
Oregon State has its quarterback for the 2023 season. The Beavers swiped Uiagalelei from the portal last month, hand-picking him from a group of available quarterbacks as an ideal-fit option. And with four starters expected back along the offensive line, Oregon State will give Uiagalelei plenty of time to operate. The Beavers hope that brings more consistent play than what we saw at Clemson in each of the last two seasons as a starter.
19. UCLA BRUINS: CHIP KELLY MAKING THE RIGHT CALL IN REPLACING DORIAN THOMPSON-ROBINSON
Kent State transfer Collin Schlee, Ethan Garbers and five-star freshman Dante Moore are the three players in the mix for QB1 honors. At least early in the year, UCLA may need to lean on its defense while the offense sorts out life without its recognizable dual-threat and running back Zach Charbonnet.
20. TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS: NAVIGATING CHALLENGING OPENING TWO WEEKS AT WYOMING, AGAINST OREGON
Wyoming went to a bowl game in 2022, and fans in Laramie are excited to welcome a Power Five opponent to kick off the season. The Red Raiders then welcome Oregon, a top-10 team in our way-too-early rankings. Tough test in Year 2 of the Joey McGuire era.
21. SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS: THE FIRST MONTH OF THE SEASON
Can Shane Beamer and South Carolina build on their 8-5 finish in 2022? The Gamecocks got a big boost with Spencer Rattler announcing his return, but it is a challenge. The Gamecocks open with UNC in Charlotte and then host Furman, but then head into the teeth of SEC play early on. A road game at Georgia, a home contest against a Mississippi State team that won nine games in 2022 and a road showdown at Tennessee follow. That is all before the calendar turns to October.
22. TEXAS A&M AGGIES: FIXING THE OFFENSE UNDER BOBBY PETRINO
After debuting inside the preseason top 10 in last year’s way-too-early polls, Texas A&M lost the benefit of the doubt after a disappointing 2022 campaign. Next season is vital for Jimbo Fisher and his future in College Station and his new-look coaching staff should assist in turning things around, starting with Petrino, who arrives after most recently serving as the head coach at Missouri State.
23. OKLAHOMA SOONERS: HOW BRENT VENABLES HANDLES CRITICISM OF YEAR 1
Oklahoma suffered its first losing season since 1998 in Year 1 under Venables. Plenty of pressure turns to him in his second campaign. He needs to answer the bell.
24. OLE MISS REBELS: LANE KIFFIN’S WORK IN RE-TOOLING AFTER ROUGH ENDING TO 2022
Ole Miss lost its final four games of the 2022 season as rumors of Lane Kiffin’s future with the program swirled regarding the then-vacant Auburn job. Kiffin signed his third contract extension after the Egg Bowl loss to Mississippi State. With those rumors put to bed, it is on him to get Ole Miss back to the double-digit win neighborhood, which he was able to do in his second season in 2021.
25. TULANE GREEN WAVE: HANDLING PRESSURE OF BEING AAC FAVORITE
Tulane lost a couple playmakers to the draft after beating USC in the Cotton Bowl, but the Green Wave do welcome back signal-caller Michael Pratt after a program-record 12-win season. Can they live up to the hype? They will get another big chance for a Kansas State-like upset when they welcome none other than Ole Miss to Yuman Stadium in Week 2.
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College football: One thing that will make or break every top-25 team in 2023 – 247Sports
