It’s been a while.
I fully acknowledge my struggles to post regularly and take full responsibility for it, but I’m returning to Writing Roundball with an absolute banger: my college football predictions. Now, I know you, the reader, have been dying to hear what this washed-up sports reporter turned communications specialist has to say about college football, and I am here to deliver.
And yes, I know there was Week 0 and games were played on Thursday, so yes, my predictions come a little late, but better late than never, right?
The 2023 season is looking like it’s going to be the last *normal* campaign before the horrors of conference realignment completely shake up the outlook of the sport next season. Yes, the Big 12 has already taken the first step in its realignment journey with UCF, Cincinnati, Houston and BYU joining the conference this season, but the landscape-changing moves that have defined this offseason in college sports will take effect next season. So let’s savor it, yeah?
Well, first, let’s dive into the Power 5 — I won’t be looking at the G5. Since my ball knowledge is limited in that area, I leave that to the experts.
ACC
Despite an iffy 2022 campaign, Clemson slugged its way back to the mountaintop of the ACC last season and appears to be in strong position to reclaim the conference crown in 2023. The Tigers will certainly boast their typically terrifying defense, but questions remain on the offensive end — especially with Cade Klubnik taking the reins as THE guy in the Clemson offense.
Florida State has emerged as the media’s favorite to unseat the Tigers after the Seminoles’ resurgent 10-3 season in 2022. According to ESPN, the Seminoles return more quality production than any other team in the country, including star quarterback Jordan Travis and dominant defensive linemen in Jared Verse and Fabien Lovett.
It’s fixing to be a two-team race in the ACC — with the Seminoles and Tigers meeting in Clemson on Sept. 23 — and I don’t necessarily see any other teams that could spoil that, except, in the remotest of possibilities, Miami (Fla.). Now, I don’t really know too much about the Hurricanes at this point, but I do know a lot of NIL money has been invested in this roster, therefore you can’t count out the Hurricanes. I could also see Drake Maye willing North Carolina to contention, but I’m not willing to commit to that.
When it comes to the Tigers and Seminoles, Clemson carries a much more favorable schedule between the two and I fully expect to see the Tigers emerge victorious in their Sept. 23 meeting. But, I can’t shake this feeling that Clemson will lose more than one game this regular season — whether it be to Notre Dame, UNC, South Carolina or some other team. Regardless, the Tigers and Seminoles will meet in Charlotte come December.
Champions: Florida State
Big 12
It’s Texas and Oklahoma’s final season in the Big 12, but with the conference adding four new teams prior to this season, the stage is set for a wacky season in the conference.
Texas is far and away the most talented team in the conference, but we’ve seen this story before: the Longhorns get tons of off-season hype and then fall flat on their faces. It’s a tale as old as time. But…I think this might be Texas’ year. Quarterback Quinn Ewers, who was average last season but showed flashes of his potential at times, is back for another season as the starter, and I expect him to be much improved. Texas’ Week 2 matchup against Alabama in Tuscaloosa will be a telling one, though, I could see the Longhorns running the table in the Big 12 if they play up to their potential.
Second-year head coach Brent Venables and the Oklahoma Sooners look to put a disappointing 6-7 campaign in 2022 behind them. The Sooners retained the services of quarterback Dillon Gabriel, but with losses to running back Eric Gray and wide receiver Marvin Mims, Oklahoma may have some issues on the offensive end. The Sooners will be better in 2023, no doubt about that, but I still don’t see Oklahoma as being a contending team in the conference.
Elsewhere in the Big 12, Kansas State and TCU also have the potential to make some noise in the conference. K-State is my No. 2 team in the conference entering the season, even with the losses they’ve endured this offseason on the offensive side of the ball, while I see TCU taking a sharp decline after its miracle run to the CFP National Championship last season. However, everyone will be looking up at Bevo when it’s all said and done.
Champion: Texas
Big Ten
Let’s get this out of the way first, the conference’s champion will come from the East division.
The Big Ten enters the final season of its current construction — with USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington on the way next season — with quite possibly the most wide-open race in the Big Ten East in some time.
The two-time reigning Big Ten champion Michigan is the favorite to remain on the conference pedestal, with quarterback J.J. McCarthy and the dangerous one-two punch of running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards returning to defend their title. But, Michigan’s strength in each of the last two seasons has been its prowess in the trenches, and despite some shuffling pieces in the Wolverines’ offense and defensive fronts, UM remains strong as ever up front.
In my opinion, this is Ohio State’s most talented roster since 2019, and the Buckeyes have more than enough to take back the Big Ten crown. Sure, Ohio State will break in a new quarterback, but with the team’s wealth of talent at wide receiver and running back, Kyle McCord (or Devin Brown) will be set up for success at the position. I also anticipate the defense will be much improved in Year Two of Jim Knowles’ tenure, with the unit returning plenty of talented pieces, most notably at linebacker with Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers remaining in the fold at the position.
Penn State has been the vogue pick to win the conference, especially from those who love to play Devil’s Advocate (AKA the most annoying person you know). Now, I really like the Nittany Lions, especially first-year starting quarterback Drew Allar and running back Nick Singleton, but I still think they’re not quite at the level of Michigan or Ohio State and will ultimately run third in the division.
I’m not going to dive deep into the West, other than to say Wisconsin will win it in Luke Fickell’s first season at the helm of the program.
Champion: Ohio State
Pac-12 (RIP)
Singing its swan song in 2023, the Pac-12 enters its final season of existence with what could be an absolutely bonkers race for the conference crown.
Although USC is the overwhelming favorite, and I’m still picking the Trojans to win the conference, it’s still fixing to be a tight race in the conference. Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams will likely be the nation’s best player again, and the Trojans boast plenty of offensive firepower, but for as explosive as USC’s offense is, its defense is equally atrocious. With defensive coordinator Alex Grinch somehow still holding the job, USC’s porous defense could be the reason the Trojans fail to win a Pac-12 title during the Williams era.
Utah is seeking a three-peat in the conference and showed in its Thursday win over Florida that it will, once again, be in the hunt for the Pac-12 title. The health of quarterback Cam Rising remains a concern, but Utah’s dynamic defense may be able to hold down the fort until Rising’s return.
Washington and Oregon are also expected to be major players in the conference, with both teams boasting dynamic offensive attacks thanks to their veteran gunslingers in Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix. Oregon State is another dark horse to make some noise, especially after the addition of former Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei to a talented offense. Ultimately, though, I’m rocking with USC.
Champion: USC
SEC
I don’t know how to read the SEC this year.
My heart and gut feel like both Georgia and Alabama could be heading toward down years, but my brain is telling me just how stupid that thought is. I’m also not quite as high on LSU as others are, but someone is going to have to win this conference.
Despite losing plenty of production on offense, including quarterback Stetson Bennett, the Bulldogs will likely boast the nation’s best defense again this season. With defensive mastermind Kirby Smart still at the helm in Athens, Georgia will always be a threat to claim the national title. But with the need to break in a new quarterback in Carson Beck, expect the Georgia offense to have some trouble getting going. The Bulldogs also have a comically easy schedule this season, so they’ll be 12-0 entering the SEC title game.
Alabama is in a similar situation as Georgia, though the Bulldogs are much more settled at quarterback with Beck. The Crimson Tide will still boast their regularly strong defense, but I’m very concerned about Alabama’s quarterback situation. Sure, the Crimson Tide will probably be just fine, but it’s worrying, nonetheless.
LSU is also among the three teams that will factor into the battle for the SEC. After reaching the SEC title game a season ago, and showing marginal steps to returning to prominence under Brian Kelly, the Tigers are another hot-button team that the media adores entering the season. Like Penn State, I’m not quite ready to put them on the same level as a Georgia or Alabama.
Champion: Georgia
CFP: No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Michigan
The Big Ten will secure two spots in the College Football Playoff, yet again, and the dream of an Ohio State-Michigan National Championship will be in play for the second straight season.
For clarity, Michigan will sneak in due to USC having two losses compared to UM’s one. And while the Wolverines will give the Bulldogs some fight in the semi-final matchup, Georgia will move on to play Ohio State — who will bottle up the former Buckeye Ewers for an easy win over Texas.
And like last year’s Sugar Bowl, Georgia will beat Ohio State in an instant classic to claim its third-straight CFP National Championship.
Writing Roundball 
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