College football preview: Conference champions, impact transfers, predictions
Who wins the Big Ten? Can SEC's Georgia repeat? Will a Pac-12 or ACC team make the CFP? Top game in the Big 12? Here's what's in store for 2023.
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2023 College Football Picks, Predictions by Conference
by Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior Writer
Just when it looked like college football was settling down for the final season of a four-team playoff, conference realignment shook up the sport once again.
UCLA and USC are leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten in 2024, along with Oregon and Washington. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are jumping to the Big 12, leaving the Pac-12 on life support.
What else has changed? Matt Rhule is coaching Nebraska, Deion Sanders is at Colorado, Hugh Freeze is back at Auburn and Luke Fickell will be on Wisconsin's sideline.
What hasn't changed? Two-time defending national champion Georgia is still the team to beat in the FBS. The Bulldogs, 29-1 the past two seasons, will attempt to join Minnesota (1934 to 1936) as the sport's only teams to win three national titles in a row.
Before the 2023 season kicks off with seven games Saturday, here are predictions heading into the year.
BIG TEN
Predicted Finish
EAST
1. Michigan (11-1, 8-1)
1. Ohio State (11-1, 8-1)
3. Penn State (10-2, 7-2)
4. Maryland (7-5, 4-5)
5. Michigan State (5-7, 3-6)
6. Rutgers (4-8, 2-7)
7. Indiana (3-9, 1-8)
WEST
1. Wisconsin (9-3, 6-3)
1. Iowa (9-3, 6-3)
1. Minnesota (8-4, 6-3)
4. Illinois (7-5, 5-4)
5. Nebraska (7-5, 4-5)
6. Purdue (4-8, 3-6)
7. Northwestern (2-10, 0-9)
Champion: Michigan
Offensive Player of the Year: Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State (WR)
Defensive Player of the Year: Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois (DL)
Freshman of the Year: Bai Jobe, Michigan State (DE)
Impact Transfer: Tanner Mordecai, Wisconsin (QB - from Southern Methodist)
Comeback Player of the Year: TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State (RB)
Coach of the Year: Luke Fickell, Wisconsin
Coach on the Hot Seat: Tom Allen, Indiana
Coordinator Who Will Be a Head Coach: Jesse Minter, Michigan (defensive coordinator)
Nonconference Game of the Year: Ohio State at Notre Dame (Sept. 23)
Conference Game of the Year: Ohio State at Michigan (Nov. 25)
THREE PREDICTIONS FOR THE BIG TEN
1. Michigan beats Ohio State again
The Wolverines believe this season might be their best chance at winning their first national championship since 1997. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy is entering his second season as the undisputed starter. Tailback Blake Corum is back after running for 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. So is Donovan Edwards, who ran for 991 yards with seven scores in 2022. Stanford transfers Myles Hinton and Drake Nugent and Arizona State transfer LaDarius Henderson will provide experience and depth up front. The Wolverines will fall at Penn State on Nov. 11, but they'll rebound to beat Ohio State, again, at the Big House on Nov. 25.
2. Two Big Ten teams make the College Football Playoff
Ohio State fans will be steaming mad about a third straight loss to Michigan in The Game, which will be the Wolverines' longest winning streak since taking three in a row from 1995 to 1997. The Buckeyes will get over it when they're one of two Big Ten teams to make the four-team playoff. The Buckeyes have to replace quarterback C.J. Stroud; coach Ryan Day still hasn't picked between sophomore Devin Brown or junior Kyle McCord. Regardless of who starts under center, the offense is going to be loaded with Harrison and receiver Emeka Egbuka and tailbacks Miyan Williams and Henderson coming back. The offensive line will have to grow up fast, and the defense will have to play better than it did a year ago. With road wins at Notre Dame and Wisconsin and a home win over Penn State, the Buckeyes will have enough meat on their resume to make the CFP even after losing to Michigan.
3. Wisconsin wins the West
It's probably a toss-up between Wisconsin and Iowa, but I'll go with the team that won't have to try to win every game by holding opponents to 10 points or fewer. The Badgers are going to look completely different on offense under first-year coach Luke Fickell, Tanner Mordecai threw for 3,524 yards with 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions at SMU last season. New offensive coordinator Phil Longo is implementing his version of the Air Raid offense. Top receivers Chimere Dike and Skyler Bell are back, as is tailback Braelon Allen, who ran for 1,242 yards last season. If the Badgers can survive an early trip to Washington State, they should be 5-0 heading into an Oct. 14 home game against Iowa.
