The 2023 season is getting closer and closer and we’re officially 50 days away from the start of the season. If you love college football the way we do you don’t just love watching the game but you love treating it like it’s the best season of reality television ever recorded. Here’s 50 storylines and narratives we can’t wait to see unfold in the new season. Just a quick heads up that these are randomized but hope you enjoy.
A New Era in Starksville
Zach Arnett starts off his first season as the new Mississippi State head coach after the tragic passing of Mike Leach. Arnett moves over from defensive coordinator and immediately steps into a tough job in without a doubt the nations toughest conference. The Bulldogs have moved away from their long run air raid offense and will look entirely different in 2023. Can Arnett make a splash with a strong defense and will the offense succeed with a refresh?
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Are Duke and Mike Elko the Real Deal?
Mike Elko led Duke to a 9-4 record in his first year as head coach in Durham. The offense was amazing behind stellar play from quarterback Riley Leonard. In Duke’s history they have only won 9 or more games in back to back seasons one time. This team returns 17 starters so we’re excited to see if they can conquer that feat.
What Will Year 2 Look Like in Baton Rouge
Coach Brian Kelly made a huge splash in the SEC West with ten wins after losing a heartbreaking, although instant classic in week 1 against Florida State last year. Quarterback Jayden Daniels is back and the defense should be improved as well. Can LSU follow in the footsteps of their baseball and women’s basketball programs and win a championship in year two with a new head coach?
Will the OU Defense Improve in Venables Second Year?
Offense has never been the worry in Norman and looks to be in line for another good year with Dillion Gabriel back for another year. The real concern is defense and with the addition of longtime Clemson and former Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables some expected a swing in year 1. The Sooners finished 122nd in total defense last year which to be blunt is awful. Also, they suffered the worst loss ever recorded in the Red River Shootout. There has been some rumors of culture shock in Venables work ethic and we’ll see if the players adapt in 2023.
What does a Garrett Riley Offense Look Like at Clemson?
It’s no shock that Clemson wanted a new look on offense after finishing 48th in the country last year. They still finished 11-3 for their 12th straight double digit win season but that’s just not enough anymore. Like Michael Jordan once said “the standard is the standard.” It’s no shock that Garrett Riley looked for an upgrade after being a huge part in the success at TCU in 2022 as he found his way to Clemson. Cade Klubnik will return for year two and looks to have all the tools to be a stud at quarterback. Riley has one main job and that is definitely to improve a Clemson offense that ranked 66th in passing offense in 2022.
Mel Tucker – Can Michigan State Get Back to 7 Wins
It was beyond a disappointing season for the Spartans in 2022 as they finished 5-7 after a 11-2 NY6 season in 2021. Things took a turn for the worst in the late window of the transfer when two year starter at quarterback Payton Thorne transferred to Auburn and star wide receiver Keon Coleman transferred to Florida State. The offense has struggled at times but the bigger struggle has been the defense, specifically the secondary. Michigan State is looking to build up it’s talent pool but it will be a huge challenge to win seven this year with Washington on the schedule along with the usual suspects in the Big Ten East.
Will PJ Fleck Stay Consistent?
The Gophers looked prime to make a run for the wide open Big Ten West title last year after starting out the season with four straight wins before dropping to Purdue, Illinois, Penn State, and losing an absolute 10-13 barn burner to Iowa. Fleck has gotten them to the 9 win mark two years in a row and signed a seven year extension last year. Minnesota lost a ton on offense with all time passing leader Tanner Morgan and all time rushing leader Mo Ibrahim gone. Fleck has gotten Minnesota to 9 wins the last two years but the big question is can Minnesota become a consistent threat in the West or are the new faces in Madison and Lincoln going to be a problem?
The Joe Milton Experience
It’s obviously hard to replace someone like Hendon Hooker after the season he had with the Vols in 2022. Joe Milton is stepping in and looked unreal every time he touched the field last year. The Orange Bowl against Clemson might have just been a coming out party as we love to see the man bomb the ball either 50 yards downfield or throw a missile to a running back in the flat. The Vols obviously lost two huge weapons at wideout but it seems like Josh Heupel can get anyone open in his system.
It’s Coach Prime Time in Boulder
Deion Sanders heading to Colorado has probably been on of the most exciting things in the 2022 offseason. Tons of high talented recruits and transfers are coming in but there has also been a mass exodus of players leaving the program. The team went 1-11 last year and won’t look anything near the same and a tough schedule is ahead. Who knows if they can pull off some magic but no matter what we’ll be tuning in to watch the show.
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The Neal Brown Hot Seat
West Virginia finished the season 5-7 last year in the tough Big 12 under Neal Brown. In four seasons in Morgantown the Mountaineers have compiled a 22-25 record under brown and have never won more than six games. It’s not fun to talk about someone losing their job but if WVU doesn’t take some steps forward in 2023 it would be no surprise to see Brown getting the boot. It will be a tough battle as the Mountaineers have both Pittsburgh and Penn State on the schedule this year.
Can Eli Drinkwitz Improve his Record?
It was a little surprising to see Drinkwitz get a two year extension after being an even .500 in four years at Missouri. He’s struggled to figure out his quarterback situation year after year but maybe Miami transfer Jake Garcia can be the answer. It’s not an easy job playing in the toughest conference in the country but can Drinkwitz finally get over the hump and go above even?
How Long is Quinn Ewers Leash?
Ole Miss’ Quarterback Room
Lane Kiffin has obviously proved he is going to build in the portal as much as he can. He officially has three guys who have transferred in Jaxson Dart, Spencer Sanders, and Walker Howard. It looks like Jaxson Dart will get the nod to start the season but will we see Spencer Sanders get any playing time in his final year of eligibility or will young phenom Walker Howard step in at some point? We’ll just have to wait and see.
Bobby Petrino in College Station
Defense definitely wasn’t the issue for A&M in 2022. Jimbo Fisher was still calling the plays and whether he wanted to or not had to bring someone in to make some offensive changes. If nothing else, his offenses at Arkansas and Louisville were always able to put up some points. Can he do the same in College Station with a young quarterback and loaded wide receiver room?
Will the Iowa Offense Actually Improve?
Iowa has much of the same problem that A&M has. The Iowa defense was one of the top in the country last year but the offense could do nothing to help them out. Brian Ferentz, the son of Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz is still the offensive coordinator and restructured his contract with an amendment that the team must achieve an average of 25 points per game. This doesn’t seem like too much to ask and maybe former Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara transferring in can help provide a consistency the Iowa offense has not seen in a long time.
Is Florida State New Top Dog in the ACC?
Many considered Mike Norvell to be on the hot seat at the beginning of last year and instead the Noles finished the season 10-3. FSU hoisted a high powered offense last year and returns eight starters along with some transfer portal additions and the defense isn’t too shabby either. Florida State will be looking to take even further steps in 2023 but it will be exciting to see if they can dethrone Clemson or not.
What Does TCU’s Come Down Look Like?
It was a Cinderella story for the ages but it ended with a bang in the national championship against UGA. The Horned Frogs lost a ton of talent all over the field but added a lot in the portal and still have some key pieces returning. The Big 12 is not down by any means so what will the upcoming season look like for the 2022 runner-ups?
Is The Alabama Dynasty Over?
New blood in the SEC West and a new top dog from the other side of the conference has lots of people wondering if they’re going to take a step back? We’ve asked this question many times in the past 15 years but having to bring in a starting quarterback from the transfer portal makes it seem a little more real. Don’t worry about the coaching changes as the Saban rehabilitation clinic is always open for business.
Are The Kansas Jayhawks For Real?
If anybody said they saw the Jayhawks having the 2022 they did they’re flat out lying to your face. Kansas went to their first bowl game since 2008 in Lance Leipold’s third season. Quarterback Jalon Daniels was absolutely amazing last year and has been named preseason Big 12 POTY. They should be able to score a ton of points and win some shootouts but can they go bowling again?
What Does Kansas State Look Like in 2023?
Kansas State ended the year getting smoked by Alabama in the Sugar Bowl after an awesome Big 12 Championship win over TCU. Chris Klieman signed an 8 year deal and is in Manhattan to stay. There were a lot of losses for the Wildcats, including some all time greats in Deuce Vaughn and Felix Anudike-Uzomah. Will Howard is back and looks to keep his 2022 campaign going so we’ll see just what Kansas State is made of.
The Prodigal Son Returns in Louisville
If you know anything about Louisville the Brohm name is king and Jeff Brohm is finally in charge after Scott Satterfield left for Cincinnati. Malik Cunningham is gone and Cal transfer Jack Plummer will take reigns of the offense. It will take some time for everyone to learn Brohm’s system but everyone is excited to see him back in town.
Year Two for Marcus Freeman
Year one didn’t start out the way many of the Irish hopeful thought it would. Some could have lived with a tough loss on the road against the Buckeyes but losses to Marshall and a bad Stanford team are inexcusable. Notre Dame has a new gunslinger in town with Sam Hartman and will look to take a step forward.
Does Miami Rebound?
It was a woeful debut for Mario Cristobal in 2022. Not many of us thought things could have gone as bad as they did with Tyler Van Dyke at the helm. The Hurricanes won’t be ready to go toe to toe with Clemson or FSU just yet but we’ll see if they can get back to bowl eligibility.
Is Oklahoma State Regressing Worse Than We Thought?
Mike Gundy is the 2nd longest tenured coach in the FBS only behind Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz. Last year the team went 7-6 after starting the season out 5-0. Tons of players left and the Cowboys will only be returning two starters next year. Is it time to hit the panic button in Stillwater or will Gundy stay Mr. Consistent?
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Ryan Walters at Purdue
With Brohm bolting for Louisville, Purdue had to make a change and they hired Illinois’ defensive coordinator Ryan Walters. Walters had an amazing track record in a short amount of time at Illinois so we’ll see if he can improve the defense. Graham Harrell, yes that Graham Harrell, will step in as offensive coordinator and former Texas QB Hudson Card will be leading the offense this upcoming season.
Do The Hogs Rebound?
It was a disappointing season seeing Arkansas go 7-6 in 2022 after a 9-4 2021. The Razorbacks should still be able to put up plenty of points in Sam Pittman’s offense with veteran quarterback KJ Jefferson returning. We’ll see if they can shake things up in the SEC West and get back into the top 25.
Can Texas Tech Compete for the Big 12 Title?
The Red Raiders finished last year 8-5 and Joey McGuire has signed an 8 year deal to stay in Lubbock. The offense is improving and the defense is sound as well. The future is bright for Texas Tech and we’ll see if they can make an immediate splash this upcoming season.
Trent Dilfer at UAB
Bill Clark had to retire early after back issues for UAB. He was very well liked and respected around the program and many were looking for a solid replacement after he brought the program back to life, quite literally. Trent Dilfer wasn’t a name on many people’s mind but we’ll see how he fares after making the jump straight from high school.
Hugh Freeze’s Return to the SEC
Hugh Freeze makes his return to the SEC after a long stint away due to some off the field issues you can look up on your own if you want. Auburn had huge problems with Harsin and forced him out essentially. Freeze has a track record showing he can recruit with the best and defeat the best from when he was at Ole Miss. To be determined how year one will look but I guess we will find out.
No Divisions in the Big 12 and ACC
Both conferences are moving away from the division approach ahead of the 2023 season. It seems to be the new normal with the growing conference realignment in today’s landscape. Will we see new matchups in the conference championship games or will it be a repeat of the norm.
What Will Wisconsin Look Like?
Luke Fickell steps in as the new head coach for the Badgers. For a long time Wisconsin has taken a ground and pound approach on offense and Phil Longo also is joining the staff, bringing an air raid style. The defense will be sound as always but quarterback Tanner Mordecai transferring from SMU has us thinking we will see a whole different type of team in Madison this upcoming year.
Florida and Billy Napier
When you think of Florida you think of a team that is successful at a high level. The Gators went 6-7 last season and need to take some steps forward. The loss of Anthony Richardson is huge and Graham Mertz looks to try and fill his shoes but it’s a tough job. The out of conference schedule isn’t friendly for the Gators ad they face both Utah and Florida State in 2023.
Which First Year Big 12 Team Performs the Best?
Major conference realignment changes ahead of the season with BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF joining the Big 12 for this upcoming season. We know they had to reload somewhere with Oklahoma and Texas leaving for the SEC after this year but we’re excited to see which one of these teams will make the biggest impact in year one.
Which Transfer Quarterback has the Best Season?
Obviously we are living in a world where the transfer portal is a big part of college football and the quarterback is the most important position. Who will be the quarterback who performs the best out of the group that moved around this year? Sam Hartman at Notre Dame, Devin Leary at Kentucky, Brennan Armstrong at NC State, DJ Uiagalelei at Oregon State, Tanner Mordecai at Wisconsin, or somebody else? Only one way to find out.
Who Will Be This Years Anthony Richardson?
Excited to see someone who blows up on the scene in week 1. The possibilities are endless but it’s always nice to have someone who turns into a Heisman candidate week one and ultimately turns themself into a top 10 draft pick.
Is The Pac 12 The Most Fun QB Conference?
Obviously we have Caleb Williams returning after he won the Heisman last year. On top of that you have both Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix trying to follow in his footsteps. Cam Rising is a veteran at Utah that can make some plays and then you go down the list and have guys in an air raid offense like Jayden De Laura who will just absolutely put up points. Not to mention DJ U transferring into Oregon State and Drew Pyne transferring into Arizona State, regardless if he starts over Jaden Rashada or not. Also, we will see if UCLA plays Dante Moore at any point throughout the season. It’s hard to argue against the Pac 12 having the most fun QB situation this year.
Will Jim Harbaugh Self Combust?
Michigan is finally in the driver seat of the Big Ten for the first time since the mid-2000’s. The defense is among the best in the nation and the offense seems to finally have found a quarterback ready for the spotlight in JJ McCarthy. Don’t forget Blake Corum coming back alongside Donovan Edwards. They will have a cupcake non-conference schedule and miss Wisconsin and Iowa out of the west. Even with all that said the TCU loss in the playoffs definitely hurt and it’s scary to see what the outlook is as we haven’t seen Michigan here in a long time.
Can James Franklin and Penn State Get Over the Hump?
James Franklin has done an amazing job in Happy Valley but some are growing impatient. This year the Nittany Lions are returning fourteen starters and the Sean Clifford era is finally over giving Drew Allar the chance to shine. The team is definitely a NY6 contender from the very beginning of the season but will they be able to beat their tough division rivals as they have lost to both UM and OSU in five out of nine seasons under Franklin.
Does Nebraska Go Bowling in Matt Rhule’s Year 1?
The Scott Frost era is finally over and we’ll see if Rhule is able to start out hot instead of a complete rebuild like his last two FBS stops of Baylor and Temple. Rhule said he wants to win immediately and the transfer of former Georgia Tech QB Jeff Sims should help but the Big Ten is only getting stronger so we will see what he can do in year one at Nebraska.
Will OSU Snap Their Losing Streak Against UM?
It’s been two rough years in “The Game” for Ohio State and it’s weird to see an all-time quarterback like CJ Stroud go out without ever winning it. Ryan Day definitely has the game circled on his calendar and this will be an all out revenge tour leading up to the last game of the year. Brian Hartline has been promoted to OC and Jim Knowles should have the defense in a better spot. A new quarterback in town and reloading at other critical positions such as offensive line have some major questions but if Ryan Day can’t get the job this year expect for much of the Ohio State faithful to have him on the hottest seat in America.
Will The Kentucky Offense Get Back Above Mediocre?
The offense in Lexington last year could have been declared as a dumpster fire. Mark Stoops is looking to immediately address the issue by bringing back offensive coordinator Liam Coen after an unsuccessful campaign with the LA Rams and also bringing in transfer QB Devin Leary from NC State. This past year the Cats ranked 116th in total offense while in 2021 under Coen they finished the year 36th.
Did Brennan Armstrong Just Need a Change of Scenery?
Jumping off the last point… with NC State losing Devin Leary they had to do something quick to try and bolster their offense for 2023 so they brought in Brennan Armstrong from UVA. Virginia’s offense has been a disaster ever since Tony Elliott came into town. We saw Armstrong’s passer rating dip from 156 down to 109 and his running become less efficient. Armstrong will reunite with his former offensive coordinator Robert Anae in Raleigh and we might just see him return to his 2020 and 2021 form.
Does The Rise of Shane Beamer Continue?
Carolina gained huge momentum at the end of last year with big wins over Tennessee along with beating their in-state rivals for the first time since 2013. Spencer Rattler is back for another year and the offense should remain strong but the defense lost tons of talent at every level. We’ll find out a lot about the team early on as they face off week 1 with a neutral site game against UNC but down the road is tough with away games at Georgia, Tennessee, and A&M.
Will Tom Herman Do Anything of Note at FAU?
The Owls had to make a change after a 5-7 season in 2022 and the team now has to try and keep up with their other sports after FAU made the Final Four in basketball. Herman got pushed into the job at Texas with some high expectations and never really received a fair shot before being let go. Herman is still only 48 and the FAU job has been a stepping stone for coaches trying to get back to the P5 level recently with Lane Kiffin and Willie Taggart having stopped by. We’ll see if he can get the program upright but worst comes to worst there’s not a lot of places you would rather be than Boca Raton.
Will Tulane Become a G5 Powerhouse Or Are We Overhyping Their Bowl Victory?
Tulane was the darling of the G5 last year going from 2 wins in 2021 to 12 wins in 2022. Michael Pratt is back after deciding not to transfer out and head coach Willie Fritz elected to stay in New Orleans as well. That being said there are a lot of holes to pick at with this team and the departure of Cincinnati, UCF, and Houston from the conference should ease some minds. UTSA has joined The American starting this year and is another G5 team that could definitely challenge them for the crown.
Can Oregon State Take Another Step Forward?
The Beavers reached the double digit win mark for the first time in 16 years in 2022. Jonathan Smith has developed a strong defense, strong offensive line, and rushing attack that almost feels out of place in the Pac 12. Add in the transfer of DJ Uiagalelei to help the passing attack and we very well could see the Beavers in a bowl game if not battling to be at the top of the conference.
Other First Year Head Coaches
Tons of other first year head coaches are in roles this year including Kenny Dillingham as he steps into the role at his alma mater Arizona State, Scott Satterfield at Cincinnati after leaving Louisville, Tim Beck at Coastal Carolina after Jamey Chadwell replaced Hugh Freeze at Liberty, Brent Key keeping the job at Georgia Tech after being named interim, Troy Taylor at Stanford after David Shaw resigned, and many more. The coaching carousel is wild and it’s always fun to see some new names at new programs. Hopefully some of these guys can make a splash and stir up some chaos.
What Will Be The Game of the Year?
It’s hard to make a call on what the game of the year will be before the season even starts. Last year it’s hard to compete with the Tennesse win over Alabama. Early call for me would be to say LSU at Alabama will be absolutely amazing this year after the upset in 2022 or Ohio State at Notre Dame.
Will We See Another Max Duggan Type Breakout?
It’s crazy to even have this as a topic of conversation after what Duggan did last year. He came out of nowhere and earned himself a trip to New York for the Heisman ceremony after not even being named the starter before the 2022 season. We will probably never have another player do what he was able to do this last year but I’ll be damned if I’m not keeping my eyes out for someone.
Does Anyone Have a Chance of Beating Caleb Williams for the Heisman?
Caleb Williams will start out the season as the favorite to win the Heisman for a second time. Archie Griffin is still the only player to ever do so in the 1970’s. He feels pretty separated this year between the other early QB contenders in Michael Penix Jr., Drake Maye, Jordan Travis, Bo Nix, and Jayden Daniels. It’s really hard for a non-quarterback to win the trophy in today’s game but some names to look out for are Marvin Harrison Jr, Blake Corum, TreVeyon Henderson, and Nick Singleton.
Will UGA Threepeat?
The Dawgs have officially become an absolute wagon and look to become the first team to threepeat since the Minnesota Golden Gophers did so before World War 2. Lots of questions surround the team with a new quarterback, new faces on defense, and some new coaches in place as well but if we learned anything from last year there’s no reason to count them out. There’s still not much to worry about and their main road challenge will be against Tennessee in November. Crazy things happen in this world and we’ll see if UGA can make it happen.
Thanks
Thanks for taking the time to read everybody. If we left any out please comment and let us know. Really excited to see what the upcoming season brings and just can’t wait for it to be here. We’ll have some new articles and podcasts coming up next week starting with conference previews. Hope you all enjoyed and hopefully we can see you back in the future.
