College Football Predictions

A big bowl of buffalo chicken dip. The smell of burgers on the grill. A cold beer in your hand. And of course, the roar of the crowd, whether in the stadium or on your TV.

Fall Saturdays with full slates of college football games are almost back, and in preparation of the 2023 FBS season, we’ve predicted the winners of the Power 5 conferences and the College Football Playoff.

To find out who might be crowned this winter, read on.

ACC

Winner: Clemson

Three teams have a shot at the title in the ACC: #9 Clemson, #8 Florida State, and #21 UNC. UNC is more of a dark horse, but they have one of the Heisman favorites at QB, Drake Maye, so anything is possible.

Florida State has improved drastically and is picked by ESPN to win, especially because QB Jordan Travis is returning.

But Clemson has won their last eight games versus the Seminoles. They’ve won 7 out of the last 8 ACC titles (Pitt beat Wake Forest in 2021). And they still have Dabo Swinney as their head coach. They had a disappointing season last year finishing at 11-3 (although 8-0 in conference), but they’ll take the title again this year and push for a spot in the top four.

Big Ten

Winner: Penn State

Credit: Dan Rainville, USA Today Network

Yes, this selection is biased. I’m picking Penn State because I’m a fan of them. But they really do have a shot. They’re ranked #7 in the country, they have one of the best defenses in the nation, and they have two fantastic sophomore running backs. But it will come down to whether sophomore QB Drew Allar can perform.

Michigan, ranked #2, and #3 Ohio State are favorites to make the CFP. They both boast extremely deep and strong teams and have combined to win the last six Big Ten titles. They, along with Penn State, all play in the Big Ten East, so only one can make the title game. Do not be surprised to see two of these teams in the CFP, however.

Big 12

Winner: Texas

The last Big 12 season featuring Texas will see the Longhorns emerge as champions. They, like Oklahoma, will be heading to the SEC next season. It’s not done and dusted, but Texas should win the conference for the first time since 2009.

Four other teams remain realistically in the mix, including Texas Tech, Kansas State, Oklahoma, and last season’s FBS finalist, TCU.

It’s hard to see any Big 12 team making the CFP, but a week 2 win against #4 Alabama would really spark the Longhorns’ season.

Pac-12

Winner: USC

This is the final year of the Pac-12 as we know it. In fact, it might be the end of the Pac-12 entirely. Heading to either the Big Ten or Big 12 next year will be USC, UCLA, Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado, leaving only four teams behind.

So in this last great season, USC appears the likeliest to come out on top. They retain last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, QB Caleb Williams, who could become the second player ever to win the award twice (Ohio State RB Archie Griffin won in 1974 and ’75).

Washington poses the biggest threat to USC, led by QB Michael Penix Jr., a Heisman finalist favorite himself. Utah will also hope to push for the title after winning the last two championships.

Via usctrojans.com

SEC

Winner: Georgia

Only one team has ever won three national championships in a row—Minnesota from 1934-36—but Georgia could become the second. Carson Beck is expected to lead at QB. Despite only throwing 35 passes last season, he’s already been given decent odds as a Heisman finalist.

Georgia should win the SEC East without much trouble, but the West will provide the electric battle of LSU versus Alabama. LSU won last year’s matchup in an epic 32-21 overtime victory, but I think Saban gets the better of the Tigers this year and gets back to the SEC Championship game.

In the title, Georgia’s impenetrable defense will step up once more and bring them their second straight SEC championship.

CFP:

1. Georgia

2. Penn State

3. Alabama

4. Michigan

Both the SEC and Big Ten are so strong that unless the winner of one of the other conferences is undefeated, I think two schools from each of these conferences goes on. I see Clemson dropping the regular season game to FSU (but winning the Championship), USC dropping a game along the way, and Texas losing a conference game as well.

In that scenario, SEC-winners Georgia have the unenviable opponent of one-loss Michigan (which beat Ohio State), and Michigan pulls off the “upset.” Alabama (who lost only the title game to Georgia) breaks Penn State’s hearts and wins the other semifinal.

Championship:

#3 Alabama vs #4 Michigan

Both teams that failed to win their conferences make the title game. For the first time since 2014 and only the second time in the last twenty years, a Big Ten team wins the FBS Championship as Michigan ekes out a tight one over the Crimson Tide.

Champion:

Michigan

Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports