Image Courtesy: USA Today
In this post, I take a look at which teams from the Power 5 conferences have a good shot at making the 2022-2023 College Football Playoff from the Fiesta (Glendale) and Peach (Atlanta) Bowls on New Year’s Eve and then culminating in the National Championship Game on January 9, 2023 from SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area.
ACC
Clemson
The Tigers will look to rebound after failing to make the playoff in 2021-2022. A QB battle between incumbent starter DJ Uiagalelei and incoming freshman Cade Klubnik will likely determine Clemson’s fate as they return yet another talented defense.
NC State
NC State has always been near the top of the ACC Atlantic, but many people in college football media believe that NC State can win the ACC and get to the College Football Playoff.
Wake Forest
Wake Forest’s CFP chances rest on the arm of QB Sam Howell and the hope that the Demon Deacons defense improves drastically.
Big 12
Baylor
Baylor loses a ton of talent from their 2021-2022 Big 12 Championship team, with new starting QB Blake Shapen as the Bears look to repeat.
Oklahoma
With new coach Brent Venables at the helm to replace Lincoln Riley, the Sooners will look to get back to the playoff again with a defensive mindset.
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State’s Dezmond Jackson failed to reach the end zone in the final seconds of the 2021 Big 12 Championship and the Cowboys were defeated by Baylor. The Cowboys lose starting QB Spencer Sanders but are a real contender in 2022-2023 again.
Texas
Is Texas ever going to be “back”? I think we will find out this upcoming season as former top ranked 2021 recruit and Ohio State transfer QB Quinn Ewers, talented running back Bijhan Robinson, and receiver Xavier Worthy look to help the Longhorns have a successful season.
Big Ten
Michigan
Coach Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines are looking to make a return trip to the College Football Playoffs. Their chances will be on the backs of the defenders replacing NFL first round draft picks Aidan Hutchinson and David Njabo.
Michigan State
Ohio State
If there’s a team that should be able to defeat the powers that are in the SEC (Alabama and Georgia), it would be the Ohio State Buckeyes. Star QB CJ Stroud and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba will lead one of if not the best offense in the country during the 2021-2022 season.
Pac-12
Oregon
The Ducks lost head coach Mario Cristobal to his alma mater of Miami and Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning was hired to replace him. Lanning is a talented recruiter but we will see if he can keep Oregon on pace with Utah, in front of the Pac-12.
USC
USC, led by former Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley and former Oklahoma QB Caleb Williams, have headlined the college football news this off-season. But, it will be the rest of the Trojans roster that determines USC’s fate in the Pac-12 and in its hopes for a return to the national championship game, in what would be its first appearance since 2005.
Utah
Utah is the best team in the Pac-12. They fell just short in the 2022 Rose Bowl, in a 48-45 loss to Ohio State. QB Cameron Rising will look to lead the Utes to a second consecutive Pac-12 title and their first CFP berth.
SEC
Alabama
Alabama has appeared in the College Football Playoff every season but one (2019-2020). I doubt head coach Nick Saban, reigning Heisman winner (QB) Bryce Young and top defensive player Will Anderson will be the favorite to win it all this upcoming season will not be the best team in college football and they will likely be the top seed in the 2022-2023 College Football Playoff.
Georgia
Georgia will look to repeat as national champions with QB Stetson Bennett but they will have to replace five first round defensive draft picks as well as a few others on their road to defeating the Tide again.
Texas A&M
Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher put together the highest ranked recruiting class of all-time during the 2022 cycle. But, he will finally have to put the pieces together in College Station to win in the toughest conference in America.
