NCAA Football Season 2023-24: Early Odds, and Preview
- The 2023-24 college football season is rapidly approaching as summer progresses.
- Many of the top teams from 2022 remain at the top, while others expect regression.
- Some new teams are hoping to crack the Top 10 this season, and possibly even the CFP.
With the new college football season approaching, let’s take a look at some of the top projected teams.
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Georgia ()
The Bulldogs are the defending back-to-back champions, after having gone 29-1 over the last two seasons. A 65-7 win in the championship and 15-0 record cement Georgia as college football’s top team. They are the favorite to win it all again.
Ohio State ()
Ohio State nearly toppled Georgia in last season’s CFP semifinals, but lost by one. The return of WR Marvin Harrison Jr. is key, but the Buckeyes will also need to overcome the loss of QB C.J. Stroud. This team has a sky-high ceiling, but a low floor.
Michigan ()
Michigan has bounced around the top few spots in the offseason projections. After losing in the CFP semifinals for the 2nd straight year, they enter this season hoping to crack the finals. With the return of QB J.J. McCarthy, they should be a contender.
Alabama ()
Alabama is perennially in contention, but has seen the SEC’s top spot fall to Georgia and LSU over the last few years. They missed the CFP for the 2nd time in the last 4 seasons in 2023, but brought in another top recruiting class. They should be solid.
USC ()
USC had a very strong season last year, and will return Caleb Williams at QB. As the current top overall projected pick for the 2024 draft, Williams should have the Trojans in contention to make the CFP. The rest of the roster needs to step up too.
Florida State ()
Florida State is one of the teams speculated to improve this year, expected by many to take a big step forward in 2023. They ended last year on a hot streak, reaching 10 wins and finishing at #11. They could win the ACC if they maintain that play.
Penn State ()
The Nittany Lions have struggled to crack the Big-10’s top-2, losing to Ohio State and Michigan once again last year. That being said, they’ve made big strides over the last few years. If they can defeat one of those two teams, they’ll be in the CFP mix.
LSU ()
The Tigers are benefiting from the return of most of their 2022 roster. They finished just 10-4 last year, but LSU should be no worse this season, with several key players returning, and solid transfers added. They could make a run for the CFP in 2023.
Texas ()
The Longhorns have been ranked very differently by analysts during this offseason. It seems like every year they are put in the top-10, but then end up with 4 or 5 losses and outside of the top-15. I’m not yet sold they can change that pattern this year.
Clemson ()
Clemson hasn’t been as competitive as they’ve become accustomed to over the past few years, struggling to find a QB that is anywhere close to Trevor Lawrence. Even so, the Tigers are always a good team, and shouldn’t be counted out in 2023.
