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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
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Pat Forde

SI’s College Football Expert Predictions for 2023

The 2023 college football season has arrived. We know, Week 0 already happened, but the truth is Week 1 is when things officially kick off.

With that in mind, our experts have put together their picks and predictions for the year ahead.

Let’s go!

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Graphic by Bryce Wood; Jordan Travis: Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat/USA TODAY Network; James Franklin: Matthew OHaren/USA TODAY Sports; Kirby Smart: Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports; Marvin Harrison Jr.: Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY Network; Caleb Williams: Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports

Power 5 conference championship games

Pat Forde

ACC: Florida State vs. Clemson. A rematch of the game that will be played Sept. 23 in Death Valley. Winner: Florida State

Big 12: Texas vs. Kansas State. The Longhorns will wander into their first league championship game since 2018 but exit the Big 12 without a conference title since ’09. Winner: Kansas State

Big Ten: Michigan vs. Wisconsin. For the 10th consecutive season, the champion of the East will defeat the champion of the West. Winner: Michigan

Pac-12: Washington vs. Oregon State. Beavers show the rest of the Power Four leagues what they are missing by leaving them out in the cold. Winner: Oregon State

SEC: LSU vs. Georgia. This might be closer than last year. Then again, it might not be. Winner: Georgia

Is Texas finally back? 

Sara Diggins/American-Statesman/USA TODAY Network

Richard Johnson

ACC: Clemson vs. Florida State. The Noles are back, baby. It will take a rematch to put FSU’s stamp on the league, but it will beat Clemson twice to win the ACC. Winner: FSU

Big 12: Texas vs. Kansas State. Texas will end the Big 12 era as we know it with a conference title, pouring a little cold water on commissioner Brett Yormark’s bluster. Winner: Texas

Big Ten: Penn State vs. Illinois. Finally, after all these years of hype and knocking at the door, the Nittany Lions are going to pay it off. They’ll vanquish Michigan and Ohio State in the regular season en route to the ultimate prize. Winner: Penn State

Pac-12: USC vs. Washington. Offense will be optional in this title game, but USC will come to play and scale the mountaintop it was unable to last year. It helps that Utah won’t be in the Trojans’ way again. Winner: USC

SEC: Georgia vs. Texas A&M. Despite all the jokes and all the missed expectations, the Aggies will rise to do what many believe unthinkable: win the west. They’ll do what everyone else does in the SEC championship game, however. Winner: Georgia


College Football Playoff picks

Pat Forde

Semifinal 1: Georgia over Penn State

Semifinal 2: Michigan over Florida State

Title game: Georgia over Michigan

Two representatives from the Big Ten East for the second year in a row? Yes. Neither of them winning the natty? Yes. The Bulldogs have built the perfect beast—huge, physical, fast, capable of imposing their will and executing at crunch time.

Expectations are high for James Franklin (right) and the Nittany Lions going into 2023.

Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated

Richard Johnson

Semifinal 1: Penn State over Georgia

Semifinal 2: USC over Texas

Title game: Penn State over USC

Bring on the playoff usurpers to this year’s shindig. We got a little new blood last year, and we’ll get a lot more this year. Georgia will not repeat, and a rematch of the 2005 Rose Bowl will go the other way this time around. Nittany Lions QB Drew Allar will rise to the challenge and outduel Caleb Williams for the national title.


Heisman prediction

Pat Forde

The guess here is that USC’s defense will let down Caleb Williams just enough that voters look for an alternative, and Florida State QB Jordan Travis is that alternative.

Richard Johnson

Since DeVonta Smith proved a wide receiver can win the Heisman, Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. is going to follow him to wideout immortality after a season in which he shows he’s the best player in the country, irrespective of position.


One bold prediction

Pat Forde

In addition to Oregon State winning the Pac-12 and Jordan Travis winning the Heisman? Let’s go with this: Ohio State will lose two Big Ten games for the first time since 2011 and finish third in the East.

Richard Johnson

Iowa is actually going to score 25 points per game this season and make a bowl game, in which case Brian Ferentz’s job will be safe.


First head coach to get fired

Pat Forde

West Virginia’s Neal Brown comes into the season on the hottest seat in the nation, and playing Penn State, Pittsburgh, Texas Tech and TCU in the first month isn’t going to reduce the temperature.

How long will Brown last in Morgantown this season?

Ben Queen/USA TODAY Sports

Richard Johnson

Danny Gonzales, New Mexico. There aren’t many FBS wins to be had on the schedule. Maybe UMass, New Mexico State or Utah State. Beyond that, it could be an ugly season in Albuquerque.

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