Five Teams to Look Out for During the 2023 College Football Season

Coach Prime, Drake Maye, Brian Kelly and others are looking to prove themselves this upcoming season.

College football season will be here soon, and the competition between many of the top programs in the country will be intense.

After another exciting offseason with many transfers, look out for these teams to make an impact during this season. 

1. Colorado

A big change in college football was made when former Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders decided to join the Buffaloes and the Pac-12. In the 2022 season, Colorado was the worst team in the Pac-12 with a record of 1-11. Sanders is also bringing his “Louis Vuitton luggage," including his son, Shedeur, who will be the new starting quarterback and five-star recruit Travis Hunter. Coach Prime is looking to impact a loaded Pac-12 in his first year.

2. North Carolina

The Tar Heels are profoundly known as a basketball school, but quarterback Drake Maye can give them a chance to change that. Maye had a breakout season in 2022 that led him to receive many accolades in his first year. Touted as one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, look for him to be a Heisman finalist and to lead the Tar Heels to a top 25 ranking this upcoming season.

3. LSU

Brian Kelly’s first year as head coach for LSU had its ups and downs. A loss to Florida State in the first game of the season and more blowout losses to Tennessee and Georgia were not great moments for the program. However, a victory over Alabama -- Kelly's first-ever win against the Crimson Tide -- gave the Tigers the SEC West title. LSU is looking to defend its title, but the competition will be stiff with many rising teams and powerhouses threatening the Tigers.

4. USC

Another Pac-12 team that is looking to have another big year is USC. Having the best quarterback in the nation, Heisman-winner Caleb Williams, and one of the best coaches in the nation, Lincoln Riley, are great ways to win some games. The best offense in the country was electric with the play of Williams but the Trojans came up short of the College Football Playoffs after failing to defeat Utah in the Pac-12 title game. Look for the same exciting offense but also an extra emphasis on defense, as they also had one of the worst defenses this past year as well.

5. Penn State

Now that Sean Clifford’s lengthy career has ended, the Nittany Lions are looking to the future. The new quarterback on the block is Drew Alar. He was the number one rated quarterback in the 2022 class, and this is his show to run. Penn State's star running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen are also looking to have impressive sophomore campaigns as they continue to be one of the most dynamic duos in the nation.