Predicting college football's best and worst teams in the 2023 season

ESPN Football Power Index makes its prediction for what teams will be the best and the worst in college football in 2023

A major date on the preseason calendar has arrived as ESPN revealed its annual Football Power Index analytics, creating the complete 133-team college football rankings and strength of schedule model coming into the 2023 kickoff.

As usual, the Big Ten and SEC were prominently featured among the best teams in the rankings and in the College Football Playoff, with six teams projected to be at least 20 points better than what the index calls an average team playing on a neutral field.

Three SEC teams — Alabama, Georgia, and LSU — meet that criteria coming into this season while two Big Ten squads — Ohio State and Michigan — do. One current Big 12 school and future SEC member — Texas — is also included in that rarefied air.

What teams are considered the best and the worst this preseason?

The worst team in college football

According to the index, that unfortunate honor falls on UMass, which the FPI predicts will be a nation-worst 17.2 points worse than an average team on a neutral field.

The computer projects that the Minutemen will win just 3.5 games on the year, compared with a loss total equaling 8.5 games.

One year ago, UMass was indeed one of college football's worst teams, winning just one game out of 12, defeating FCS opponent Stony Brook, 20-3, and scoring 20 or more points just two other times and scoring 10 or fewer points in seven games.

The (other) worst team in college football

Among just the Power Five teams in the FPI rankings this preseason, the one projected to be the worst may be surprising to some: Colorado and first-year coach Deion Sanders.

The computers rank the Buffaloes as the No. 95 team in college football this preseason, projecting them to be about a touchdown worse than an average team. FPI predicts the Colorado will win just 2.6 games this season while losing 9.4 times.

Whatever bad tidings the analytics may have about the Buffaloes, the school's fan base seems more than optimistic, selling out the spring game in addition to the team's block of season tickets, something it hasn't done in almost 30 years.

Colorado also signed quality incoming transfer players, including quarterback Shadeur Sanders, cornerback Travis Hunter, receivers Jimmy Horn and Xavier Weaver, tackle Savion Washington, tight end Seydou Traore, and others.

The best team in college football

While most preseason rankings and predictions favor defending back-to-back national champion Georgia to be the best team in the nation, the computers are siding with Ohio State as the top overall club in the game right now.

FPI predicts the Buckeyes will be 31.5 points better than teams on the same field and projects they have the best chance to make and win the College Football Playoff.

The index says Ohio State will win 11.8 games on the year, as a 75.5 percent chance to finish undefeated, is favored to win the Big Ten at 71.2 percent, and boasts a 36.7 percent shot to win the national championship.

Michigan — which has defeated Ohio State two straight years and won the Big Ten each time — checks in at No. 6 on the index rankings, projected to win 10 games and have just a 14.3 percent chance to win the Big Ten.

College Football Rankings: ESPN Reveals Preseason 2023 Poll

---

More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | All Teams

Follow College Football HQ: Bookmark | Rankings | Picks