Predicting the Elite 8 of College Football in 2023

It's time for the Elite 8, which got us wondering: what would the tournament look like in college football this season?

James Parks | Mar 25, 2023

Predicting the Elite 8 of College Football in 2023 /

Elite Eight time is here as March Madness moves to one of the premier stages in all of sports at a time when college football sits one year away from expanding its own postseason tournament to 12 teams in a single-elimination format.

Related: College Football Bracket Busters in 2023

With some time before the College Football Playoff is changed forever, College Football HQ is taking a stab at predicting what an eight-team playoff would look like ahead of the 2023 season.

Predicting the Elite 8 of College Football in 2023

Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson on a rushing attempt during a college football game in the Big Ten. — Where things stand in the Elite 8 college football rankings / USA Today Images

8. Washington. College football's top passer returns to a Huskies offense that took a huge leap forward last season and also brings back its two 1,000-yard receivers to make a run in the Pac-12.

7. LSU. Returning production on both sides of the ball plus notable transfer additions should keep the defending SEC West champions in the race all year. Denver Harris steps in at cornerback after moving in from Texas A&M as a former five-star, alongside returners like Maason Smith and Harold Perkins, two of the nation's premier front seven attackers.

6. Florida State. One of college football's potential bracket busters this season, the Seminoles return vital experience at quarterback and defensive end, can still run the ball with confidence, and scored key transfer additions.

5. USC. Heisman quarterback Caleb Williams returns armed with elite skill targets all over the field, but the Trojans' hopes hinge on the team's ability to overhaul a defense that cost the team in key postseason games a year ago

4. Ohio State. Ryan Day has a program-defining decision to make at quarterback, but the pieces around him are some of college football's best, especially at wide receiver.

3. Alabama. Much is made of what the Crimson Tide lost, but it still has plenty of skill in the back seven defensively to build with and promising speed at receiver and running back to help whoever wins the quarterback job.

2. Michigan. Back-to-back Big Ten champs and College Football Playoff semifinalists, the Wolverines have the firepower on offense to make it three straight, especially with both star running backs coming back.

1. Georgia. The defending back-to-back national champions still project as the nation's top team with college football's premier defense and what should be an even better offense after adding wide receivers in the transfer portal.

Predicting the College Football Playoff games

Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers catches a pass during a college football game in the SEC. — USA Today Images

(8) Washington vs. (1) Georgia. Unstoppable force (Washington's offense) vs. immovable object (Georgia's defense). Georgia over Washington

(7) LSU vs. (2) Michigan. The Wolverines' hard-nosed backs against the Tigers' perimeter speed and front seven power. LSU over Michigan

(6) Florida State vs. (3) Alabama. Seminoles can run the ball and boast a dynamic quarterback, but the Tide presents a more formidable scrimmage defense. Alabama over Florida State

(5) USC vs. (4) Ohio State. A likely shootout between potent passing offenses, but the Trojans famously have a hard time stopping opponents in crunch time. Ohio State over USC

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Published Mar 25, 2023

JAMES PARKS

James Parks is the founder and publisher of College Football HQ. He previously covered football for 247Sports and CBS Interactive. College Football HQ joined the Sports Illustrated Fannation Network in 2022.