College football predictions 2023: Unranked teams that can make a run

College football is a famously top-heavy sport, but plenty of teams have jumped out of obscurity to earn a spot in the top 25 rankings

History shows that it's a good idea to be near the top of the AP top 25 preseason college football rankings, but also that there's always a chance for any team with enough talent, a quality schedule, and the right momentum at the right time to make some noise. 

During the College Football Playoff era, nine teams have been ranked outside the top 10 and went on to make the semifinal, including two teams that weren't ranked at all, and 15 teams in last year's preseason poll finished the season out of the rankings entirely.

For most teams, making the playoff isn't a realistic goal this or any other season. Still, the chance to win nine or 10 games and a quality bowl are still worthwhile pursuits for those programs. Which teams currently sit outside the AP top 25 poll as the season prepares to kick off, but have a chance to make a run in the near future?

College football rankings: Unranked teams that can make a run in 2023

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Texas Tech: Joey Maguire returns for an encore after a solid debut season in which his team beat Texas and Oklahoma and knocked out Ole Miss in a bowl game. Tyler Shough is back under center to lead an offense replete with impressive skill potential and defensively the Red Raiders held six opponents to under 30 points a year ago.

Florida: Billy Napier's second team in Gainesville should run the ball with consistency and play solid-enough defense in the front seven to stay in the mix for the third spot in the SEC East standings. The schedule provides plenty of opportunities, with road trips to Utah, LSU, and Kentucky, the Georgia game, and the FSU rematch in November. Transfer quarterback Graham Mertz won't light up the stat sheet, but he should provide some consistency and cut down on the turnovers, at least.

Louisville: Jeff Brohm's team placed in the top 10 of our College Football HQ Transfer Portal Team Rankings this offseason after signing important pieces, especially in the secondary, picking up four offensive linemen, wide receiver Jamari Thrash (1,122 yards, 7 TDs a year ago), and quarterback Jack Plummer. That's a lot of potential for Brohm to put together into a team that can turn heads in the ACC.

Kentucky: After a sluggish offensive showing last season, the Wildcats brought on play-caller Liam Coen and transfer quarterback Devin Leary, who has thrown for almost 7,000 yards in 30 career games with 62 touchdown passes and only 16 picks. UK can influence the SEC East race if it can keep Leary clean in the pocket.

UCLA: Freshman quarterback Dante Moore has a real shot at earning the starting job and the addition of transfer running back Carson Steele is a development worth watching, especially behind a terrific offensive line, and the Bruins working with a physical defensive core led by former NFL assistant D'Anton Lynn.

Arkansas: Coming off a 7-6 outing, the Hogs should have a top-50 defense nationally, a competent offense led by KJ Jefferson, who might be the best quarterback in the SEC, a talented offensive line to protect him, and Raheim Sanders, one of the more gifted running backs in the country. The question mark is at receiver and tight end, after Trey Knox transferred out, but Arkansas gained Var'Keyes Gumms at the position.

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