While most college students around the US are enjoying their summer vacation, the nation’s best young football players are preparing for a new season.
The Georgia Bulldogs are looking to win their third straight national championship, but they will face strong challenges from a host of powerful college programs. With just a couple of months to go until games get underway in August, who looks most likely to succeed in 2023?
Georgia Bulldogs
The Dawgs defeated TCU with a score of 65-7 in the most recent CFP Championship, cementing their place as the best college football team in the country. It was the second straight victory for Georgia, and if they can take the title again in 2023, it will be the first three-peat since the 1930s.
The Bulldogs look imperious once again, with some impressive recruits and transfer pickups adding to an already dominant team. Carson Beck is unproven at quarterback, but a strong G-Day showing in the spring has him favourite to play QB1 in Athens following Stetson Bennett’s move to the NFL.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State made it to the CFP semifinals last time around, but they could not get past eventual champions Georgia. Fans will hope to go at least one step further in in 2023, with a spot in the CFP Championship a very plausible goal for a stacked Buckeyes team.
Ohio State can count on some of the best wide receivers in the college game, with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka key elements in the Buckeyes’ offence. The team does not have an easy schedule, however, and road games against Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and Michigan may prove a challenge for a program without a certainty at QB.
LSU Tigers
Last season was a happy surprise for LSU fans, as the Tigers performed even better than expected under new coach Brian Kelly. Following a dismal last-place finish in the West Division in 2021, LSU ended their 2022 season in joint-first place in the division and enjoyed a crushing victory in the Citrus Bowl.
Jayden Daniels is back at QB and most of his offence is returning with him, suggesting that the Tigers can continue their impressive resurgence. They will have to reckon with a tough schedule in 2023, including road games against Alabama and Florida State. If LSU can find good results in those games, fans will be dreaming of the CFP semifinals.