2023 College Football Question Mark Teams

Alabama
It’s rare to find Alabama on a list like this, but coach Nick Saban’s team enters 2023 with more question marks than it has had in some time. Talent is not an issue in Tuscaloosa, and if all of the pieces fall into place, playing for the national championship is certainly within reach. However, the Crimson Tide left spring practice with uncertainty at quarterback, which prompted the team to ink Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner to push Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson for the job under new play-caller Tommy Rees. The question marks extend to a defense also under new leadership (Kevin Steele) and looking to replace linebacker Will Anderson and a couple of key defenders in the secondary. How fast will this unit mesh? And can Alabama quickly find the right answer at quarterback? And there’s an x-factor to consider: Can Saban and the staff clean up the penalties and mistakes that has plagued this team – especially on the road – over the last two years?

Cincinnati
The Bearcats return only seven starters and ranks near the bottom of the Big 12 in returning production for ’23. And if that wasn’t enough, the program has a new head coach (Scott Satterfield) and a different conference (Big 12) to adapt to after departing the AAC. After going 53-10 under former coach Luke Fickell from 2018 until his departure, everything points to a rebuilding year for Cincinnati. Or does it? Satterfield landed one of the Big 12’s top portal hauls, which included significant help on both sides of the ball. The rebuilding effort is greater on offense, but the defense returns a handful of key cogs, including linebacker Deshawn Pace and lineman Dontay Corleone. After Texas, Oklahoma, TCU, Kansas State and Texas Tech, the top of the Big 12 seems wide open for a surprise team to emerge. Can a rebuilding Cincinnati surprise its new conference mates with a push into the top tier?

Colorado
College football has seen some significant overhauls in the transfer portal era, but nothing like the one Coach Prime is attempting in Boulder this year. Most of the early over/unders (3 or 3.5 depending on where you look), don’t paint an overly optimistic picture for the Buffaloes. Sanders has built a quality staff that should get the most out of the roster and mesh the transfers with the new scheme. And behind quarterback Shedeur Sanders operating new coordinator Sean Lewis’ offense, Colorado should score plenty of points. Analyzing how massive roster overhauls like the Buffaloes have isn’t easy. And considering how far behind this team was from the rest of the Pac-12 last year, the over/under projections are accurate. But what if Sanders and the offense clicks better than expected and the defense gets better as the year goes on? Could this team steal a few wins late in the season?

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Miami
Florida State and Clemson are the favorites to win the ACC in 2023. But there’s plenty of debate on which team could push the ‘Noles and Tigers for a spot in the conference title game. Miami finished a disappointing 5-7 in coach Mario Cristobal’s debut, but there’s optimism for a jump in wins and overall play this fall thanks to a revamped staff and a handful of additions through the transfer portal. Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke should benefit from the hire of play-caller Shannon Dawson, and the offensive line is arguably the most-improved in the ACC. New coordinator Lance Guidry directed a Marshall defense that led the Sun Belt in fewest points allowed per game (16.0) and should thrive in Coral Gables with a unit that returns one of the top lines in the conference. The schedule is tough thanks to a non-conference matchup versus Texas A&M and games versus Clemson and Florida State in league play.

Notre Dame
Three games – home against USC and Ohio State and a road date at Clemson – loom large on Notre Dame’s ’23 slate. The Fighting Irish landed one of the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal when Sam Hartman committed, but how this offense evolves under new play-caller Gerad Parker is a question mark. Will Hartman have enough weapons at receiver and a replacement emerge at tight end for Michael Mayer to make the offense go? Although there’s some turnover up front, the line isn’t a question with Joe Alt and Blake Fisher anchoring the edges. Coach Marcus Freeman’s defense should be anchored by a solid linebacker group. However, the line won’t have Jayson Ademilola or edge Isaiah Foskey to lean on, and the secondary is facing some turnover with Brandon Joseph departing South Bend.

Penn State
Michigan has passed Ohio State atop the Big Ten over the last two years and enters ’23 as the preseason favorite. But could the Wolverines’ biggest threat come from Happy Valley and not Columbus? Coach James Franklin’s team is coming off an 11-2 season, with the only losses coming to Michigan and Ohio State. The Nittany Lions hope a couple of rising stars – quarterback Drew Allar and running back Nicholas Singleton – raise the potential of the offense. The return of left tackle Olu Fashanu was a huge boost to a line that should be among the best in the Big Ten. Coordinator Manny Diaz needs to restock at defensive tackle and replace Joey Porter Jr. and Ji’Ayir Brown in the secondary. But with six starters back, Penn State’s defense shouldn’t slip far from last year’s production (18.2 points a game allowed).

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TCU
Another run at the CFB Playoff won’t be easy with the Horned Frogs looking to replace quarterback Max Duggan, running back Kendre Miller, receiver Quentin Johnston and a couple of key defenders at every level. Although the significant roster turnover and a new quarterback (Chandler Morris) makes this team difficult to project in the preseason, don’t count out coach Sonny Dykes’ squad from another trip to the Big 12 title game. The cupboard certainly isn’t bare. A couple of transfers solidified the receiving corps for Morris, and the line is anchored by standouts Brandon Coleman and Andrew Coker. Although each level of the defense lost a key piece, coordinator Joseph Gillespie brings back eight starters, which should help to pick up the slack for an offense in transition.

Texas
Is Texas actually back….as a Big 12 title contender? After improving its win total by three games from 2021 to ’22 and returning 15 starters, it’s easy to see why the Longhorns should be the favorite in a wide-open Big 12. However, this program has struggled to meet preseason expectations in recent years. Can coach Steve Sarkisian reverse that trend in ’23? The offense is loaded with firepower and one of the nation’s top receiving corps for sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers. The line is also the best in the Big 12 with all five starters back, including Athlon Sports preseason All-American in left tackle Kelvin Banks. After allowing 31.1 points a game in ’21, the Longhorns cut that total to 21.6 on defense last fall. There are a few holes for coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski to patch, but the list of returners includes standout linebacker Jaylan Ford, a couple of talented linemen (Barryn Sorrell, Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat) and a secondary that should rank as the best in the Big 12. On paper, this is the best team in the conference. However, until Texas meets expectations, it will have a spot on our wild card team list.

Texas A&M
After last season’s surprising regression to 5-7, what’s next for coach Jimbo Fisher? A return to a bowl seems likely considering the two-deep is stocked with four and five-star talent. However, is a rebound for Texas A&M just getting to 6-6 or can this program elevate to 9-3 (or better)? Hiring former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino was a good first step to solve the offensive issues that plagued this team last year and will also help rising star quarterback Conner Weigman in his development. The Aggies landed a five-star at running back (Rueben Owens) to help replace Devon Achane at running back, and the receiving corps features a trio that’s as good as any in the SEC with Evan Stewart, Ainias Smith and Moose Muhammad III. A young defense should improve with simply more experience in ’23, but coordinator DJ Durkin does have holes to fill at linebacker and with depth in the secondary.

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The Sun Belt East Division
Two teams from the West Division (South Alabama and Troy) should be the Sun Belt’s top teams this year. But over in the East, it’s tough to pinpoint which team should be the favorite. Coastal Carolina returns quarterback Grayson McCall, but the program has a new coach (Tim Beck) and the transition to a different staff and scheme is a concern. Marshall returns running back Rasheen Ali and quarterback Cam Fancher but faces a significant overhaul on defense (just three returning starters and a new coordinator). Appalachian State is coming off a disappointing 6-6 season and must replace quarterback Chase Brice. James Madison has a strong argument as the preseason favorite in this division after going 8-3 in its FBS debut last fall. However, quarterback Todd Centeio departed, and the defense lost standout Isaac Ukwu to the portal after spring ball.

Wisconsin
The balance of power in the Big Ten clearly resides in the East Division with Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State all expected to claim a place in the top 10 of most preseason rankings. But the outlook is more unsettled in the West. Last year’s champ (Purdue) is in rebuild mode under new coach Ryan Walters, while Minnesota, Illinois and Nebraska have significant question marks to address this preseason. That leaves Iowa or Wisconsin to contend for the No. 1 spot, with the Badgers likely to garner the most support when preseason predictions are released. New coach Luke Fickell was one of the top hires this offseason and should easily blend into the program’s established culture. The Badgers have a new play-caller on defense, but this unit should be strong once again. How will new offensive coordinator Phil Longo mesh his Air Raid attack with the returning personnel that includes one of the nation’s top running backs in Braelon Allen? SMU transfer Tanner Mordecai was a big get in the transfer portal to direct the offense and is also throwing to a much-improved group of receivers. Will the Badgers have an easy transition to the new offense? Or will Fickell suffer through more growing pains than expected?