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College Football Rankings: Way-too-early Top 25 projections for 2023

By Connor Muldowney

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Adonai Mitchell #5 congratulates Arian Smith #11 of the Georgia Bulldogs on his touchdown catch during a game between Ohio State Buckeyes and Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 31, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Adonai Mitchell #5 congratulates Arian Smith #11 of the Georgia Bulldogs on his touchdown catch during a game between Ohio State Buckeyes and Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 31, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /
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Dec 28, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) carries the ball against the Oregon Ducks during the first half of the 2022 Holiday Bowl at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) carries the ball against the Oregon Ducks during the first half of the 2022 Holiday Bowl at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Yes, I see Wisconsin as a Top 25 team to begin the 2023 season and no, I’m not going to take any criticism on this. Call this “overrated” or whatever you want, but the Badgers are going to instantly see an improvement under head coach Luke Fickell. This team will contend in the wide-open Big Ten West and potentially make the conference championship game with Tanner Mordecai or Nick Evers at quarterback and Braylon Allen at running back.

Drake Maye is back after a Heisman candidate season as a freshman and he’ll be one of the best quarterbacks in the country next year. Mack Brown has a decent roster returning, he just needs to avoid another late-season meltdown like the one we saw in 2022. North Carolina will be a threat in the ACC.

Lane Kiffin had everyone on pins and needles about the Auburn job right before the Egg Bowl but he shot them down in true Lane Kiffin fashion: by trolling. He’s back and so is his quarterback Jaxson Dart who had a decent year but should be better with another year in the system. And you know Kiffin, the self-proclaimed portal king, will make his team even better with transfers.

Talk about one of the most pleasant surprises in college football, Oregon State was a tough out in the Pac-12 this year. Jonathan Smith led Oregon State to its first double-digit win season in over 15 years and the Beavers bring in Clemson quarterback transfer DJ Uiagalelei who may have just needed a change of scenery. This may be the nation’s most intriguing non-powerhouse team.

I expected Oklahoma to be one of the best teams in the country this past season, but Brent Venables’ squad just didn’t live up to the hype. I think that changes next year with Dillon Gabriel back for his second year in the system and plenty of weapons surrounding him. Plus, Venables is too good a defensive mind to have another poor year on that side of the ball.

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