College football: The 5 true national title contenders in 2023
1. Georgia Bulldogs (7-0) AP ranking: 1st Remaining schedule: vs. Florida, vs. #16 Mizzou, vs. #12 Ole Miss, @ #21 Tennessee, @ Georgia Tech. The best way to judge a college team's title aspirations is to look at the past. The coaching staff plays an enormous role in preparing guys for the long, grueling regular season, a conference championship game, and the four-team Playoff. Outside of Nick Saban with Alabama, no team in the country has a better coach - Kirby Smart - and a staff prepared to win it all than the Bulldogs. It doesn't matter that Stetson Bennett is gone. Carson Beck is doing just fine leading the offense, and the defense has remained as intimidating as ever despite creating a pipeline of prospects to the NFL Draft. Though UGA has not been tested by any team they have played this season, they will play a brutal last five games. I would argue that the Bulldogs have played the weakest schedule of any current top-10 (outside of Penn State). UT MartinBall StateSouth Carolina UABAuburnKentucky Vanderbilt The Biggest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville is always a toss-up, then the Dawgs will face three ranked opponents in a row after facing one the first two months of the season. They are still the cream of the crop and will remain there comfortably until the SEC Championship - when they might be tested by either Bama or LSU.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (7-0) AP ranking: 3rd Remaining schedule: @ Wisconsin, @ Rutgers, vs. Michigan State, vs. Minnesota, @ #2 Michigan. The Buckeyes will win the game against rival Michigan. Two losses in a row to the Wolverines, plus the recent sign-stealing scandal that has swept over the program, will be more than enough ammo for Ryan Day and his team. I have the Buckeyes representing the Big Ten in the CFP, and I don't think Michigan will make it in for a third consecutive year. QB Kyle McCord has the best wide receiver in the country - Marvin Harrison Jr. - and has filled C.J. Stroud's shoes wonderfully. I don't think they will have any trouble getting through these next four games, setting up a showdown of epic proportions in Ann Arbor. Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports
3. Florida State Seminoles (7-0) AP ranking: 4th Remaining schedule: @ Wake Forest, @ Pittsburgh, vs. Miami (FL), vs. North Alabama, @ Florida. QB Jordan Travis has not been the Heisman candidate many expected him to be in 2023, but he boasts the 10th-best average QBR in the country and has been nearly flawless thus far. Travis has two interceptions and has not lost a fumble. He has a solid cast around him on offense, and it feels like the Jameis Winston Noles of 2014 are back and pushing for a title. A favorable schedule down the stretch and a berth in the ACC Championship game should boost their resume as they could be the fourth team into the CFP field. Minor slip-ups against Boston College and Clemson (both on the road) are the only blemishes on their resume, as they won by two and seven, respectively. They certainly deserve a playoff spot if they stay undefeated!
4. Washington Huskies (7-0) AP ranking: 5th Remaining schedule: @ Stanford, @ #24 USC, vs. #13 Utah, @ #11 Oregon State, vs. Washington State. Michael Penix Jr. has been electric since transferring to Washington from Indiana. He has established himself as a true Heisman candidate, leading the Huskies to a memorable season in the competitive Pac-12. A massive home win against the Oregon Ducks has set U-Dub up for a perfect season, but we will learn how good they truly are down the stretch. Three games against ranked opponents - with two on the road - should bolster their resume substantially. If Penix Jr. and WR Rome Odunze continue to perform, and the Huskies win out, they more than deserve to be in the CFP field. And they have all the pieces to play the role of spoiler. The defense has allowed 20 points or fewer in four of their seven wins, and the offense has the power to score 35+ seemingly every game. Not many teams can boast an explosive offense and an explosive defense quite like the Huskies! Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
5. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1) AP ranking: 9th Remaining schedule: vs. #15 LSU, @ Kentucky, vs. Chattanooga, @ Auburn. *Gasp* the Alabama Crimson Tide?! In the year of 2023? How could this be? It's Nick Saban. It's Alabama. It's a tale as old as time. Similar to the 2015 championship-winning season when Derrick Henry won the Heisman Trophy, the Tide lost an early game at home - that time to Ole Miss in Week 3 - and proceeded to slowly but steadily grow into the season before sneaking into the Playoff after winning the SEC Championship against Florida. No, this offense is not nearly as good as they were with Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, or Bryce Young. But something about the way they play exudes confidence. It signals to me that, first and foremost, Nick Saban is still an elite coach, and two, the Crimson Tide have the individual and collective talent to make a run for the national title. They are not as talented on offense as they were in 2021 or 2022, but they are arguably the best second-half team in the country. After overcoming a 13-point deficit to knock off Tennessee, they can all but guarantee themselves a berth in the SEC title game with a win at home over LSU after the bye week.
