The college football season is approaching and teams are preparing to win their conferences. Here are the 2023 college football conference winner predictions.
Florida State took a huge step forward last season and won 10 games. They have 14 returning starters, including quarterback Jordan Travis, along with some key transfers. If they can improve again this season, they very well could be the ACC champions. They will need to get through Clemson, who has dominated the ACC recently. Clemson’s defense will be stout, but their offense will need an upgrade to win the conference again.
After two straight Big Ten Championships and two straight College Football Playoff appearances, Michigan has things rolling. For the 2023 season, they have 15 returning starters. The run game will be the focal point of the offense. They’ll need it to defeat Ohio State for the third straight year. Michigan will also be fighting off Penn State in the Big Ten East, but they are in the driver’s seat in the conference following two good seasons.
Texas improved in Steve Sarkisian’s second year at the helm with an 8-5 record. They have 15 returning starters in 2023 and added some key transfers as well. Quinn Ewers is healthy at quarterback, has an experienced offensive line in front of him and a talented receiving core. The defense ranked 27th last season and also brings back some talent. Other top competitors in the conference, Kansas State and TCU, who played in the Big 12 Championship last season, lost a lot of talent. The path is clear for Texas, but after a decade of questions on whether “Texas is back”, it is hard to trust fully.
Last season, Lincoln Riley had USC within a game of the College Football Playoff. Their offense was elite, ranking third in the country with Heisman-winning quarterback Caleb Williams leading the way. He and 13 other returning starters should help USC in the Pac-12 again. If their defense improves to even be average, the Trojans can win the conference.
Georgia has won back-to-back National Championships and look like they are in a good spot to make a run at three in a row. Stetson Bennett is gone from the offense, but they have plenty of options to replace him. They have seven returning starters on the defensive side of the ball and considering they ranked fifth in the country, that should be one of the best units in the country. The schedule is also easier than in past years, although the SEC still provides some tests.
AAC: UTSA Roadrunners
While Zakhari Franklin transferring out late hurts the Roadrunners, Frank Harris is back at quarterback to lead the offense that scored 36.8 points per game. That should be enough to win the new-look AAC.
C-USA: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
UTSA leaving the conference helps out Western Kentucky. After Austin Reed flirted with the transfer portal, he decided to return after leading the second-ranked passing attack in the country last season. Western Kentucky should be heavy favorites in the conference.
MAC: Toledo Rockets
Toledo won the MAC Championship last season and return 15 starters. They have stars on both sides of the ball in quarterback Dequan Finn and linebacker Dallas Gant, who can lead the team to another title.
Mountain West: Air Force Falcons
Air Force won 10 games last season and return 13 starters from their team. Their defense ranked third in the country last season and they can have another good season with the players returning. If they find a new quarterback to be productive, the MWC could be theirs to win.
Sun Belt: Troy Trojans
Jon Sumrall won 12 games in his first year as head coach at Troy. He has 13 returning starters, including plenty of talent back on their eighth-ranked scoring defense. They’ll have to go through Coastal Carolina, but they had plenty of change this offseason with their head coach Jamey Chadwell leaving.
Make sure to check out our college football page for more content like 2023 College Football Conference Winner Predictions!
You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers!
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
