By now the confetti has dropped and the lights have dimmed on the 2022 College Football Season. The Georgia Bulldogs have once again obtained the sport’s highest honor-National Champions.
What the bulldogs have done over the past two years is nothing short of extraordinary. Not only have they won back-to-back National Championships but the way did it- In 2021 they dominated on defense and in 2022 they unleashed a dominant offense. In many ways, they have been the most complete team in college football for the past two seasons.
However, if I have learned anything about college football, these things go in cycles. The question is, who is the next team to take the next step to obtain college football glory? Who will be the next Clemson or Georgia?
There are a few teams that come to mind- some might be obvious, and some might be a head-scratcher. Nevertheless, these teams have the players, coaches, and resources to compete and win a National Championship.
Tennessee– 2022 was the year that the Volunteers finally escaped college football purgatory. For the first time since 2001, the Vols won 11 games and for the first time since 2006, the Vols defeated arch-rival Alabama. Not only that, they ended the season with an Orange Bowl win over Clemson. That is a banner year for Knoxville, and it only means the stakes will be higher in 2023. With all this momentum and a reasonable schedule, the Vols could be looking at a championship run.
Utah-The Utes have been the model of consistency in College Football for almost two decades, which makes them an easy pick to make a run for the college football playoff. Once more, they have one of the most underrated coaches in Kyle Whittingham, who has had many offers from other schools in recent years and continues to make Utah a top-ten team year in and out. It just seems one team, whether it’s Oregon or Washington or UCLA, seems to trip them up year after year. Can they undo this trend in 2023?
USC– The men of Troy were the team in the early to mid-2000s; winning national championships and creating Heisman winners were the norm in Southern California. However, after Pete Caroll left for the NFL, they have not been the same team they once were. Thankfully, they now have a coach who has the experience and winning mindset to bring them back to an elite level. Lincoln Riley understands USC, he understands its rich tradition and history. And he also understands winning, which is what he did in Norman. He’s got a Heisman quarterback and a star recruiting class. All he needs now is to get to the PAC-12 title game and win.
Texas– The Longhorns have been the biggest tease in college football for so long, you really don’t know what to think of them. They have some of the biggest donors in College Football, yet, they have struggled to be a good football team since their last National Championship team which was in 2005. Mac Brown made the Longhorns a national contender but his last few seasons in Austin were mediocre. Three coaches later, they are still treading water. I do see a rebound though. They now have a good coach in Steve Sarkisian, and they have been recruiting really well, just look at their 2023 class on 247 Sports https://247sports.com/college/texas/Season/2023-Football/Commits/, and they will soon be in the SEC(2024-2025). This is a team that has all the tools to win on the big stage, they just got to do it every Saturday in the Fall.
Michigan– A team with so much rich history and tradition like the Wolverines should never be off the radar, but sadly, they have- at least since Lloyd Carr left their program in 2007. Michigan’s last National Championship was in 1997 and they split it with Nebraska(pre-BCS). Their last Heisman winner also came in 1997- Charles Woodson. That was a great year for the Wolverine football program. The problem has been a double-edged sword for Michigan since 1997: 1. Ohio State has had its foot on Michigan’s throat for over two decades. 2. Inconsistent product on the football field.
Michigan traditionally does well when they have a good quarterback and running back play. They finally have it in J.J. McCarthy (QB)and Blake Corum(RB). This duo has helped their team beat arch-rival Ohio State two years in a row and helped them reach the College Football Playoff. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has also brought great x and o’s to the Wolverine program, along with stability. They just need to take the next step in 2023 and win it all.
These five teams have what it takes to reach the ultimate prize in College Football. Some of them are new to the dance, and some of them have come up just short. Very soon, one of them will put it all together and shock the world.
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