Summer has finally settled in for most of us in North America and the heat is not the only thing closing in.. that’s right, the countdown to the 2023 college football season is on, fifty days to be exact.
The hype for the upcoming season increases by the day, with teams joining new conferences, five-star players looking to make an instant impact, and a certain coach making his FBS debut, my drool bucket is overflowing.
There are some very intriguing matchups for 2023 and some of these games could make or break a team’s season. Here are my top ten regular season games for 2023:
10. The rematch– LSU vs. FSU, September 3 at 7:30 PM on ESPN. This game came down to the wire last year and I think we will see a repeat this time around as well. The Noles are primed for a breakout season while LSU is looking to start to off hot. This game is a MUST if you love college football.
9. Prime’s debut – Colorado vs. TCU, September 2 at Noon on FOX. I’m not worried about all the media around this game, Prime Time is used to that. What I’m curious about is how well his team will perform against a team that played for the national championship last season. This game will get some serious ratings!
8. Sark vs. Saban II – Texas vs. Alabama, September 9 at 7:00 PM on ESPN. The Tide barely escaped with a win last season in Austin. I expect a much-improved Bama team in 2023. I don’t care who Sark puts behind center; whether it’s Manning or Ewers, Saban will have Bama ready to eat that night.
7. Dabo comeback? – FSU vs. Clemson, September 23 at TBA. Mike Norvell and Dabo Swinney are at very crucial stages in their tenures. Norvell has been given plenty of time to get FSU back to respectability and this is supposed to be the year the Noles break out. On the other side, it’s been a very dry season for Dabo and Clemson. However, Dabo now has a Quarterback and offensive coordinator that seem to get it. This is a game that will have many momentum changes and it will probably come down to some intangibles. Who wants it more? I can’t wait.
6. Deep South Oldest Rivalry– Georgia vs. Auburn, September 30 at TBA. The Dogs are coming off their second national championship in two years. Kirby Smart doesn’t like to hear the word “rebuild”, he loathes it. If that’s the case, then this is a must-win for his team to keep them in the playoff hunt.
5. Ruhle’s first big test – Michigan vs. Nebraska, September 30 at TBA. New Cornhusker head coach Matt Ruhle has his work cut for him; returning Nebraska to glory will be no easy feat, and he will hit the ground running when the Wolverines come to Lincoln. It will be interesting to see if Ruhle can somehow get his team ready for this major test. I see possible trap game for Michigan.
4. Jimbo’s last stand? – Alabama vs. Texas a&m, October 7 at TBA. Jimbo Fisher is like a cat with nine lives, somehow he can’t stay down. However, he better find his mojo this season or will be sent to the showers. The Aggies are not a true blue-blood program, but they want to win and win now. They have the talent; they just have to put it all together. Bama will be replacing Bryce Young behind center, but they’re still loaded everywhere. Can Jimbo pull off another upset in college station against the Tide?
3. Battle of the Tigers– Auburn vs. LSU, October 14 at TBA. LSU finished strong last season, beating Alabama and putting a hurting on Perdue in the Citrus Bowl, the Tigers should be prime for a breakout season. That being said, Auburn and Hugh Freeze will still be trying to figure out what their identity is, but if LSU underestimates Auburn by looking toward the Bama game, I could see Freeze coming up with a game plan to bring LSU back down to Earth.
2. Bucs and Irish – Ohio St. vs. Notre Dame, September 23 at 7:30 PM on ESPN. This is a game I’m really looking forward to. The buckeyes had no issues with the Irish last season in Columbus, but beating ND in South Bend will be a totally different story. This is a must win game for head coach Ryan Day and his team. Win, and you set the tone for your season. Lose, that’s a big hole to dig out of. And when it’s playoff selection time, this is a game the committee will look at and it could make or break their playoff hopes.
- Threepeat for Harbaugh? – Ohio St vs. Michigan, November 25 at TBA. Michigan is enjoying a two-game win streak against Ohio State and they’re not taking it lightly. History is not on Michigan’s side to win three in a row, at least recent history. However, Harbaugh and his team can quiet all the doubters with a win this year. If Michigan can get a third win in a row, this will catapult their recruiting against a team that has had hold on them for nearly two decades. It could change everything for their football program. Make no mistake, this game is a must win for Michigan- no pressure!
There will be plenty of new faces playing this Fall. Here are my top ten incoming freshmen for 2023:
- Arch Manning(QB) Texas
2. Keon Keeley (Edge) Alabama
3. Nico Iamaleava (QB) Tennessee
4. Zachariah Branch (WR) USC
5. Dante Moore (QB) UCLA
6. Caleb Downs (S) Alabama
7. David Hicks (DL) Texas a&m
8. Jackson Arnold (QB) Oklahoma
9. Kaydan Proctor(OT) Alabama
10. Francis Mauigoa (OT) Miami
And we got to talk about the elephant in the room, or should I say buffalo? Deion “Prime Time” Sanders is now the head coach of the Colorado Buffalos. Prime has brought some serious attention to Boulder Colorado, serious being the key word. The truth is no one has taken Colorado seriously for over two decades, maybe longer, but Prime is determined to change that. He has already brought in some key transfers and had a solid recruiting class, but the biggest thing Colorado desperately needs is a culture overhaul, and who better to do that than Prime Time. He’s got EVERYONE on board at Boulder, he just has to win. It will be a daunting task for him but if anyone can do it, it’s him.
The countdown is on. We got some great games, some new faces, and an electric debut on the horizon. I’m not incredibly patient this time of year, I can only watch baseball for so long. Very soon, the heat will cool down, the leaves will turn bright red, and the whistle will blow.
See you soon, college football.
JDubb's Sideline Report 