College Football Dark Horses: 10 Teams That Could Surprise in 2023

2023 College football is right around the corner. Brant Henson shares his 10 sleeper college football teams and gives his playoff predictions.

We are into August and college football season is truly right around the corner. The season kicks off on August 26th as Navy and Notre Dame face off in Ireland. Georgia will be shooting for a three-peat, but top teams Michigan, Ohio State, USC, and Alabama are expected to be right behind them in the preseason polls and national title chase.

Rather than previewing the top dogs, today we are going to take a look at some of the dark horse contenders around the college football landscape heading into 2023. Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, USC, and Alabama are largely considered top contenders but we are going to try to identify a team like TCU last season that is poised for a Cinderella run.

We will start by looking at five dark horse title contenders, which are teams that will likely be ranked in the top 15 heading into the season. We will then preview five deep sleepers much like TCU last season. Let’s dive in.

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Five Dark Horse Title Contenders 

As mentioned, the following five teams are in the second tier of college football but all have the talent to make the jump and contend for a title this season. Let’s break down each team.

Florida State

The Seminoles have their best team since Jameis Winston was at the helm. Coming off of a turnaround 10-3 season under Mike Norvell, electric quarterback Jordan Travis is back for his senior season. Travis threw for 3,214 yards and 24 touchdowns with only five interceptions, adding 417 rushing yards and seven rushing scores.

6-foot-7 receiver Johnny Wilson is back after 897 receiving yards and five scores last season. Travis’ arsenal also expanded greatly with the addition of Michigan State star receiver Keon Coleman and South Carolina star tight end/running back Jaheim Bell. Add in Trey Benson on the ground, coming off of a 990-yard, nine-touchdown season, and you might have the best weapons in all of college football right here.

The ONLY school in the state of Florida with multiple players on this year's Maxwell Award Watch List, presented to the outstanding player in college football

🔗: https://t.co/4pMgOMqTi1#NoleFamily | #KeepCLIMBing pic.twitter.com/lU9Rmcx6ZR

— FSU Football (@FSUFootball) July 31, 2023

On defense, projected top-10 NFL pick Jared Verse leads the pass rush, and UVA transfer Fentrell Cypress II is set to lead the secondary. It would be surprising if the Seminoles did not make the jump back into the playoffs in 2023.

LSU

The Seminoles’ toughest test of the season will come in Week 1 when they play the LSU Tigers in what could be a legitimate championship preview. The matchup last season was one of the best games of 2022 with Florida State blocking LSU’s game-tying extra point attempt with no time on the clock. 

LSU made the SEC Championship a season ago after a thrilling win over Alabama, and quarterback Jayden Daniels is back for the Tigers following a 2,913-yard season with 17 touchdowns and three interceptions. Daniels added 885 rushing yards and 11 scores and is considered a top Heisman contender heading into 2023.

Returning at receiver is Malik Nabers, who broke out in 2022 with 1,017 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore tight end Mason Taylor, the son of NFL legend Jason Taylor, will be another huge factor in the passing game after going for 414 yards and three touchdowns last year.

one of the better throws you’ll see. especially considering the stakes of the game & the time in the game it took place. catch is equally impressive.

Jayden Daniels & mason taylor’s connection is nice. pic.twitter.com/o8w4yzhZ2u

— Kyron Samuels (@kyronsamuels) August 3, 2023

The running back room is deep with Noah Cain, John Emery Jr., Josh Williams, and Notre Dame transfer Logan Diggs. They are all due to receive significant carries behind an offensive line returning four of five starters. 

The defense is just as loaded as the offense, with sophomore Harold Perkins Jr. anchoring the linebacker position following a 7.5 sack season as a true freshman, defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo clogging the middle along with highly-touted Maason Smith. Transfer Denver Harris and safety Major Burns are expected to hold it down in the secondary.

Call me crazy, but LSU is my favorite to come out of the SEC ahead of both Alabama and Georgia this season.

Penn State

The only question mark on Penn State’s roster is at the quarterback position, which is a pretty significant position in the game of football. Sophomore Drew Allar, who was a highly-touted recruit, is starting for the first time. He looked shaky when thrown into the fire against Michigan as a true freshman last season, but the hype is building for the young quarterback prior to his first start.

The running back duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, both sophomores, has the potential to be the best in the country when all is said and done. They will almost certainly be the best duo heading into 2024. Allar will be throwing to Dante Cephas, a Kent State transfer who had 1,240 receiving yards in 2021, along with returnees KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Harrison Wallace III. Theo Johnson is an underrated tight end heading into the season, and left tackle Olu Fashanu is a projected top-5 NFL pick for 2024. Allar has all of the tools he needs to succeed.

On defense, the Nittany Lions could be the best in the Big Ten. Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac are a stud duo on the defensive line. The linebacker trio of Abdul Carter, Curtis Jacobs, and Kobe King is as scary as you can get as an opposing coach, and lockdown corner Kalen King will see limited passes thrown his way. Penn State is a dark horse considering they either have to beat Ohio State and Michigan or hope that one of those teams slips up, but they have all of the talent necessary to do so and could sneak into their first CFP as Big Ten East underdogs.

Texas

Is Texas back? This season will tell for the Longhorns as they will either leap into the CFP race or crumble. The preseason favorites in the Big 12, there are high expectations in 2023 for the Longhorns.

The expectations start with quarterback Quinn Ewers, who flashed in 2022 with 2,177 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions. If Ewers develops a strong connection with receiver Xavier Worthy, the Longhorns could have a lethal passing attack. Jordan Whittington, Isaiah Neyor, freshman Johntay Cook, and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders join Worthy to make up a more than capable receiver room. 

The loss of Bijan Robinson is tough to make up, but the Longhorns have a more than capable running back room consisting of Jonathon Brooks, Jaydon Blue, and true freshman C.J. Baxter, who could make an immediate impact. The offensive line returns all five starters which is a major key in Ewers’ success in 2023.

When Quinn Ewers is on (like before he got hurt against Alabama), boy is he on. The arm talent and aggressive vertical playing style just jumps off the tape.

Only 20, Ewers should take a big leap in his second season at Texas. Could he go 1st-round in the 2024 NFL Draft class? pic.twitter.com/6cH1Uz7vbL

— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) July 29, 2023

Texas’ defense returns a lot of experience in the form of tackles T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy, linebacker Jaylan Ford, defensive backs Jerrin Thompson, Jahdae Barron, and Ryan Watts, along with stud Arkansas transfer Jalen Catalon at safety. With all of the continuity for the Longhorns in 2023, they should be expected to win the Big 12 and Ewers should play himself into the first round of the NFL Draft.

Utah

Utah had a stellar season in 2022, knocking off USC both in the regular season and ending their playoff hopes in the Pac-12 Championship. Kyle Whittingham’s squad should be just as competitive in 2023 with campus hero Cameron Rising back under center.

Rising will be passing heavily to tight end Brant Kuithe, who formed a dangerous duo with Dalton Kincaid a season ago prior to an ACL tear. Receiver Devaughn Vele will also soak up a large number of targets and running back Ja’Quinden Jackson, a converted quarterback, will lead the ground game.

The Utes had a stout defense in 2022, but losing Clark Phillips in the secondary will sting. Jonah Elliss, the brother of Saints’ star Kaden, will look to break out on the defensive line alongside veterans like tackle Junior Tafuna.

Cole Bishop is the star of this largely unproven unit at safety, but expect Whittingham to find a way to squeeze out as much as he can from this Utes’ defense and to compete for a third straight (and final) Pac-12 title.

Five Deep Sleeper Teams

Looking further down the college football landscape, we identified five additional teams who are dark horses to make some noise in 2023. While there may not be a TCU out there who squeaks into the college football playoff, these teams would consider it a more than successful season to make a New Year's Six bowl, and all five are very capable of doing so.

Iowa

Brian Ferentz has this season to put the Iowa memes to rest, or else he will be on his way out as the Hawkeyes’ offensive coordinator. Iowa even added a clause to his contract that the team has to average 25 points per game this season.

Kirk Ferentz talking Wednesday at B1G Media Day about thresholds put in contract of his son, offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, by outgoing AD Gary Barta pic.twitter.com/ZRWtphZAPX

— Rob Howe (@RobHoweHN) July 27, 2023

While Spencer Petras is still on the roster, Michigan transfer Cade McNamara is a much more competent quarterback and can potentially open this offense up a bit more. In typical Iowa fashion, tight ends Luke Lachey and Erick All will likely lead the receiving game but receivers Nico Ragaini and Ohio State transfer Kaleb Brown will be worthy targets for McNamara as well.

The offensive line has nowhere to go but up and, with improvement, Kaleb Johnson should have a huge season running the ball for the Hawkeyes.

Defensively, Iowa should again be amongst the best in the nation. Cooper DeJean will look to have a strong encore to his five-interception season. Deontae Craig, Noah Shannon, Logan Lee, and Joe Evans create a dangerously strong defensive line. Jermari Harris, Quinn Schulte, and Xavier Nwankpa join DeJean in a scary secondary.

While the linebackers are inexperienced, Jay Higgins is a name to watch. The Big Ten West is anybody’s division to win, so why not the Hawkeyes?

Wisconsin

Speaking of the Big Ten West, the Wisconsin Badgers in year 1 of Luke Fickell are going to be a very fun team to watch. Former SMU and Oklahoma quarterback Tanner Mordecai is a significant upgrade over the departed Graham Mertz. The thunder and lightning duo of Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi at running back is back in business, and for the first time in a long time, the Badgers are expected to open it up on offense with the additions of USC transfer C.J. Williams and Oklahoma State transfer Bryson Green at receiver. Chimere Dike should lead the way at receiver after catching 47 passes for 689 yards and six scores last season.

On defense, hard-hitters Maema Njongmeta and Kamo’i Latu will look to bring the Wisconsin defensive identity back to what it once was. The two games on the calendar to circle are October 14 when Iowa comes to Madison, and October 28 when Ohio State comes to Madison.

South Carolina

South Carolina competes in the SEC East and has almost no chance to finish ahead of Georgia, but beating out Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida to finish second in the division is within the realm of possibilities for the Gamecocks in 2023.

The Gamecocks made national headlines last season when they decimated Tennessee 63-38, with star quarterback Spencer Rattler going for an incredible 30-for-37, 438 passing yards, and six passing touchdowns.

Rattler was once considered a top NFL Draft pick prior to losing his job at Oklahoma to Caleb Williams, but he could play himself right back to the top with a strong 2023 season.

Receiver Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. will remain the go-to guy for Rattler after racking up 928 yards and six touchdowns a season ago. Arkansas transfer tight end Trey Knox is another guy who should be frequently targeted.

"We showed we were one of the most explosive offenses in the Country."

Gamecocks QB1 Spencer Rattler (@SpencerRattler ) on how the success last year can help them going into the season.

He added that the experience in the receiving core will also give the team a boost. @WLTX… pic.twitter.com/4BWNTj6y5h

— Chandler Mack (@chandlerdmack) August 3, 2023

Betting on South Carolina to succeed in 2023 is betting on the sheer talent of Rattler. The Gamecocks lost a lot on the defensive side of the ball, including NFL Draft picks Cam Smith and Darius Rush, and return just four starters, but the sophomore safety duo of DQ Smith and Nick Emmanwori is poised for a breakout.

Maryland

With the Big Ten East containing three of college football’s best teams in Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State, the Maryland Terrapins are left in the dust. However, if they can knock off one of those three this season, it would be considered a success for them, and head coach Mike Locksley has no shortage of confidence.

First Friday with football #TBIA pic.twitter.com/DKlCAm3RMK

— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) August 4, 2023

While the offensive line is a complete rework, luckily Maryland opens the season with Towson, Charlotte, and Virginia. Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa is back after throwing for 3,008 yards, 18 touchdowns, and eight interceptions and he is joined in the backfield by the electric sophomore running back duo of Roman Hemby and Antwain Littleton.

Tight end Corey Dyches and sixth-year senior receiver Jeshaun Jones should lead the way in the receiving game with transfers Tyreke Chambers and Kaden Prather bound to contribute.

Defensively, the secondary is an absolute strength and may be one of the most underrated position groups in all of college football. All-Big Ten honorable mention safety Beau Brade creates a strong duo with lacrosse star Dante Trader Jr., while Cincinnati transfer Ja’Quan Sheppard should slot in nicely alongside Tarheeb Still and Corey Coley.

November 4 is the big one for Maryland, as Penn State comes to town. If they can win that game and go 10-2, a top-3 Big Ten East finish could possibly land them in a New Year's Six bowl.

Kansas

The Jayhawks were one of the greatest stories in college football to start last season. Their 5-0 start was unprecedented for one of college football’s historically worst teams but ended up sputtering to a 6-7 record after a thrilling Liberty Bowl loss to Arkansas in overtime.

Quarterback Jalon Daniels is back and is one of college football’s most intriguing players entering 2023. He flashed big-time talent a season ago and will be tasked with elevating Kansas to more than just a bowl team this season.

Kansas was one of college football’s best stories last season, making a bowl game for the first time since 2008.

QB Jalon Daniels and RB Devin Neal return after breakout campaigns last season, plus they added 12 players from the transfer portal.

Does head coach Lance Leipold… pic.twitter.com/IyTnE3D0N9

— Next Up with Adam Breneman (@NextUpWithAdam) August 1, 2023

Running back Devin Neal ran for 1,090 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022 and is back to create one of the Big 12’s most dynamic backfields paired with Daniels. The Jayhawks not only return their star quarterback and running back but bring back 10 of 11 offensive starters for 2023. This level of continuity will make them a dark horse in the Big 12.

On defense, the Jayhawks return seven starters but the unit was underwhelming in 2022. As is the case with many Big 12 teams, the defensive side of the ball could be a liability and prohibit the Jayhawks from being a legitimate contender in 2023. Lance Leipold brought in a number of transfers in an attempt to shore up the defense, including former Minnesota defensive lineman Gage Keys and former Colorado State defensive lineman Devin Phillips, but it remains to be seen how much of an impact the Jayhawks can make defensively.

That being said, TCU came out of an ambiguous Big 12 last season. While Texas is expected to be the team to beat, the Jayhawks are a dark horse to make a similar type of run this year.

College Football Playoff Predictions

Predicting the College Football Playoff is harder than ever this year with so much talent on the top 10 or so teams, but I’m going to roll with these as my four preseason picks: Florida State, LSU, Georgia, and Penn State. Bold? Yes, very much so. Regardless of what happens, we are due for an extremely entertaining season of college football. Buckle up, it’s right around the corner!

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