5 CFB Teams That Could Be Big Risers In 2023

Five teams with a potentially big year coming from blue bloods trying to reclaim their spot to programs trying to reach new heights.

The 2022 football season is in the books and it's already been an interesting offseason across the sport.

One of the biggest storylines is as to if the dynasty across college football has shifted from Alabama to Georgia. But outside of that, there are several other teams to monitor that could be big risers.

Here's a look into five of those:

Colorado

The Colorado football program got a shot of energy when wildly famous coach Deion Sanders decided to leave Jackson State and head to Colorado. Sanders led Jackson State to back-to-back SWAC titles. 

Sanders has brought in a staggering 47 transfers and that's good for the number one portal class in the country. It will be interesting to see what “Prime” does in the Power Five.

Texas

It is an ongoing joke in the College Football world that every year is the year “Texas will be back.” However, the Longhorns are set to finally ascend back to where they should be, and that is at the top of the sport.

 Texas is returning ten starters on offense, but they will replace first-round draft pick Bijan Robinson. This is Steve Sarkisians third year in Austin, and if he does not have Texas and Quinn Ewers competing for the Big 12 title, his seat will begin to warm.

Florida State

Head coach Mike Norvell and his Seminoles are in a similar boat as Texas. A college football blue-blood who has been down for about a decade and now faces much pressure going into this season. 

The Seminoles are returning a Heisman candidate in quarterback Jordan Travis, and they are looking to get back in the playoff and win an ACC title for the first time since 2014.

Washington

Washington was perhaps the most shocking team in 2022. The Huskies won 11 games, including a 27-20 win over Texas in the Alamo Bowl. Michael Penix, the former Indiana transfer, threw for 4,641 yards last year, which was good for second in Division 1, and he is back. The Huskies travel to USC on November 4th, and that game will probably decide if and who will represent the PAC-12 in the College Football Playoff.

Penn State

Penn State head coach James Franklin finds himself in a similar position that fellow Big 10 coach Jim Harbaugh was in three years ago. Franklin keeps winning 10 games a year, but like Harbaugh, fans wonder if he can get over the hump? 

The Nittany Lions return 13 starters from last year's Rose Bowl-winning team, and the starting quarterback will be the much-hyped five-star recruit Drew Allar. It will be interesting to see if PSU can beat Ohio State or Michigan.