College Football's 10 Most Dangerous Teams to Watch in 2023

[HuskerWeatherman]

Take cover: College football's 10 most dangerous teams to watch in 2023

These programs who have never reached the College Football Playoff fight to break through.

247sports.com

Two Big Ten teams made the list. One, Penn State, I wouldn't mind seeing rock the boat of the Ohio State-Michigan stranglehold.

By the way, I would have had Kansas in my top 10 most dangerous. The Jayhawks return 85% of their 2022 production -- which ranks #2 nationally. 91% of their offense returns (including Jalon Daniels at QB). I personally think it'll come down to Kansas and Texas for the Big 12 title this coming season.

 

[DIHRDHskr]

Thanks HWM. I'm hoping by mid-season that our Huskers become one of those dangerous teams. We are so overdue for a decent season and the fans deserve one. Our loyalty to this team is second to none.

 

[CrabHusker]

Take cover: College football's 10 most dangerous teams to watch in 2023

These programs who have never reached the College Football Playoff fight to break through.

247sports.com

Two Big Ten teams made the list. One, Penn State, I wouldn't mind seeing rock the boat of the Ohio State-Michigan stranglehold.

By the way, I would have had Kansas in my top 10 most dangerous. The Jayhawks return 85% of their 2022 production -- which ranks #2 nationally. 91% of their offense returns (including Jalon Daniels at QB). I personally think it'll come down to Kansas and Texas for the Big 12 title this coming season.

Agree on Penn State, but his pick of Wisconsin as the #4 most dangerous team seems like a flyer on Fickel. I'd be very surprised if they're a top twenty team and a lot less surprised if they're down this year.

I watched a couple of Kansas' games last year and I think they're still a few recruiting cycles worth of talent and depth away from being legit contenders. They did have a good year last year and as you mentioned look like they should be able to repeat with their returning production, but on the other side of the ball they're thin. Lost four starters on the D line. That isn't a deep group to start with and their roster isn't built to absorb that kind of loss just yet. They'll likely lose a few more gams in video game fashion in the Big 12 this fall. I do like Leipold and think he can get them to Glen Mason type of success, but I don't see it this year. They will be fun to watch though.

 

[wcbsas]

Absolutely, positively without a doubt disagree with Wisconsin.

Look at the comparables to NU:

1. New head coach
2. Total new coaching staff ... didn't even retain Leonard, a player favorite
3. New schemes - offensively and defensively
4. New QB
5. They return less starters than NU
6. They are not even recruiting their state very well - top two recruits committed to PSU

Fickel, long term, may generate a good team and go beyond Chryst level But it ain't happening this year!

 

[Phillysker]

Wonder if the author is a Homer for the Cheese.

I agree with maybe half or slightly more here.

 

[HuskerWeatherman]

Absolutely, positively without a doubt disagree with Wisconsin.

Look at the comparables to NU:

1. New head coach
2. Total new coaching staff ... didn't even retain Leonard, a player favorite
3. New schemes - offensively and defensively
4. New QB
5. They return less starters than NU
6. They are not even recruiting their state very well - top two recruits committed to PSU

Fickel, long term, may generate a good team and go beyond -led level But it ain't happening this year!

Agree on Penn State, but his pick of Wisconsin as the #4 most dangerous team seems like a flyer on Fickel. I'd be very surprised if they're a top twenty team and a lot less surprised if they're down this year.

I watched a couple of Kansas' games last year and I think they're still a few recruiting cycles worth of talent and depth away from being legit contenders. They did have a good year last year and as you mentioned look like they should be able to repeat with their returning production, but on the other side of the ball they're thin. Lost four starters on the D line. That isn't a deep group to start with and their roster isn't built to absorb that kind of loss just yet. They'll likely lose a few more gams in video game fashion in the Big 12 this fall. I do like Leipold and think he can get them to Glen Mason type of success, but I don't see it this year. They will be fun to watch though.

I do agree that Wisconsin is probably not worthy of #4 most dangerous.

However, according to the link, they return one more starter than Nebraska (though the article is six weeks old; unsure what has transpired since for the Badgers).

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/big-ten-football-which-teams-return-most-starters-production-talent-2023

This article, from April 23, shows Wisconsin and Nebraska with above-average percentages of returning production:

Big Ten Rankings​

1. Michigan: 81%
2. Rutgers: 73%
3. Wisconsin: 72%
4. Nebraska: 69%
5. Indiana: 69%
6. Michigan State: 68%
7. Ohio State: 67%
8. Penn State: 65%
9. Purdue: 65%
10. Maryland: 64%
11. Illinois: 63%
12. Minnesota: 58%
13. Iowa: 57%
14. Northwestern: 56%

https://www.si.com/college/michigan/football/michigan-wolverines-football-jim-harbaugh-espn-returning-production-college-playoff-big-ten

Anyhow, I put Wisconsin in the same level as Nebraska. Lots of new, lots of unknowns, both coming off subpar seasons. On the plus side, both Nebraska and Wisconsin are not with bare cupboards -- and I wouldn't discount either team surprising -- but -- not top 10 most dangerous at this point.

 

[NUinID]

I do agree that Wisconsin is probably not worthy of #4 most dangerous.

However, according to the link, they return one more starter than Nebraska (though the article is six weeks old; unsure what has transpired since for the Badgers).

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/big-ten-football-which-teams-return-most-starters-production-talent-2023

This article, from April 23, shows Wisconsin and Nebraska with above-average percentages of returning production:

Big Ten Rankings​

1. Michigan: 81%
2. Rutgers: 73%
3. Wisconsin: 72%
4. Nebraska: 69%
5. Indiana: 69%
6. Michigan State: 68%
7. Ohio State: 67%
8. Penn State: 65%
9. Purdue: 65%
10. Maryland: 64%
11. Illinois: 63%
12. Minnesota: 58%
13. Iowa: 57%
14. Northwestern: 56%

https://www.si.com/college/michigan/football/michigan-wolverines-football-jim-harbaugh-espn-returning-production-college-playoff-big-ten

Anyhow, I put Wisconsin in the same level as Nebraska. Lots of new, lots of unknowns, both coming off subpar seasons. On the plus side, both Nebraska and Wisconsin are not with bare cupboards -- and I wouldn't discount either team surprising -- but -- not top 10 most dangerous at this point.

Its the Fickle effect. If Rhule jumps right from Baylor and comes to Nebraska they would have a much better view of him. People have short memories. They remember Fickle going to the playoffs. They remember Rhule as a failed NFL coach.

I'm also always very interested in what they define as a returning starter. I would consider Teddy P a returning starter, but they probably don't. The new center Scott is probably not considered a returning starter even though he was a starter at ASU. Being a starter IMO is not nearly as important as having playing time.

 

[weaver75]

Absolutely, positively without a doubt disagree with Wisconsin.

Look at the comparables to NU:

1. New head coach
2. Total new coaching staff ... didn't even retain Leonard, a player favorite
3. New schemes - offensively and defensively
4. New QB
5. They return less starters than NU
6. They are not even recruiting their state very well - top two recruits committed to PSU

Fickel, long term, may generate a good team and go beyond -led level But it ain't happening this year!

One other comparable from On3:
Wisconsin #1 in B1G for improvement from transfers in versus out. Including four 4 stars in and none out. Nebraska was # 9 in the B1G. We need to do the portal better.

 

[wcbsas]

One other comparable from On3:
Wisconsin #1 in B1G for improvement from transfers in versus out. Including four 4 stars in and none out. Nebraska was # 9 in the B1G. We need to do the portal better.

But even that is not without some context … 14 transfers in … 3 are QBs (Tanner Mordecai (SMU), Nick Evers, (OU), and Brayden Locke (Miss St). Last I knew only one can play.

UW significantly improved their WR room but still have holes elsewhere especially on defense.

 

[Elwood von Kiowa]

It's definitely been dangerous to watch the Huskers for the past several years.

(pal)

 

[Cornhuskers7]

It's definitely been dangerous to watch the Huskers for the past several years.

(pal)

Like hosting a tap dance competition in a mine field

 

[Redleg]

Having alot of returning starters from a 8+ win team is a usually a pretty good thing and can mean a special season is upcoming.
Having a bunch of returning starters from a team that hasn't even sniffed a winning season since any of them walked on campus is harder to hang your hat on.

 

[Bigger Ed]

Take cover: College football's 10 most dangerous teams to watch in 2023

These programs who have never reached the College Football Playoff fight to break through.

247sports.com

Two Big Ten teams made the list. One, Penn State, I wouldn't mind seeing rock the boat of the Ohio State-Michigan stranglehold.

By the way, I would have had Kansas in my top 10 most dangerous. The Jayhawks return 85% of their 2022 production -- which ranks #2 nationally. 91% of their offense returns (including Jalon Daniels at QB). I personally think it'll come down to Kansas and Texas for the Big 12 title this coming season.

Wouldn't it be fun to see KU v. KSU in the title game.

 

[HuskerWeatherman]

Wouldn't it be fun to see KU v. KSU in the title game.

That would be wild. They were the laughing stock of college football when I grew up in Lincoln.

 

[Husker In Oklahoma]

Take cover: College football's 10 most dangerous teams to watch in 2023

These programs who have never reached the College Football Playoff fight to break through.

247sports.com

Two Big Ten teams made the list. One, Penn State, I wouldn't mind seeing rock the boat of the Ohio State-Michigan stranglehold.

By the way, I would have had Kansas in my top 10 most dangerous. The Jayhawks return 85% of their 2022 production -- which ranks #2 nationally. 91% of their offense returns (including Jalon Daniels at QB). I personally think it'll come down to Kansas and Texas for the Big 12 title this coming season.

They won’t be a surprise in 2023. They could struggle to duplicate what they did last year, which didn’t end well. They’d better play better defense, because they couldn’t stop anyone really. Still better than Kansas of a few years ago though.