This year marks the 154th college football season in the U.S., with the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) being the primary focus. As we stand on the cusp of another action-packed season, beginning Aug. 26 in Dublin, Ireland, and ending with the national championship on Jan. 8 in Houston, we wanted to explore some of the biggest games forthcoming over the next few months along with some significant changes in store in terms of rules and conference realignments.
Spring Practice
A prominent fixture in the season preparation includes college football teams’ conduct of spring practice games. Traditionally held between March and April, these games are the quintessential proving grounds for athletes, where they hone their skills and strategies for the forthcoming season. Many depth charts are prepared based on how athletes perform during this time. Spring practice is the cornerstone of pre-season preparation, setting the tone for the actual season and helping the teams gauge their strengths and weaknesses.
Early Games and Schedules
The schedule is out, and some major games early in the season have the potential to make or break some teams’ year. One of the most anticipated contests will occur between LSU and Florida State (FSU) on Sept. 3, broadcast in primetime on ABC. The two teams put on an epic showdown a year ago in New Orleans, with FSU prevailing on a blocked LSU extra point in overtime. This year, the rematch shifts to Orlando, where FSU fans should show up in droves.
Ohio State at Notre Dame on Sept. 23 will also be one of the season’s biggest games, played in primetime on NBC. The Irish are seeking to avenge last year’s loss and hope new star quarterback Sam Hartman can give them the offense they lacked a year ago to get them past the Buckeyes.
Conference schedules have also been unveiled for the upcoming year. Florida State at Clemson on Sept. 23 should help determine the winner of the ACC. USC at Oregon on Nov. 11 will play a big role in deciding the Pac-12 champion. As always, the SEC has some momentous matchups, including LSU at Alabama on Nov. 4 and Georgia at Tennessee on Nov. 18. But no conference game can match “The Game” played on Nov. 23 between Ohio State and Michigan.
Preparation at Sports Academies
Sports academies such as the IMG Academy, a boarding school known for its vigorous football training for students in grades 6-12, are providing a significant boost in preparing athletes for the future. The academy’s collegiate-style schedule provides a robust foundation for student-athletes to succeed at the next level. In the past seasons, the academy has attracted over 400 coaches from more than 200 NCAA Division I programs to scout and recruit promising student-athletes.
Rule Changes
The upcoming season also introduces significant rule adjustments approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Committee. Changes include prohibiting teams from calling consecutive timeouts during a single dead ball period and eliminating untimed downs before the end of the first or third quarter.
A notable modification is that the game clock will no longer stop for first downs, except in the final two minutes of each half. This move aims to speed up the games’ pace, aligning it closer to how the NFL operates, where the clock never stops after a first down.
Conference Realignment
The 2023 season is witnessing a significant conference realignment, with fourteen teams moving. The biggest changes are the teams heading to the Big 12. UCF, Cincinnati, BYU, and Houston are all leaving their conferences to add power to the Big 12, which will lose Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC in 2024. Next year will see more changes, particularly with USC and UCLA heading over to the Big 10.
Two schools, Sam Houston and Jacksonville State, are making their FBS debuts, transitioning from Division I FCS. Independent schools Liberty and New Mexico State are joining Conference USA, with six schools from Conference USA moving to the American Athletic Conference.
Kickoff Games
The season begins with the much-anticipated ‘Week Zero’ on Saturday, August 26, featuring seven games. One of the most notable among these is the Aer Lingus College Football Classic between Navy and Notre Dame, hosted at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. ‘Week 1’ follows with several more kickoff games, including the Chick-fil-A Kickoff featuring Louisville vs. Georgia Tech and the Camping World Kickoff between LSU and FSU.
Betting and NCAAF Odds
The new season also brings exciting opportunities for sports enthusiasts who indulge in betting. Punters are closely analyzing the NCAAF odds as they start strategizing their bets. With several underdogs and favorites emerging from the spring practice games, betting markets are seeing a surge in activity, making the season even more thrilling.
Heisman Watch
As the 2023 season progresses, a side story to the College Football Playoff rankings will be analyzing individual player performances. The media are already touting several players as potential Heisman Trophy candidates, an award recognizing the best college football player. Some top candidates include last year’s winner, quarterback Caleb Williams from USC, quarterback Jayden Daniels from LSU, quarterback Drake Maye from North Carolina, and quarterback Jordan Travis from FSU.
