Connelly’s conference sneak peeks: Intel on all 133 FBS teams

• Costs Connelly, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2023, 10:30 AM ET Close Expense Connelly is a personnel writer for ESPN.com.The long haul is nearly

  over as the 2023 college football season is just around the corner.Can Georgia manage the unthinkable

  and win its third straight national championship? Will the Dawgs even win the SEC, with Alabama, LSU and Tennessee all formidable foes?How will things clean in the new-look Big 12? Can Ohio State unseat Michigan or will Penn State emerge in the Big Ten? Will USC (or UCLA)leave the Pac-12 with a champion trophy? And can Florida State measure up to the buzz and get the ACC back to the College Football Playoff?College football’s stories do not stop there, but thankfully ESPN’s Costs Connelly has them all covered– and

  by all, we indicate all 133 FBS groups– in his thorough previews of every conference, which are available to ESPN+subscribers.From projections and burning concerns for every single group to his preferred players and anniversaries of note, Connelly provides his unique viewpoint on the season ahead, from A(as in Aggies) to Z(as in Zips). Dive to conference: SEC|Huge Ten|Huge 12|Pac-12|ACC Independents|American |

  Sun Belt Mountain West|MAC|Conference USA SEC Thirty-two years after it pioneered the

  divisional structure, the SEC will be embracing the pattern of dropping its departments when it adds Oklahoma and Texas in 2024. The SEC East will go out with what feels like a familiar storyline: The lead Dawg– Georgia– is a heavy favorite. Can Tennessee or anybody else defy the odds and threaten the two-time protecting nationwide champ? And which teams might stand out among the division’s usually big middle class? Everything you need to learn about the SEC East” AP Photo/Ashley Landis Over the previous 20 years, three of the SEC West’s teams have actually integrated to win 10 national titles and has had practically no real bad groups– in the past ten years, just 4 of its groups have actually ended up beyond the SP+ top 60. All 7 are predicted in the top 30 to begin 2023. In its final year, the West division brings us lots of concerns. Exists such a thing as too much modification for Nick Saban at Alabama? Can an even deeper LSU group protect its title? The number of quarterbacks does Lane Kiffin require? How the heck is this Bobby Petrino experiment going to exercise in College Station? Everything you require to understand about the SEC West “Big 10 Last season, Penn State lost to Ohio State and Michigan– both of which ended up in the CFP– by an average score of 43-24 and beat 11 other opponents by an average of 38-14. It feels traditionally suitable, then, that in the last East department race, Michigan and Ohio State start far ahead of the pack and Penn State starts 3rd, quite a few points behind the Big 2 and way ahead of everybody else. Can Ohio State turn the tables on Michigan after two straight losses? Can Penn State close the space on the Big Two? Can anybody else close the gap on them!.?.!? Whatever you require to know about the Big 10 East” AP Photo/Jay LaPrete I have to admit, I’m going to miss out onthe Big 10 West. As a competitive entity, it definitely wasn’t great. However no department has had such a reliable identity. The rest of the world could attempt to stay up to date with the offense-friendly times; the Big

  Ten West, however, has actually continued to live the defense-and-power-football life. In this year’s SP+projections, four of the nation’s top defenses reside in the West. No leading 40 offenses do. You be you, West. Whatever you need to know about the Big 10 West” Big 12 Here’s some complimentary marketing recommendations for the Big 12: Nickname it The Fun Conference, the one probably to produce continuously close games, go for it continuously on 4th downs and make big, strong realignment relocations. This fall, as it welcomes its four Oklahoma and Texas replacements

  while not yet

  losing the Sooners and Longhorns, the Huge 12 need to again be one of the most satisfying conferences around. Here’s our look at the seven groups that aren’t in Oklahoma or Texas. Whatever you require to know about the Huge 12, part 1″ George Walker/Icon Sportswire In the last two Huge 12 championship games, four various teams have actually participated in 2 outright classics– Baylor’s 21-16, by-a-millimeter win over Oklahoma State in 2021 and Kansas State’s overtime triumph over TCU last December. With Oklahoma and Texas on the way out, this could be the brand-new regular: 2 teams using the kiss of the close-games god to prevail over loads of likewise talented (and monied )groups, then putting on a traditional at Jerry World in Arlington, Texas. There are even worse fates. In the meantime, we break down the seven teams in the conference’s geographic heart. Everything you require to understand about the Huge 12, part 2″Pac-12 Per Overall QBR, four of the top eight returning quarterbacks in college football play in the Pac-12. There are six Pac-12 groups in the predicted SP +top 30 and, more notably from an entertainment perspective, there are five forecasted 13th or much better on offense. The competitors levels amongst the leading half of this conference might be absolutely dynamite, two times as so if you delight in a great track satisfy. Here we take a look at the 6 teams that previously made up the Pac-12 South, including USC, UCLA, protecting champ Utah and Deion Sanders ‘Colorado Buffs. Everything you require to know about the Pac-12, part 1″ Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports In the breakdown of the former Pac-12 South groups, I could not choose who I like the most– USC or Utah– and in this look at the group that utilized to be the Pac-12 North, I’m very much talking myself into both Oregon and Washington– however that’s pretty interesting in itself. So is the reality that the scoreboard operators will be hectic. Everything you need to learn about the Pac-12, part 2″ACC The college football universe went without the chestiness of fully confident, fully engaged Florida State fans for a few years, however Doak Campbell Arena reawakened last fall and the Seminoles are co-favorites in the ACC with Clemson. You know, Clemson? The group that has won 7 league titles(and two national titles )over the past eight years? Dabo Swinney’s program has actually slipped a bit of late but is still the league flag bearer, and now he gets to play the “

  Everyone

  ‘s ignoring little ol’ Clemson! “card. The Seminoles and Tigers are clear league leaders as we get ready for 2023. Can anyone else in the previous Atlantic division mount a surprise? Everything you need to know about the ACC, part 1” Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire Of the seven teams previously in the Coastal department, only North Carolina has actually a forecasted conference win total above 4.5. The Tar Heels, with star quarterback Drake Maye, don’t need that many breaks to move into contention, however are they the only ones with a shot? Can Miami deploy a second-year surge after Mario Cristobal’s dismal debut season as coach? Can Pitt renew its defensive front and find a bit more offense? Can Duke turn turnovers enter upon something sustainable? Whatever you need to understand about the ACC, part 2 “Independents Quinn Harris/Getty Images In 1988, the last time Notre Dame won the nationwide title, four of the leading 5 groups in the last AP survey– the Irish, plus No. 2 Miami, No. 3 Florida State and No. 5 West Virginia– were independents. There were 25 indies in 1988, 33 a decade before that. Now there are four– the Irish, Army, UConn and UMass. At South Bend, second-year coach Marcus Freeman looks to develop on some late-season momentum with a brand-new offending organizer and

  quarterback(

  Wake Forest transfer Sam Hartman). Whatever you require to learn about the indies”American The American Athletic Conference changed quality with amount. It will take a while to determine if that was the right move. Quickly the most consistently strong of the conference in the Group of 5, the AAC lost Cincinnati, Houston and UCF, but included a whopping six schools from Conference U.S.A., including the winners of the previous six C-USA crowns. Just one of these teams (UTSA )is projected to contend for a conference title right away. Four of the other 5 are

  breaking

  in new head coaches, and Rice stays interred in a long-term rebuild. But when you can’t have a better AAC, you might too have a larger one. Here’s a take a look at the six newcomers. Everything you require to learn about the AAC, part 1″The AAC has actually taken a hit in terms of general quality, however the relocations have actually also opened a door for the conference’s remaining programs. Can Tulane combine power after in 2015’s amazing rise? Can SMU finally put all the pieces together? Can Memphis restore what it has lost in current seasons? There is chance afoot, and a lot of programs are attempting to seize it. Let’s speak about the AAC’s eight holdovers. Everything you require to learn about the AAC, part 2″Sun Belt In 2022, the Sun Belt East offered us Appalachian State’s all-time run of September drama– a 63-61 loss to North Carolina, an upset of Texas A&M and a Hail Mary win over Troy. It offered us another year of Coastal Carolina’s mullet-acious quarterback, Grayson McCall. It gave us among the greatest FBS debuts we’ll ever see in James Madison. It offered us loads of close games and wild surfaces. What will it give us in 2023? Whatever you need to understand about the Sun Belt East”Editor’s Picks The new, seven-team Sun Belt West produced a pair of abrupt powers last fall– Troy and South Alabama went a combined 14-2 in conference play, and Troy stomped Coastal in the conference title game– and initially glimpse it appears the Trojans could blaze a trail again this fall. Or are we in for a surprise? Everything you require to learn about the Sun Belt West “

  Mountain West It wasn’t a fantastic

year for the Group of 5 conference out west. A rebound isn’t ensured in 2023, but there are reasons for hope. In the Mountain Department, Boise State has its QB scenario found out and boasts among the conference’s higher returning production averages. Wyoming went from near the bottom of the returning production list to near the top. Air Force returns the bones of an impressive defense and the

injury bug has nearly

no option however to be kinder to Utah State. Let’s look at the teams of the previous Mountain department. Whatever you need to know about the MWC Mountain” Can Fresno State repeat regardless of essential modifications on offense? Can San Diego State interrupt the path towards a rematch? Can a high prospective San Jose State make a charge after a number of stagnant years? Let’s look at the 6 teams formerly referred to as the MWC West. Whatever you require to know about the MWC West “MAC Eleven of the MAC’s 12 present teams have reached the conference championship game eventually. 9 have actually won it. If you are a fan of raw and absurd

parity, the Mid-American Conference is the league for you. Mind you, the MAC might stand to be a little better. MAC groups went just 2-19 versus power-conference opponents last season. Average or no, the item might be pretty even once again in the East in 2023. But if there’s a standout, the best odds are on either Miami, Buffalo or safeguarding champ

Ohio. Everything you require to understand about the MAC East”In theory, Toledo ought to win the MAC West for the second straight year, and Eastern Michigan must once again be its main opposition. However”ought to”doesn’t tend to play in the MAC. This is a conference of parity, cool bounces and beautiful, lovely rubbish, and lots of teams are outlining bounce-back campaigns as we speak. Everything you require to know about the MAC West”Conference U.S.A. Invite FBS newbies Jacksonville State and Sam Houston! Both Rich Rodriguez’s JSU Gamecocks and KC Keeler’s SHSU Bearkats sign up with a league in shift. After enjoying six of its programs leave for the AAC, C-USA included two FBS newbies and 2 previous independents in Liberty and New Mexico State. Here’s a take a look at C-USA’s additions. Everything you need to understand about Conference U.S.A., part 1″SP+projects four teams within 1.4 conference wins of each other atop C-USA, and the range of approaches is pretty clear. Western Kentucky’s Tyson Helton enjoys to air it, Louisiana Tech coach Sonny

Cumbie doesn’t

mind going vertical, Middle Tennessee’s Rick Stockstill relies on a relentless horizontal passing game and UTEP’s Dana Dimel just wants to press you over. Florida International’s Mike MacIntyre? He’s willing to attempt just about anything. Whatever you require to know about Conference USA, part 2″