The Power Five teams from each conference positioned for the biggest win jumps in 2023

It was just a year ago that several 2023 College Football Playoff contenders were coming off losing seasons.

Teams like Washington, Florida State and LSU finished 2021 with marks of 4-8, 5-7 and 6-7, respectively, before all jumping to double-digit win totals last season.

While it’s not standard to improve by seven wins like Washington did last year, there were several other examples beyond just the Huskies, FSU and LSU of Power Five teams that upped their win totals by at least a few from 2021.

There will be several others who make similar jumps this season, too. Who? Let’s take a look. Here are the teams from each Power Five conference that look to be best positioned for the biggest win total improvements in 2023.

ACC: Miami

Among the several impact transfers that Miami added this offseason are two along the offensive line, former Alabama guard Javion Cohen and ex-UCF all-conference center Matt Lee, who are set to collectively contribute to the Hurricanes being markedly along the line compared to last season. Five-star freshman offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa is in position to help with that, too. The improvement along the line could make a big difference for an offense that ranked second-worst in the ACC last year in scoring offense versus ACC opponents.

Overall, Miami has at least seven players viewed by NFL scouts as potential top three or four round draft picks, including potential first-round defensive lineman Leonard Taylor and early-round safety prospects Kamren Kinchens and James Williams. Along the offense line, Cohen and offensive tackle Zion Nelson are both looked at by scouts as third-to-fourth round type players heading into the season.

There’s also optimism at Miami that QB Tyler Van Dyke is ready to bounce back from a tough 2022 season. Van Dyke was 22 of 29 for 288 yards with three touchdowns in the Hurricanes’ spring game.

Big 12: Oklahoma

Finishing with a losing record last year was the first such occurrence for Oklahoma since 1988. Don’t expect it to happen again. The Sooners should be more in position for double-digit wins this year than they are anything close to a losing record.

There were some key offseason additions for OU such as ex-Indiana linebacker Dasan McCullough former Wake Forest defensive lineman Rondell Bothroyd. It’s also a favorable schedule for the Sooners, who don’t face three of the six teams that beat them during the regular season last year (Kansas State, Baylor and Texas Tech). Instead, they play conference newcomers Cincinnati, UCF and BYU. The preseason win total odds have Cincinnati and BYU with a combined 10 wins.

Based on its opening five opponents — Arkansas State, SMU, Tulsa, Cincinnati and Iowa State — it’s very much possible that Oklahoma is 5-0 heading into an Oct. 7 matchup against Texas.

Big Ten: Iowa and Nebraska

While there are other teams in the Big Ten garnering far more attention nationally, Iowa is another Big Ten squad with a real shot at finishing the year with double-digit wins. After going just 8-5 last year, including a 7-5 regular season, it’s probably fair to label the Hawkeyes as the favorite to win the Big Ten West.

Based on personnel — including Michigan QB transfer Cade McNamara and early-round NFL prospects like defensive back Cooper DeJean — along with a favorable schedule that doesn’t include Michigan or Ohio State, it’s not crazy to think Iowa could in the range of double-digit wins by the end of the regular season. 

As for Nebraska, it will surely be a process for new head coach Matt Rhule in rebuilding the program and getting the culture and all to where he wants it to be. Nevertheless, there’s a lot of confidence around the coaching world and around the Big Ten in Rhule, who may have the Cornhuskers back to at least being a .500 team as soon as this year after a 4-8 finish last season.

Pac-12: Colorado

Following Deion Sanders’ roster purge, very few players remain from Colorado’s 2022 squad that went 1-11. The schedule is far from easy and includes just one non-Power Five opponent (Colorado State), but the Buffaloes should be more competitive based on the talent of some of Sanders’ transfer additions, especially once they get through early-season matchups against 2022 national runner-up TCU and top Pac-12 contenders USC and Oregon.

SEC: Texas A&M

A&M could end up having the type of year that many were expecting from the Aggies last year before they stumbled to a 5-7 finish. There’s a lot of talent, including along a defensive line featuring players such as potential 2024 first-round NFL draft pick McKinnley Jackson as well as within a receiver group that has star sophomore Evan Stewart and then at least two others who are 2024 NFL draft prospects (Moose Muhammad and Ainias Smith).

In addition, people around the Aggies program say the team culture is at a much better point compared to last year. And yes, the early reviews internally have been good on Bobby Petrino as A&M’s new offensive coordinator.