Georgia, Oklahoma State among college football's 9 most favorable 2023 schedules (2023)

2023 schedule:at Minnesota, at Colorado, NIU, Louisiana Tech, Michigan, at Illinois, Northwestern, Purdue, at Michigan State, Maryland, at Wisconsin, Iowa

Games against ranked teams (projected): 2

Yes, Michigan is the two-time defending Big Ten champion and the favorite to reach the playoff from the conference, alongside Ohio State. That's the only game, with a trip to Wisconsin being the other, that should give this coaching staff extra pause in 2023. The opener at Minnesota is a toss-up and Colorado's projected win total under Deion Sanders this season is under five. Imagine what Matt Rhule could sell to recruits if the Huskers play for bowl eligibility coming down the home stretch? This is the schedule to get there before USC and UCLA enter the Big Ten next year.

2023 schedule:Utah State, at Iowa State, Western Michigan, at Penn State, Michigan State, Purdue, at Wisconsin, Minnesota, Northwestern (Chicago), Rutgers, Illinois, at Nebraska

Games against ranked teams (projected): 2

If Kirk Ferentz's offense has a pulse and Iowa survives the first half of the conference schedule, the Hawkeyes could control their destiny in the divisional title race in mid-October. Iowa's not far away from being a top-25 team and gets a couple chances in September to get it right offensively before traveling to Penn State. Outside of the trip to Happy Valley and a road trek to Wisconsin a couple weeks later, the Hawkeyes could bethe betting favoritein every other contest.

2023 schedule:Tennessee (Nashville), James Madison, at Maryland, NC State, at Boston College, William & Mary, at UNC, at Miami, Georgia Tech, at Louisville, Duke, Virginia Tech

Games against ranked teams (projected): 1

If UNC or Miami is ranked during the second half of the season, this projected number of top-25 opponents increases, but as it stands, the schedule looks manageable in Year 2 for Tony Elliott and the Cavaliers. They'll be a three-touchdown underdog in the opener, but after that, Virginia should be able to improve on last fall's win total with toss-up games against James Madison, NC State, Boston College, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, among others.

2023 schedule:Toledo, at Kansas, Penn State, FAU, at Purdue, Nebraska, at Maryland, Wisconsin, at Minnesota, Indiana, at Iowa, Northwestern

Games against ranked teams (projected): 2

Penn State is a guaranteed top-10 opponent in Week 3, but where are the rest of the Big Ten's heavyweights? Illinois, which nearly toppled Michigan on the road last season, does not deal with the Wolverines again andBret Bielema's teamavoids Ohio State, too. Given some of the talent returning defensively, the Fighting Illini have a chance to continue positive strides and advance as a program with this slate. Non-conference matchups with Kansas and FAU do, however, provide intriguing storylines at the quarterback spots.

2023 schedule: Old Dominion, Purdue, at Rutgers, at Marshall, Pitt, at Florida State, Wake Forest, Syracuse, at Louisville, at Boston College, NC State, at Virginia

Games against ranked teams (projected): 1

Virginia Tech misses Clemson, Miami and UNC during ACC play, arguably three of the league's four-best rosters entering the season depending on your favorite summer metric used in grading these things this time of year. Brent Pry knows the Hokies are in rebuild mode and early games against Old Dominion, Purdue (with a first-year coach) and Rutgers should help his players find some semblance of confidence. A top-25 team would waltz through with nine or 10 wins. Given the current landscape at Virginia Tech, if the Hokies can get to six, it will be a job well done.

2023 schedule:NIU, Holy Cross, Florida State, at Louisville, Virginia, at Army, at Georgia Tech, UConn, at Syracuse, Virginia Tech, at Pitt, Miami

Games against ranked teams (projected): 1

Jeff Hafley faces a pivotal year at Boston College, and knows forward progress must be shown or he could be shown the door at season's end. The Eagles should be able to get off on the right foot over the first couple weeks prior to their ACC opener against Florida State, easily the most talented team they face. The rest of the schedule is free of landmines outside of the final two weeks against Pitt and Miami.

2023 schedule:UT Martin, Ball State, South Carolina, UAB, at Auburn, Kentucky, at Vanderbilt, vs. Florida (Jacksonville), Missouri, Ole Miss, at Tennessee, at Georgia Tech

Games against ranked teams (projected): 2

Projecting two nationally-ranked opponents is a stretch, but give the Bulldogs either South Carolina or Ole Miss along with Tennessee (Nov. 18). When you consider Georgia's talent level and the teams the two-time defending champions face this fall, the Bulldogsare at least a touchdown favorite in every contest. This slate is tailor-made to three-peat, or at least return to the College Football Playoff with opportunity.

Kirby Smart, who calledSEC future scheduling the "most overrated conversation ever,"takes the same mentality into this season as he did the last couple during Georgia's impressive playoff run — worry about his program's "Process" and nothing else. Outside noise about his team's perceived easy slate means nothing to him. Smart insists Georgia will always be the "hunter" and not the "hunted" and continuing to play up that mantra has seemed to benefit his players.

2023 schedule:Central Arkansas, at Arizona State, South Alabama, at Iowa State, Kansas State, Kansas, at West Virginia, Cincinnati, Oklahoma, at UCF, at Houston, BYU

Games against ranked teams (projected): 2

Mike Gundy'sonly conference championship with the Cowboys came in 2011 and the schedule Oklahoma State faced that season was considerably more difficult than this year's installment. Of course, the team was comparatively more talented, too.Oklahoma State faces the easiest schedule among Big 12 teams in 2023 because it misses Texas and TCU and the Cowboys' non-conference Power Five opponent is Arizona State, who takes the field with a first-year coach in Week 2. There's a path to nine wins or more for the Cowboys this season.

2023 schedule:Georgia Tech, Murray State, Indiana (Indianapolis), Boston College, at NC State, Notre Dame, at Pitt, Duke, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Miami, Kentucky

Games against ranked teams (projected): 1

Somehow, Louisville misses Florida State and Clemson during the regular season, which is great news for first-year coach Jeff Brohm and this team's darkhorse chances in the ACC championship race. Unless Miami or Kentucky are inside the top 25during the final stretch,the only matchup we're projecting against a nationally-ranked opponent is Notre Dame on Oct. 7 and that comes at home.Brohm lick his chops, especially during the first month.