Every summer since 2007 I have created an intricate set of college football predictions for each upcoming season.  This year is no exception, as I will be using my blog over the next few hours to publish my 17th annual college football preview guide which will contain 18 entries in all. The records below reflect each team’s predicted regular season overall record followed by their conference record.  These records include conference title games for the two division champions but exclude bowl games which will be previewed later on in a separate column on this blog.  The teams marked in bold font are the ones predicted to gain bowl eligibility.  Without further ado, here are my predictions for the four independent teams in FBS for 2023, which could be expanding their ranks in 2024 if the remaining Pac-4 schools can’t find a league to play in.

Notre Dame (9-3)

Positional Strength: Offensive Line

Positional Weakness: Defensive backfield

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: at NC State (September 9)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Clemson (November 4)

Bottom Line: Can Sam Hartman come in and take Notre Dame to the New Year’s Six and/or College Football Playoff? That’s the question in South Bend, and while I think Hartman is a tremendously talented QB, I saw him self-destruct in too many big games at Wake Forest (2020 Belk Bowl, 2021 ACC Championship, 2022 at Louisville, etc.) to think he can beat Ohio State, Southern Cal, or Clemson when it matters the most. Nevertheless, Notre Dame will still be really good. Just not CFP good.

Army (5-7)

Positional Strength: Offensive Line

Positional Weakness: Quarterback

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Coastal Carolina (November 18)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: vs. Holy Cross (November 11)- the Crusaders are a dangerous FCS squad that went 12-1 last year!

Bottom Line: So Army is transitioning from a triple option running attack where they threw it for less than 100 yards per game, to a shotgun scheme coached by a Hal Mumme Air Raid disciple… this could be ugly, especially when you consider they may be starting a quarterback with one career pass attempt in Bryson Daily. By the end of the year, Army’s offense may be functional, but I still don’t see them accumulating enough wins to get to a bowl game in 2023. Their schedule is setup such that they will likely be an underdog in at least 7 of their games season which may be the reason Coach Monken is using this season to change their offensive scheme/philosophy.

UConn (5-7)

Positional Strength: Running Back

Positional Weakness: Wide Receiver

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Utah State (September 30)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at Georgia State (September 9)

Bottom Line: I am not sure Jim Mora got enough credit for taking the perennial doormat Huskies to a bowl game in his first season at the helm. A repeat bowl bid is possible, but I am calling for UConn to fall just short of that mark due to a tough opening slate in which the Huskies could be underdogs in five of their first six games.

UMass (3-9)

Positional Strength: Defensive Backfield

Positional Weakness: Quarterback

Biggest Predicted Win of the Year: vs. Arkansas State (September 30)

Worst Predicted Loss of the Year: at New Mexico State (August 26)

Bottom Line: Don Brown has had a distinguished career as a coach but I am not sure he is going to be able to succeed at UMass this time around. He is entering year 3 without an established quarterback and with a total of 1 win over an FBS program during this tenure. I am calling for three wins in Amherst this fall, which may be too optimistic given their schedule which includes games at Penn State and Auburn.