Every year, the CFB offseason brings about the opportunity for fans to speculate how their favorite teams or rivals will perform in the upcoming season.
As players transfer, teams get a new coach or schedules change, these 11 teams will see their win totals improve upon the previous season’s.
1. Clemson Tigers
Although Clemson finished the 2021 season with a 10-3 record, it was a relatively down year for the Tigers, who missed the College Football Playoffs for the first time since 2014. Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei struggled while injuries and inexperience slowed down the offensive line.
Though the Tigers deal with a coaching change in both their offensive and defensive coordinators, the strong defense that held teams to 14.8 points a game last season will return six, with Bryan Bresee also making a return after missing most of last season with a torn ACL. New OC Brandon Streeter will be given the chance to get Uiagalelei on track or turn to incoming quarterback Cade Klubnik, who could jump start the offense. An offensive line with a season of experience under their belts will also help shore up issues from a season ago.
2. LSU Tigers
Just three years removed from going 15-0 and winning the national championship, LSU found a new head coach after two seasons of underperforming. The Tigers finished the 2021 season 6-7 and subsequently fired head coach Ed Orgeron, hiring Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly in his place.
Kelly will have a few solid quarterback options to pick from, and with receiver Kayshon Boutte back after a season-ending injury, whoever ends up getting the starting job will have a strong receiving corps to throw to. Though LSU lost some transfers amid the coaching change, the Tigers picked up quite a few in the transfer portal as well, with many new guys looking to contribute to the defense right away.
3. Miami Hurricanes
Another team that saw a coaching change, Miami fired Manny Diaz after the program finished 7-5 last season. New head coach Mario Cristobal will be returning home to mark the team’s third head coaching hire since 2016, bringing with him conference championships and strong recruiting.
While the ‘Canes started the ‘21 season out slowly, they finished up the season winning five of their last six games, in large part due to returning quarterback Tyler Van Dyke. After losing receivers Charleston Rambo and Mike Harley to the NFL, Van Dyke will need to find someone new to throw to in the meantime, Jaylan Knighton and transfer Henry Parrish should provide a strong ground game. After last season’s squad allowed 28.4 points a game, new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele will look to improve that number using transfers and a handful of returners.
4. Minnesota Gophers
The Gophers won a respectable nine games last season, and that was with star running back Mohamed Ibrahim out of the lineup for the season and quarterback Tanner Morgan having a down year. With the passing attack ranking 118th in yards per game last season, head coach PJ Fleck said goodbye to Minnesota’s offensive coordinator and rehired Kirk Ciarrocca, the OC during the 2019 season.
While the Gophers must replace four starters on the offensive line, the return of Ibrahim, receiver Chris Autman-Bell and Morgan collaborating with Ciarrocca should provide a way forward. On defense, transfers will look to fill the gaps of four starters that were part of a top 10 defense last season, allowing 17.3 points per game.
5. NC State Wolfpack
After finishing last season 9-3, the Wolfpack’s third nine-win season in five years, NC State looks poised to make the jump to double-digit wins. The chance to eclipse 10 wins presented itself last season in the Holiday Bowl, however it was canceled due to UCLA’s COVID-19 issues, while the team also lost two conference games by a combined four points.
With quarterback Devin Leary, who threw for 3,433 yards and 35 touchdowns last season, returning, along with seven other starters on offense, including four starting linemen, the Wolfpack look ready for a run at the ACC title. NC State also brings back 10 starters from a defense that ranked second in the ACC in points allowed with 19.7, meaning it should once again be a problem for opposing offenses.
6. Nebraska Cornhuskers
It shouldn’t be hard for the Cornhuskers to improve upon last season’s record, as three wins is a sad showing by Nebraska’s recent standards. With head coach Scott Frost likely on the chopping block, it seems this season is do or die. A new offensive coordinator in Mark Whipple was the first step to improvement this season.
Although it won’t be a breeze, with schools such as Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin all bringing tough competition to the schedule, Nebraska has help in Texas quarterback transfer Casey Thompson, who led the Big 12 in touchdown passes last season. With the ‘Huskers losing eight games last season by eight or fewer points and the first half of their schedule featuring three teams who finished in the bottom half of the conference, an improvement appears likely for this team.
7. Tennessee Volunteers
The Volunteers finished last season with a solid 7-6 record, and Tennessee quietly had the No. 2 offense in scoring in the SEC, scoring 39.3 points a game. While the Vols had a high-powered offense to win games, their defense struggled, as they gave up 33.6 points and allowed 200.8 rush yards a game last season.
Tennessee will miss receivers Velus Jones Jr. and JaVonta Payton this season, however Cedric Tillman returns, while Jalin Hyatt and USC transfer Bru McCoy will also look to contribute. The good news is they’ll have an experienced quarterback tossing them the ball, as Hendon Hooker will also be back, fresh off his 2,945-yard, 31-touchdown season. The offense will also see their leading rusher in Jabari Small return, along with four starting linemen. The defense will look to make improvements with six starters returning, although they’ll have to account for missing defensive backs Theo Jackson and Alontae Taylor.
8. Texas A&M Aggies
If a team finishes with the No. 1 ranked recruiting roster in the country, it’s probable it will take a step forward the following season, no matter how they finished the year prior. After a season with a win over Alabama, Texas A&M closed out with an 8-4 record and a defense that held opponents to 15.9 points a game.
Even though TAMU’s defense lost a number of starters as well as coordinator Mike Elko, they landed DJ Durkin from Ole Miss as a replacement and will return five starters as well. A number of transfers and recruits will also help to replace those who left for a strong defense once again. On offense, the quarterback battle will provide competition early for the starting spot, while the return of receiver Ainias Smith and freshman receiver Evan Stewart will provide solid options at receiver.
9. Texas Longhorns
Every year, the Texas Longhorns get touted as the team that will make the jump the next season only for fan disappointment to follow. However, this year, with one year under head coach Steve Sarkisian, an improvement should come. The Longhorns started out strong last season, winning their first four of five with big scores, however a skid once conference play started left the Longhorns with a 5-7 record.
With Ohio State quarterback Quinn Ewers transferring as well as running back Bijan Robinson and receivers Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington back, Texas will look to replicate the strong offense of last season. While the offense averaged 35.3 points last season, good for second in the Big 12, the defense will look to improve, as the Longhorns allowed 31.1 points and 425.6 yards a game. As linebacker DeMarvion Overshown used his extra year of eligibility and multiple Longhorns switched positions, Texas also picked up some players in the transfer portal that should provide assistance in cleaning up the defense.
10. USC Trojans
Possibly one of the bigger offseason storylines of the season was the hiring of Lincoln Riley and the subsequent recruits and transfers to Southern California. The Trojans concluded last season with a record of 4-8, their worst since 1991, with the team not having won more than eight games since 2017. However, USC’s over/under preseason win total is set at nine, meaning Riley has some lofty expectations to meet this year.
With quarterback Caleb Williams and receiver Mario Williams joining Riley at USC from Oklahoma, along with transfer running backs Travis Dye and Austin Jones and receivers Jordan Addison, Brenden Rice and Terrell Bynum, USC shouldn’t have a problem scoring touchdowns. The defense will be where the improvement needs to come most, as the Trojans allowed 31.8 points a game last season, second worst in the conference. New coordinator Alex Grinch will look to clean that up with the return of team sack leader Tuli Tuipulotu, seniors Nick Figueroa and Brandon Pili and a bevy of transfers and recruits.
11. Utah Utes
Utah had a strong 2021 campaign, rattling off a 10-win season while also winning the Pac-12 title. While the Utes’ season ended with a 48-45 loss to Ohio State at the Rose Bowl, a run for a spot in the playoffs doesn’t seem unlikely for this team this year.
While Utah lost a few key starters to the NFL, the number of players returning will outweigh the few who did not. Two players who were key to much of the Utes’ offense, quarterback Cameron Rising and running back Tavion Thomas, will once again be back. Rising reclaimed his starting spot in week 4, throwing for 2,493 yards and 20 touchdowns last season while five of his six top pass-catchers will return to recreate that production. With returnees and transfers showing promise at spring practice, the defense will look to cause disruptions once again, as last season Utah allowed 20.6 points and 317.8 yards per game, the fewest among Pac-12 schools.
