Oregon Ducks featured prominently in ESPN’s Future Offensive Power Rankings
We have a good idea about who is going to be good this upcoming season. Much of the offseason has been spent parsing through rankings and diving deep into depth charts to see which roster is best suited for immediate success. We’ve looked at the transfer portal action and deciphered the incoming recruiting classes, singling out which players can have an instant impact on their new teams.
The 2023 season is not a mystery. Beyond that, though, is up for debate.
One of the best things that ESPN does each year is put out its future power rankings. By taking a look at the next three years across the college football landscape and placing weight on the depth of a roster, rather than the talent that may be leaving after this season, they are able to project into the future and see who they think will be among the top teams going forward.
The Oregon Ducks feel great about the 2023 season, but beyond that there are some question marks, particularly at the QB position. While a crowded future QB room will have a number of options — Ty Thompson and Austin Novosad will back up Bo Nix this year, with Michael Van Buren and Luke Moga coming in to compete with the pair for the starting spot in 2024 — there is some uncertainly on who will ultimately be the QB1 after this year. How heavily did that factor into ESPN’s future rankings?
Let’s take a look:
(Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: 1
Analysis: With Caleb Williams and Lincoln Riley, USC should be elite offensively again this year. When you add the QB recruits that they are getting as well, it’s not likely to stop any time soon.
Ohio State Buckeyes
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: 2
Analysis: The Buckeyes are moving on from C.J. Stroud this year, but their recruiting is elite enough to keep a steady stream of top-rated QBs coming through the door, and the offense shouldn’t miss a beat going forward.
Georgia Bulldogs
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: 4
Analysis: After back-to-back championships under Stetson Bennett, it will be interesting to see the Georiga offense under a new QB this season. However, the talent on the roster makes it easy to see them near the top of these rankings.
Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: 5
Analysis: The same with Georgia and Ohio State, Alabama has such a strong history of elite recruiting and top-notch coaching that it’s not a shock to think they will be among the best offensive teams going forward.
Michigan Wolverines
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: 6
Analysis: Michigan has found some real success under Jim Harbaugh, and there’s no reason to think that it will come to an end soon, especially with as good as their recruiting has been as of late.
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: 8
Analysis: Losing Hendon Hooker and Jaylen Hyatt isn’t easy, but the Volunteers have some great recruits coming in, and Nico Iamaleava Jr. is expected to be elite going forward.
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: 3
2023 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: There isn’t a huge expectation that Oklahoma will be great this year in the second season under Brent Venables, but they’ve been recruiting at an elite level and should get back to prominence soon.
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: 11
Analysis: Washington should be elite under Michael Penix Jr. and Kalen DeBoer this next season, but beyond that, there may be questions as to where they go at QB. With DeBoer in Seattle, though, there shouldn’t be much of a concern.
Texas Longhorns
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: 7
Analysis: There’s a chance that Quinn Ewers reaches his ceiling this year for Texas, and then it could quickly turn into the Arch Manning show after that. It’s enough reason for me to believe they belong near the top of these rankings.
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: 9
Analysis: Jordan Travis is among the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy this year, and Mike Norvell has a long history of great offenses. The Seminoles could be back to prominence going forward.
LSU Tigers
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: 12
Analysis: With Brian Kelly at the helm, it’s easy to believe that LSU is going to continue to be a great team into the future, starting this year with Jayden Daniels.
Penn State Nittany Lions
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: 15
Analysis: With Drew Allar at Penn State, it’s going to be really exciting to see how good they can be this season. The Nittany Lions also have a strong group of recruits going forward.
Oregon Ducks
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: 10
Analysis: Bo Nix should hold things down this season in Eugene under Will Stein, and while there is a question as to who the QB1 in 2024 will be, the Ducks should have confidence that a standard has been set for them to continue to succeed.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: 16
2023 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: You won’t find me betting against a Chip Kelly offense going forward, especially with 5-star QB Dante Moore. There’s a good chance that that duo is going to be pretty special going forward.
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: 19
Analysis: With Cam Rising this year, the Utes will be a team to watch out for. Going forward, it will be interesting to see what Kyle Whittingham is able to cook up.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: Not Ranked
2023 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: With Sam Hartman out the door to Notre Dame, it’s tough to project how good Wake Forest will be in 2023. However, the Demon Deacons have a strong history of solid offenses and a solid recruiting class to build on.
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: 13
Analysis: Though Notre Dame lost OC Tommy Rees to Alabama, they got Sam Hartman from Wake Forest and could be elite in 2023. After that, the Fighting Irish always have strong recruiting classes to take them into the future.
Ole Miss Rebels
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: Quinshon Judkins will lead the way in 2023, while a new starting QB, whether it be Spencer Sanders or Jaxson Dart, should be able to lead the Rebels into the future with confidence.
BYU Cougars
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: Not Ranked
2023 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: After losing Jaren Hall to the NFL, BYU will now turn to Kedon Slovis this year to try and lead the Cougars to success. BYU also has a handful of solid recruits to take them into the future.
Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: 14
Analysis: Drake Maye will likely be among the best QBs in the nation this year, and the Tar Heels have been recruiting well as of late to try and carry the recent success forward.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: Former Oregon QB Tyler Shough has found some real success at Texas Tech, and the high-powered offense in Lubbock will certainly be fun to watch going forward.
Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: 23
Analysis: Losing Max Duggan hurts after the near championship run last season, but Chandler Morris is a capable QB, and Sonny Dykes has proved himself as a great coach in the past.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: Not Ranked
2023 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: Despite not having many big-named players come through the program, Western Kentucky has been home to some elite offenses over the past decade, and there’s no reason to believe it will stop any time soon.
Louisville Cardinals
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: Not Ranked
2023 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: New coach Jeff Brohm is expected to bring some great offensive production to Louisville, and while a lot of their ranking here is projection, we’ve seen Louisville impress offensively in the past.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Future QB Power Ranking: Not Ranked
2023 Preseason Ranking: Not Ranked
Analysis: SMU has seen great offensive success over the past several years despite coaching changes, and they were among the top scoring offenses in the nation last year. That should continue going forward.
