Welcome to the Ultimate College Football Preview for 2023. Every team in FBS Football will be covered in this daily blog release. All of your favorite teams from the ACC, AAC, Big 12, Big 10, C-USA, MAC, Mountain West, PAC 12, SEC, Sun Belt & even every Independent. Think of these daily college football previews as a cheat sheet going into next year.
2022 Recap:
The “U” was the disappointment last year in college football. The team came in with huge expectations after a decent 2021, a new head coach, and a good QB. Everything, well to be honest, everything fell to shit for the Hurricanes. Van Dyke never got on track with Offensive Coordinator Josh Gattis. Gattis sucks at play calling and schemes. His play calling and style does not work outside of the slow defenses in the Big 10. Too many times Van Dyke was in 3rd and 8 because of shitty play calls on 1st and 2nd down. The defense finished low in rankings. Not because they weren’t good, but because the offense was never on the field.
Head Coach:
Mario Cristobal needs to fix the offensive problems and fast. He had great success at Oregon, but coming back to his Alma Matter is a larger task. The Canes finished 97th in offense in points per game. Cristobal has the track record with building great offensive lines and playing physical football. He puts guys in the NFL who play offensive line for him. The Canes need to figure out their offensive identity, the talent is there they just need a scheme to work with. Cristobal brought in Shannon Dawson this year to replace Gattis. Dawson was previously the Offensive Coordinator at high flying offensive powers Houston and West Virginia. Maybe he can help Van Dyke and Cristobal out.
Key Players:
Tyler Van Dyke is coming back to the U. There were a lot of rumors of him transferring out, including going to Alabama. Last year was not great for Tyler, but if you watch the tape it is not on him. The play calling was terrbile and his WR’s never bailed him out. I expect 2021 Tyler Van Dyke back under Dawson’s offense. He will be helped by veteran WR Xavier Restrepo, Colbie Young & Jacolby George. It will be hard to replace Tight End Will Mallory as a safety blanket. Red Shirt Senior Transfer Cam McCormick from Oregon will have to step up to that spot. The defense is loaded with upper classmen returning lead by FS JR Kamren Kitchens and SS JR James Williams.
2023 Prediction:
The Canes have a favorable Non-Conference Schedule. Playing 3 home games vs. Bethune Cookman, Texas A&M & Miami of Ohio. They also have to travel to Temple in the Non-Conference. They have the ability to go 4-0 in those games. The Canes do get Clemson at home, but have to play UNC and FSU on the road. There is no reason that this team is not a 9 or 10 game winner. All that being said, it is Miami and only Texas underachieves more than them so 6 or 7 is more likely for the Canes.