It's a tradition as old as time, seeing just how many preseason predictions I can get completely wrong! Nevertheless we all love the thrill of it. Thus in the spirit of the latest "earned 5 star podcast ", let me throw my predictions in the ring and see how they look come seasons end. I'd love to hear some feedback, pushback, or just have some good old back and forth on takes. Let's have some fun!

I'll give a power 5 conference order of finish preview (along with Notre Dame), conference championship game predictions, and a playoff prediction with some quick summaries thrown in.

ACC

1. Clemson

2. Florida State

3. North Carolina

4. Duke

5. Louisville

6. Miami

7. Pittsburgh

8. NC State

9. Syracuse

10. Virginia Tech

11. Georgia Tech

12. Wake Forest

13. Boston College

14. Virginia

I see Florida State facing off with Clemson in a rematch of the week 4 showdown. I think the Noles will break through in this one for the conference crown, exacting revenge against the Tigers after losing the earlier tilt in Death Valley. WIth that said I still don't see a representative from the ACC in the CFP. The Noles won't have much of a case heading into bowl season with two losses (LSU and Clemson). Two darkhorses to play for the title are North Carolina and Duke. Coach Mike Elko really has the Blue Devils trending in the right direction in a hurry but a daunting schedule could be too much to overcome. The Tar Heels on the other hand have a very favorable schedule and have a Heisman candidate to lead them to a big season. Don't be surprised to see the Heels making a lot of noise this season.

Big 12

1. Texas

2. Baylor

3. Kansas State

4. Texas Tech

5. Oklahoma

6. Oklahoma State

7. TCU

8. BYU

9. Kansas

10. UCF

11. Cincinnati

12. Houston

13. Iowa State

14. West Virginia

Is Texas really back? On paper without question, but we all know games are played on grass not paper. Texas returns as much talent as anybody in the country but it remains to be seen if they can translate that to the field. I think this is finally the season the Longhorns make a legitimate run. I have Texas knocking off Baylor for the second time this season in the championship game. Watch out for the K-State Wildcats to make yet another run at the conference title. Texas Tech could also be sneaky good under second year head coach Joey McGuire. I can't wait to watch how this conference plays out. It should be a show to see with the talent on display.

Big Ten East

1. Ohio State

2. Penn State

3. Michigan

4. Maryland

5. Michigan State

6. Indiana

7. Rutgers

Big Ten West

1. Iowa

2. Minnesota

3. Wisconsin

4. Nebraska

5. Illinois

6. Purdue

7. Northwestern

I have the Buckeyes knocking off Iowa in the title game. Ohio State will end their two game skid against Michigan to claim their spot in the championship and knock off the Hawkeyes to punch their ticket to the CFP. This team simply has too much talent to not return for another shot at competing in the playoff. Penn State will be another big hitter in a loaded East but will fall just short. The future is very bright for the Nittany Lions however. I expect them to be contenders for many years to come.

Pac 12

1. Washington

2. Utah

3. USC

4. Oregon

5. UCLA

6. Oregon State

7. Arizona

8. Washington State

9. California

10. Arizona State

11. Colorado

12. Stanford

Washington will get revenge against the Utes from an earlier home loss in the championship tilt. The Huskies will survive a home let down against Utah a week after upsetting USC in the coliseum. This will position them greatly for a bid into the CFP. This conference should be fireworks week after week with the amount of offensive talent in the league .

SEC EAST

1. Georgia

2. Tennessee

3. South Carolina

4. Florida

5. Vanderbilt

6. Kentucky

7. Missouri

SEC WEST

1. LSU

2. Alabama

3. Ole Miss

4. Texas A$M

5. Auburn

6. Arkansas

7. Mississippi State

LSU dethrones Georgia as the SEC champ and punches their ticket to the playoffs. In the last season of divisions for the SEC, Coach Brian Kelly breaks through in only his second season at the helm. It is going to be an incredibly great debate on whether the conference gets two teams in the playoff or not. Look for Alabama to take a bit of a step back this season.

Notre Dame

I think the Irish finish the season 10-2 with loses on the road to Clemson and falling in a trap game at Duke after a big upset over Ohio State at home. Look for the Irish to reach a New Years six bowl this season. I anticipate the Irish to be top playoff contenders in 2024.

2023 CFP Semifinals

1. LSU versus 4. Washington

2. Ohio State versus 3. Texas

CFP Championship game

Ohio State over LSU

Despite breaking in a new quarterback, the overall talent on the roster is too much to ignore. I predict the Buckeyes hoisting the trophy at seasons end. Overcoming an early season upset loss to Notre Dame, Coach Ryan Day and staff pull it together to regain their big ten dominance and win his first title.