With just weeks until college football's Christmas, here's a look at a team in each Power 5 league to keep an eye on.
Each preseason, college football fanbases prepare for the most optimism. Whether it be flashy transfer portal additions, a five-star ready to make an immediate impact or the quarterback that is expected to make the jump.
However, there are trends as to a team meeting or even exceeding expectations each season. And then there's 2022's TCU.
Here is a team from each Power-Five conference in college football that may have fallen to the side of their league's perennial contenders that can make a push to win the conference in the 2023 college football season.
College football predictions 2023: Sleepers to win each Power Five conference
ACC sleeper to watch: Louisville Cardinals
The Cardinals were gifted a gem by avoiding Clemson, Florida State and North Carolina to the 2023 schedule. Louisville gets rising Duke and Kentucky at home, with the two lone threats outside the state being against North Carolina State and Pittsburgh.
The Sonny Dykes-TCU first-year follow-up team could end up being the Cardinal. It is a new era at quarterback, with Malik Cunningham pro. Louisville-alum and Former Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm also brought former Boilermaker quarterback Jack Plummer.
He is coming off of a career-high year, creating a self-resurgence at California, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Cardinal defense gave up just 19 points per game last season and returned a handful of veterans.
Considering Louisville's schedule and talent, it would be a shock if they finished eighth in the league, as the preseason media poll predicted them to.
Big Ten sleeper to watch: Wisconsin Badgers
The alter-revolving door of Big Ten West teams to make the Conference title game should be no different in 2023. But the team to break through and win the league has been nothing but. Luke Fickell enters year one hoping to create more consistency along the offense.
The Badgers have among the best running backs in college football, after back-to-back 1,200 yard-seasons from Braelon Allen.
What holds the key for this run is SMU transfer Tanner Mordecai and how far he can take the passing game.
After sitting behind Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts and Spencer Rattler, he transferred to the Mustangs to prove he was a starting-caliber quarterback. He's thrown for over 7,100 yards and 70-plus touchdowns in his two seasons in Dallas.
The offensive line brings back key starters, and although they took a step back defensively, it's more than enough in an offensive-handicapped division.
Big 12 sleeper to watch: UCF Knights
When a league has the depth the Big 12 does, many teams flash as those to exceed expectations. Texas and Oklahoma should be no secret, and Kansas State is attempting to defend the title.
No one is forgetting TCU's elegant 2022 campaign and the Texas Tech hype only spikes with each day.
UCF poses the most significant threat heading into 2023 out of the new programs, with the most exciting player, John Rhys Plumlee.
The Knight's offense has a similar feeling to 2012 West Virginia with a dynamic quarterback and two proven playmakers to accompany him in senior transfer receivers Javon Baker and Kobe Hudson.
Add in that season was West Virginia's introduction to the league and the familiarity feels a bit more validated.
Defensively, they should get significant tests, including road environments at Boise State, Kansas State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. All four have returning quarterbacks.
The offense should provide a ton of fireworks and make the first year of the Big 12 era in the bounce house memorable.
Pac 12 sleeper to watch: Oregon State Beavers
The Beavers' high must be balanced, and head coach Jonathan Smith gets much credit for it. And their biggest problem last season was addressed in a big way, snagging Clemson's DJ Uiagalelei.
The former five-star's talent is not denied, but his previous production doesn't replicate that.
Ben Gulbranson and Chance Nolan played last season and finished with a combined 16 passing touchdowns to 13 interceptions. And the Beavers still won 10 games, including a 30-3 blowout over Florida in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Running Back Damien Martinez returns after a near-1,000-yard season, and the receiving core is full of veterans.
The Beavers last year had the gauntlet of playing USC, Utah, Oregon and Washington. They only avoid the Trojans but get Utah and Washington at home.
With the Utah/USC/Washington congestion at the top of the league, the Beavers quietly have upgraded to a critical position and set the foundation for a conference title run.
SEC sleeper to watch: LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers were picked third in the league, so the definition of "sleeper" is a little tweaked. But with the overarching shadow of Alabama in the SEC West, it's become the biggest hurdle to getting to Atlanta every year.
The Southeastern Conference has proven that the top of the preseason poll stays true more times than not to what happens during the season. Unless your name is LSU. The last two teams to win the SEC West that wasn't projected to have been the Tigers, both last season and 2019. And they were picked second in the division this year.
Contrary to preseason beliefs, 2022 proved to be successful for LSU. And if any non-Alabama team has established itself to, at times, thrive in the SEC West, it's the Tigers.
The belief is the team has to have parts better than Alabama's to get past the Crimson Tide. Based on the track record, it's easy to point LSU has the quarterback advantage in 2023, and the Tigers have the playmakers outside to match Alabama (1,000-yard Malik Nabers, namely).
Linebacker Harold Perkins played like an All-American last season and should be the best at his position in the league. Alongside, Mekhi Wingo was a great plug in the middle of the defensive line.
Although the secondary was not the most opportunistic with turnovers, there is optimism with key transfers Zy Alexander and Duce Chestnut.
The SEC has no easy schedule, but getting four authentic road games for the season is a good consolation prize. November 4 will define whether they can crash the party again.
