ESPN College GameDay crew makes picks for this year's TCU

TCU came out of nowhere last season to crash the College Football Playoff party and reach the national championship game. The ESPN College GameDay crew made picks Saturday morning for who could be the 2023 version of the Horned Frogs.

ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit started off, and his pick is Florida State. The Seminoles return talented players like Jordan Travis, Johnny Wilson and Jared Verse, and they also went into the transfer portal and brought in difference makers on both sides of the ball. Herbstreit isn’t ready to say that Florida State will for sure make the College Football Playoff, but he does believe the Seminoles have a good shot.

“I don’t know if it’s nowhere, but I think Florida State could be. Let’s go back to last year – remember when they lost three in the middle of the season and it looked like, ‘Oh man, here they go again.’ And then they won six in a row to get to 10 wins, including that bowl victory,” Herbstreit recalled. “That’s why they have momentum. That’s why Mike Norvell, all of a sudden, people are cheering.”

Norvell’s time at FSU got off to a rough start, with some wondering if it was time for a change at one point. Deion Sanders was even mentioned as a possible replacement. But now, Seminoles fans are pleased with Norvell. They’ll be even more pleased if Norvell can get Florida State to the CFP.

“Remember that, ‘Oh, what about coach Prime, maybe he’ll go back to Florida State.’ Now coach Prime’s at Colorado, Mike Norvell’s in Tallahassee. Everybody’s excited. And Jordan Travis is one of the top quarterbacks in the country,” Herbstreit said.

ESPN analyst Pat McAfee went to the Big Ten for his pick as far as a College Football Playoff sleeper. McAfee chose a program with a first-year head coach, just like TCU had last season.

“Here it is – the answer. Ladies and gentlemen, the Wisconsin Badgers,” McAfee said. “Tanner Mordecai’s going to have to do his thing. Obviously, the transfer from SMU, where in two years he threw 72 touchdowns and 7,000 yards. Is that good? I don’t know. Eighteen returning starters, they’re currently ranked No. 19. And their new coach, just like Sonny Dykes went to TCU, Luke Fickell – good coach, great coach. He’ll have the defense good. The offense should be.”

Meanwhile, Desmond Howard went with a school he has some history with. After choosing Texas A&M to reach the College Football Playoff in 2022, only to see them go 5-7, Howard has the Aggies as a potential playoff team once again.

“You guys know about my relationship with the Aggies, right? I’m not saying that they are going to make the College Football Playoff, but I just think they’re going to be so better than they were a year ago,” Howard said. “Most improved team in the SEC. One of the best in the nation, as far as improvement is concerned. A ton of experience. Last year they were very young, went through a whole bunch of injuries. You add Bobby Petrino.”

Howard received some teasing from the rest of the College GameDay set for his pick, but perhaps he’ll have the last laugh in the end.