ESPN ranks 10 most important players in the 2023 College Football Playoff race

ESPN is staking their claim to who they believe are the ten players who will shape the College Football Playoff race in 2023.

Bill Connelly of ESPN took who he believes are college football’s most important unknowns, and ranked who the most important are to the national title race. That means known entities like reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams were left off the list, and other lesser known players are taking precedent.

“There are birds in hand, and there are unfinished products. We know what the former has to offer, but breakthroughs for the latter play a definitive role in the national title race this year,” prefaced Connelly. “We headed into 2019 without knowing everything we needed to know about Joe Burrow, right? Mac Jones in 2020? Stetson Bennett in 2021? My annual Most Important Players list is about those unknowns.”

Here’s the top ten from Connelly, featuring a majority of quarterbacks throughout the list, as it’s the most important position in all of sports, and the one with a ton of question marks for some major college teams.

10) DT Bear Alexander, USC Trojans

While Alexander is as talented as they come along the defensive line, he found it difficult to stand out from the rest at Georgia. That’s not a bad thing, as the Bulldogs defensive line helped bring them back-to-back national titles, and dominated the NFL Draft over the last two seasons, but Alexander is taking his talents to Los Angeles to help separate himself from the pack.

As Connelly pointed out, Alexander will provide a huge boost to the Trojans’ rushing defense, which was 124th in rushing success rate allowed last season. Even a small difference in those numbers will make Alexander more than worth it for USC.

9) QB Quinn Ewers, Texas Longhorns

Ewers showed flashes of greatness throughout the 2022 campaign, but he also made plenty of head scratching plays as well. Some of the biggest spots of the game were the toughest for him, including the fourth quarter and third downs.

With Texas entering their final season in the Big 12, the Longhorns are hoping to make it a special one. That’ll ride on Ewers’ shoulders, where Arch Manning is looking over, waiting in the wings to be called upon if things go sideways.

8) QB Jayden Daniels, LSU Tigers

Connelly noted that LSU “defied all expectations last season,” and Daniels was a huge reason why. The former Arizona State quarterback came in and adjusted swimmingly to the SEC, helping lead the Tigers to the conference championship game.

With another offseason in Baton Rouge under his belt, many are expecting another step forward for the program in Year 2 for Daniels. The first chapter was something to write home about, now we’ll see if the Tigers can do it again.

7) QB Jordan Travis, Florida State Seminoles

“If Daniels isn’t the most transfixing dual-threat quarterback in the country, Travis is,” wrote Connelly, believing the Florida State quarterback to be one of the most interesting players in the entire country.

The reality is, if Travis can reach his full potential in 2023, Florida State may not only have the ACC on lock, but they could compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff. The last couple seasons haven’t been kind to the Seminoles in many ways, but their luck may finally be turned around with Travis helming the ship once again.

6) QB JJ McCarthy, Michigan Wolverines

Michigan’s starting quarterback is entering the season the unquestioned starter in 2023, something that didn’t happen for McCarthy last season, with Cade McNamara still on the roster. Now, McNamara is with the Iowa Hawkeyes, and the job is solely McCarthy’s for this campaign.

While the Wolverines have made the College Football Playoff in back-to-back seasons, they’ve squandered chances to make it to the national title game. If McCarthy can take another leap this season, perhaps their time could finally be here.

5) QB Tyler Buchner, Jalen Milroe or Ty Simpson, Alabama Crimson Tide

Of course, whoever wins the Alabama starting quarterback job between Buchner, Milroe and Simpson will be one of the most important players in all of college football. At this juncture, no quarterback has been able to separate themselves, and Connelly isn’t sure who it’ll be either.

“We know Milroe is incredibly mobile. we know Buchner has massive upside (which he flashed amid some spectacular catastrophes last season), and we know Simpson has both mobility and a big arm,” said the ESPN writer. “We don’t know who the best option for Bama is yet though. Do Saban and Reese?”

4) QB Kyle McCord or Devin Brown, Ohio State Buckeyes

The groupthink is McCord will be the starting quarterback for Ohio State, even though Brown isn’t officially out of the race yet. Regardless, Connelly relented that whoever the quarterback is for the Buckeyes, their job will be one of the easier ones in all of the sport.

Throwing to Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka is something that some quarterbacks can only dream of. That’s the reality for the Buckeyes, and it’ll make their job that much more simple in 2023.

3) QB Carson Beck, Georgia Bulldogs

After waiting behind the aforementioned Bennett, Beck is finally going to get his chance in 2023, at least that’s what it’s shaping up to look like in Athens. He possesses some innate athletic skills, and Kirby Smart has praised his even-keeled leadership style throughout the summer.

Will it be enough for a three-peat for the Bulldogs? It remains to be seen, but they’ll still be the favorite regardless entering another campaign.

2) QB Drew Allar, Penn State Nittany Lions

Connelly believes Allar could be the one to get Penn State over the hump in 2023. Writing, “At worst, PSU’s a potential spoiler for either the Buckeyes or Wolverines in 2023. At best, the Nittany Lions are contenders.”

Of course, Penn State fans would rather the latter. Regardless, they’ll take making the lives of Ohio State and Michigan hell, but so much more could be accomplished moving forward if Allar is who we think he is.

1) QB Joe Milton, Tennessee Volunteers

As it pertains to Milton, Connelly writes, “It couldn’t be anyone else,” believing the Tennessee quarterback will determine whether or not the Volunteers are here to stay or not. Can Josh Heupel‘s team be the next Georgia, or will the falter after a memorable 2022 campaign?

That’ll fall on Milton’s shoulders, as he replaces fan favorite Hendon Hooker. Last season’s Orange Bowl victory provided hope, but we’ve seen this story before with Milton. Another chance may be his final one, and he’s going to have to make the most of it for Tennessee to succeed.

Alas, there’s a ton of talented athletes in across America who will get to show their stuff throughout the 2023 college football season, but ESPN believes the biggest impact will be felt through the performances of these ten players. Where the chips fall at the end of the College Football Playoff remains to be seen, but the ride to get there will be exhilarating.