Mark Ingram predicts College Football Playoff teams, National Champions

As Week 1 gets underway, it’s time for College Football Playoff predictions. During halftime of Michigan State vs. Central Michigan Friday night, Mark Ingram and the FOX Big Noon Kickoff crew made their picks.

This year will be the last of the four-team CFP format as it moves to 12 teams starting after the 2024 season. All eyes are on Georgia, though, as the Bulldogs look to pull off something that hasn’t been done since the 1930s: a three-peat.

Ingram thinks the Bulldogs will certainly have a chance to make it three in a row. But he made some other predictions that will definitely turn some heads.

Georgia Bulldogs

Ingram started out with an obvious choice for the College Football Playoff–the Georgia Bulldogs. They’ve won back-to-back national titles and plenty of people simply don’t see a down season in their vocabulary under Kirby Smart.

The Bulldogs suffered a costly injury to star tailback Branson Robinson in fall camp, so if they make the CFP, they’ll have to do so without one of the nation’s budding stars. Last year, he ran for 330 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just 68 carries.

Michigan Wolverines

Ingram picked the Michigan Wolverines as his second team to make the 2023 College Football Playoff. It should come as no surprise as the Wolverines have flat out dominated the trenches the past two seasons with one of the best offensive line units in the country.

They return two of the nation’s top tailbacks in Donovan Edwards and Blake Corum. They’re expected to be critical pieces in guiding the Wolverines to what many believe could be their third straight appearance in the College Football Playoff.

Florida State Seminoles

The Florida State Seminoles return one of the most loaded rosters in all of college football on both sides of the ball. Ingram agrees, even though he has them losing to the LSU Tigers in their season opener.

“I have them losing the first game in a close match to LSU. And then I have them running the table after. Why? They have a very well-rounded team. The entire team. Really, no weaknesses on the team. All strengths–offensively and defensively,” Ingram said on Friday evening.

Alabama Crimson Tide

Ingram is a firm believer in the Crimson Tide’s mammoth offensive line and that’s a huge reason why he has Alabama as not only one of his College Football Playoff picks, but his 2023 National Champion. He’s got the Tide winning it all–bringing home their first national crown since 2020.

“Listen to this coach. Their offensive line averages 6-5, 339 pounds. I think this team will look a lot like the national championship teams at Alabama in 2011, 2012, and 2013,” Ingram said.

It’s certainly going to be interesting if Alabama can bring home the national crown in 2023, amid so much uncertainty at the quarterback position. If the Tide can develop a dominant ground attack like Ingram predicted, it’ll certainly be music to Alabama fans’ ears.

Another really intriguing selection was choosing Florida State to lose to LSU, but then to run the table after that game. It would certainly be a unique path to the College Football Playoff. That’s for sure. It should be yet another exciting season of college football.

On3’s Nick Schultz also contributed to this article.