10 Most Anticipated Rematches of the 2023 College Football Season

The 2023 college football season might still be a ways out, but it's never too early to begin looking ahead towards the season. One of the most anticipated parts about any given college football season is exciting rematches between programs.

Last year, we saw several great games, like USC vs. Utah, Michigan vs. Ohio State, Alabama vs. Texas, and several others. The good news is that we get to see a lot of teams that had great games against each other play again in 2023.

Without further ado, let's run through the 10 most anticipated matchups of the 2023 college football season. Some of the criteria used for these games mentioned includes close games last season, ones that had playoff implications, and ones that have important conference title or playoff implications entering next season. We'll also take a quick look previewing 2023's games, including returning talent and coaches for both teams.

Round two of this matchup will cap off a pretty fun series between these two played at neutral sites. Last year, this game was played in the Superdome in New Orleans. This upcoming season's game will take place in Orlando, Florida.

Last year's matchup got interesting at the end. Florida State took a 17-3 lead with 4:17 left in the third quarter. But LSU's rally began with a one-yard Noah Cain touchdown run to make it a one-score game with eight seconds left in the quarter.

FSU responded on the next possession with a DJ Lundy one-yard rushing touchdown in the four quarter. But LSU rallied late, scoring two touchdowns in the game's final five minutes. Tiger quarterback Jayden Daniels hit his receiver Jaray Jenkins on both touchdown passes.

LSU's second touchdown was scored as the clock hit double-zeroes. All the Tigers needed was to make the extra point and the game would go into overtime. But Damian Ramos' extra point attempt was blocked, sealing Florida State's victory.

LSU went on to win the SEC West and play in its conference championship game, going 10-4 on the season. Although Florida State finished second in the ACC Atlantic behind Clemson, the Noles still finished 10-3.

Entering 2023's matchup, this one looks like it could be a playoff-defining game for both teams. They both get back plenty of talent too—the Noles rank first overall in ESPN's S&P returning production rankings. Most notably, quarterback Jordan Travis, leading receiver Johnny Wilson and running back Trey Benson will be back. FSU also gets back 94 percent of its returning production on defense, as well.

LSU retains Daniels, who led the team in rushing last season with 885 yards and 11 touchdowns, as well as leading receiver Malik Nabers. On defense, sophomore linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. is expected to have a big season.

Both of these head coaches in Mike Norvell and Brian Kelly are looking to take the next step and make it to the playoff next season. That makes this game for both teams even more important.

This matchup was one of the best games of college football's opening weekend last season. UNC had a 41-21 lead entering the fourth quarter. But the Mountaineers have a flair for the dramatic.

App State opened the final period with two straight touchdown drives, benefitting from a UNC fumble the Mountaineers recovered on North Carolina's 28. UNC countered with another touchdown drive, but App State tied the game at 49-all with just four minutes left.

In the game's last four minutes, UNC scored two touchdowns. One came off a 42-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Drake Maye to D.J. Jones. After the Mountaineers got back to within a point, Bryson Nesbit returned an onside kick 43 yards for a UNC touchdown. Trailing 63-55 following the return, App State drove down the field with less than 30 seconds left and scored on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Chase Brice. But the failed two-point conversion attempt gave UNC the narrow 63-61 victory.

In all, App State scored 40 points with 335 yards of offense in the fourth quarter alone.

In 2023, this game will be played at UNC, so that gives the Tar Heels an advantage. The Tar Heels return star quarterback Drake Maye, but he loses two of his leading receivers in Josh Downs and Antoine Green next season. App State, meanwhile, will have to replace quarterback Chase Brice. But head coach Shawn Clark bringing back Frank Ponce, who was his OC in 2021, has expectations for the offense pretty high.

This home-and-home series has playoff implications for both teams. Last year, this game was played in Austin, and it came down to the wire.

The Longhorns played mostly with their backup quarterback Hudson Card, after starter Quinn Ewers left with a clavicle injury early in the second quarter. The game was tied at 10 at halftime, and Texas took a 13-10 lead off a 33-yard field goal with 6:27 left in the third. Kicker Bert Auburn extended the Longhorns' lead with another field goal early in the fourth quarter.

But Bryce Young's seven-yard touchdown pass to Jahmyr Gibbs helped the Tide regain the lead, but another Auburn field goal, this one good from 49 yards, gave the Longhorns back the lead with 1:29 left. That was too much time for Young and the Tide's offense—the QB brilliantly led his offense down to Texas' 14-yard line, where Will Reichard nailed a 33-yard field goal that won the game.

2023's matchup, which will be played in Tuscaloosa, will be a big one. Texas returns Ewers, and star receiver Xavier Worthy, but it also brings 5-star QB recruit Arch Manning into the fold. The Tide will have to massively reload next season, losing Young, Gibbs and a ton of defensive starters—in fact, Alabama ranks 125th (!) overall in S&P+ returning production.

Still, Bama hasn't lost to a non-conference opponent at home since UL-Monroe during Nick Saban's first season at Alabama in 2007. But there's no doubt Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian knows upsetting the Tide would be huge for his Year Three in Austin.

Just like Alabama-Texas, we have yet another home-and-home series that has some serious playoff implications. Last season, this matchup was played in Week 1 of the season in Columbus. At the time, both teams were Top-5 teams in the country.

Notre Dame actually had a 10-7 lead at halftime of this one, scoring a 33-yard field goal in the first and Audric Estime scoring a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Although Ohio State's offense looked sluggish in the first half, it finally came alive in the second, scoring two touchdowns to keep the game out of Notre Dame's reach. Ohio State's defense also forced the Fighting Irish to punt on each of its offensive possessions of the second half.

Next season's matchup looks even bigger. Ohio State is coming off of a playoff-berth season, and the Irish finished 9-4 in Marcus Freeman's first season in South Bend.

Notre Dame might have the edge at quarterback this time around, as the Irish landed star Wake Forest transfer Sam Hartman this offseason. Ohio State returns 77 percent of its returning production on defense, with ND returning 72 percent, per S&P+. We'll see if this one being played in South Bend gives the Irish an edge.

The Pac-12 looks like it'll be loaded in 2023, and Oregon and Washington are both expected to be contenders. The matchup between these two last season was a fun one indeed.

Oregon took a 31-27 lead with 3:40 left in the third quarter, and then added to it with a 26-yard field goal from Camden Lewis with 3:54 left in the fourth. But Washington star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. came alive late.

Penix tied the game at 34-all with a 62-yard touchdown pass to Taj Davis. On Oregon's ensuing possession, head coach Dan Lanning made a questionable decision to go for it on 4th down. Facing a 4th-and-1 from their own 34, the Ducks decided to go for it. But Washington's defense stuffed Noah Whittington's first-down rush attempt, which set up a Payton Henry 43-yard field goal to give Washington a 37-34 lead.

Oregon got the ball back with 51 seconds left, and Ducks quarterback Bo Nix drove his offense down to Washington's 38-yard line. On first down with six seconds left, Nix hit his receiver Troy Franklin on Washington's 23. But the officials called an illegal touching penalty on Franklin, which resulted in a loss of down. Nix's pass on second down from the 38 fell incomplete, giving Washington the victory.

Both offenses return both of their quarterbacks in Nix and Penix. The Ducks also get back leading receiver Franklin and 1,000-yard rusher Bucky Irving. Washington returns leading receivers Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan, as well. Whoever wins this one will likely get a leg-up in the Pac-12 title game hunt, but USC and Utah are expected to compete, as well.

Utah proved to be USC's Achilles' heel last season, beating the Trojans twice, the latter victory earning the Pac-12 championship and ultimately keeping USC out of the playoff hunt. The first matchup, in Salt Lake City, was back-and-forth throughout. USC led 28-21 at halftime, and both teams scored touchdowns in the third.

Utah tied it up at 35 with 10:55 left in the fourth off a Cameron Rising one-yard touchdown run. But Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams responded, hitting Michael Jackson III for a 20-yard touchdown pass to take a 42-35 with 6:15 left.

Rising put together a brilliant late-game drive that took most of the six remaining minutes. The QB ran for a one-yard score, and then did so again on the two-point conversion to give his team a 43-42 lead. USC didn't do much on its final possession, sealing Utah's upset win over the Trojans. Rising was brilliant in the matchup, scoring all but one of Utah's five touchdowns. Williams finished with 381 yards passing and five touchdowns, as well.

In the Pac-12 title game, the two teams met again. This time though, the game wasn't nearly as close. Utah trailed 14-3 after the first quarter, but Utah scored two touchdowns late in the second quarter to make it 17-all at halftime.

It was all Utah in the second half, as Williams was hampered by a hamstring injury for most of the game. The Utes scored 31 points in the second half, and USC managed just one touchdown in the fourth quarter. Utah won 47-24, to earn its second consecutive Pac-12 title.

2023's matchup looks like it will be another good one. Both teams return their quarterbacks in Rising and Williams, and rank inside the Top-20 in ESPN S&P's returning production rankings for 2023. We'll see if USC getting Utah at home—where the Trojans were undefeated in 2022—will make a difference this time around.

These teams played each other twice last season, and 2023's matchup is important for both of their Big 12 title hopes. In the regular season, the Horned Frogs rallied from a 28-10 deficit in the third quarter. TCU scored 28 unanswered points in the second half to win 38-28.

The two met again in the Big 12 title game, and Kansas State kept this one much closer. The Wildcats led 14-10 at halftime, and took a 28-17 lead with 11:27 left in the fourth quarter off a 44-yard rushing touchdown from Deuce Vaughn.

But TCU quarterback Max Duggan wouldn't quit, putting together two scoring drives to force overtime. His eight-yard touchdown run capped off by a pass to Jared Wiley for the two-point conversion made it 28-all at the end of regulation.

In overtime, TCU got the ball first. Instead of putting the ball in Duggan's hands, head coach Sonny Dykes called back-to-back rush attempts with Kendre Miller on 3rd and 4th down from the one. Kansas State nailed a game-winning 31 yard field goal on its ensuing possession to hand the Horned Frogs their first loss of the season.

Although the loss didn't keep TCU out of the playoff, it gave K-State its first Big 12 title since 2012.

As we look ahead to 2023's matchup a bit, both teams have to replace talent on offense. TCU will have to replace Duggan, standout receiver Quinten Johnston and starting running back Kendre Miller. Overall, the Horned Frogs rank 118th in S&P+ returning production.

TCU will also have a new offensive coordinator, as Kendal Briles replaces Garrett Riley, who is headed to Clemson. Kansas State, meanwhile, loses Vaughn, but returns its starting quarterback for most of last season in Will Howard.

Last season, LSU surprised everyone by winning the SEC West in Brian Kelly's first season in Baton Rouge, and upsetting Alabama at home while knocking the Tide out of playoff contention was a big reason they were able to do it.

This game was an absolute thriller that came down to the wire. LSU took a 17-15 lead on a field goal with 6:52 remaining. Bryce Young countered with a 41-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Corey Brooks just over two minutes later, and the failed two-point attempt kept the score at 21-17.

LSU once again took back the lead with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels to Mason Taylor, but Young drove the Tide's offense down to LSU's 28 to allow kicker Will Reichard to send the game into overtime.

Alabama got the ball first, and Roydell Williams scored a one-yard touchdown to put the Tide up 31-24 after Reichard's PAT. But Daniels rushed for a 25-yard score on the very next play and then hit Taylor in the end zone on a sensational two-point try to seal LSU's upset victory:

Daniels is back at LSU for 2023, and the Tigers rank 10th in SP+ returning offensive production. The last time LSU won two in a row in this rivalry came during the 2010-11 seasons. Alabama is no stranger to rebuilding every year, but another victory in this game would get Kelly's LSU coaching career off to a flying start.

Clemson will be looking to make it into the playoff for the first time in two seasons in 2023. To do so, the Tigers can't afford to lose to the in-state rival South Carolina Gamecocks like they did last season.

In 2022, the Gamecocks snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Tigers and won in Clemson for the first time since 2012.

The Gamecocks trailed 14-0 after the first quarter and 23-14 at halftime. But by the end of the third quarter, they had cut Clemson's lead to 30-28 on a 72-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Spencer Rattler to Antwane Wells.

After forcing a three-and-out, the Gamecocks then took their first lead of the day thanks to a 35-yard field goal with 10:54 left in the fourth, and South Carolina's defense forced two punts and an interception in Clemson's last three possessions to seal the upset victory.

Rattler finished with 360 passing yards and two touchdowns, and he outplayed Tigers starting quarterback DJ Uiagalalei, who had just 99 passing yards.

It's unclear what both teams' seasons will look like by the time this game rolls around.

Clemson is moving on from Uiagalelei—who has since transferred to Oregon State—for Cade Klubnik under center in hopes of returning to the playoff, while Dabo Swinney also made one of the splashiest hires of the coaching carousel by landing TCU's Garrett Riley as his new offensive coordinator.

South Carolina ended its 2022 regular season with two top-10 wins over Tennessee and Clemson, but being a legitimate SEC East contender will be the next step for head coach Shane Beamer. Rattler's return helps, but they will have to replace starting running back MarShawn Lloyd and tight end Jaheim Bell, who have transferred.

This game already means everything to both of these fanbases, but the stakes have been raised with both teams now playoff contenders. At least one of these teams has made the playoff every year since 2020.

Last year's matchup didn't make or break any playoff chances with both teams entering undefeated, but Michigan was looking to win its first game in Columbus since 2000 and just its second game against Ohio State overall since 2011.

The Buckeyes had a 20-17 lead at halftime, but the Wolverines offense exploded in the second half to outscore Ohio State 28-3, including two long Donovan Edwards touchdown runs that went 75 and 85 yards, respectively, to put the game away in the fourth quarter.

Now, Michigan will seek a third straight win against Ohio State, something that hasn't happened since the mid-1990s. The Wolverines return a ton of talent on offense, including quarterback J.J. McCarthy, running back Blake Corum—who suffered a season-ending knee injury in this game—and second-leading receiver Cornelius Johnson.

Ohio State has to replace star quarterback C.J Stroud this offseason—the job looks like it will come down to either Devin Brown or Kyle McCord—but the Buckeyes do return star receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, as well as running back Miyan Williams.

This game looks like it will have playoff implications once again in 2023.