ACC
North Carolina State
NC State may seem like a surprising pick. After they lost quarterback Devin Leary to injury last year, the Wolfpack’s offense hasn’t been the same. In 2021, under Leary’s peak, they scored 33.1 points per game. In the first 5 games of 2022, NC State looked to be just as good, scoring 32.8. In the last 7 games, they only averaged 19.7. Leary drove the Wolfpack offense, and the musical chairs at quarterback couldn’t lead the offense like him.
But as the season processed, they found true freshman MJ Morris. The 4-star started three games and was serviceable enough despite starting the season as the 3rd string, and will have a whole offseason as the starter. But now, they have a new offensive coordinator. Robert Anae (above) has been an offensive coordinator in the ACC since 2016 and has led successful offenses, and developing quarterbacks. Bryce Perkins, Brennan Armstrong, and most recently Syracuse’s Garrett Shrader have all played their best under Anae, and I know he will make the Wolfpack’s offense howl again.
Big 10
Maryland
Maryland will only have a good offense next year if they have one player. Taulia Tagovailoa. Since transferring to the Terrapins, he’s taken Maryland to back-to-back bowl games for the first time since 2013 and 2014. He’s also improved as a starter in all three seasons. Maryland only went 7-5 in 2021 but still played two close games against playoff teams in Ohio State and Michigan.
They have the potential to be great, but consistency has been an issue. Maryland lost 23-10 to Wisconsin in an ugly game and followed it up by getting shut out 30-0 by Penn State. Tagovailoa threw for a combined 151 yards, a touchdown, and a pick on a 46.6% completion percentage. Outside of him, sophomore Maryland running back Roman Hemby, who finished with 1200 total yards and 11 touchdowns, will be back. After sparingly playing in 2021, he broke out in 2022 as an explosive running back to go aside Tagovailoa in the passing game. If the Terrapins can fix their consistency issues and Tagovailoa returns, they will have one of the best offenses in the Big 10.
Big 12
Texas Tech
Since the Mike Leach era, Texas Tech has had an explosive offense with great quarterbacks while being held back by a bad defense. But after Patrick Mahomes graduated in 2016 and Kliff Kingsbury was fired in 2018, Texas Tech went off the grid, especially their passing offense.
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But did you know they threw over 310 yards a game last year? Do you know they did this despite needing 3 different quarterbacks to throw for over 1,000 yards because of injuries? But, did you know they also ran the ball over 150 yards a game with as many rushing touchdowns as passing touchdowns? Texas Tech’s offense is explosive but more balanced than they’ve been in a long time.
Overall, the Big 12 isn’t as good offensively as they were in the mid-2010s. While their current offense would have been closer to the bottom in that era, they are experiencing success in a more defensive conference. If the Red Raiders can find a consistent quarterback, they can be even better on offense.
Pac 12: Arizona
After going winless in 2020, and 1-11 in 2021, Arizona started to move in the right direction in 2022 by improving to 5-7. Washington State transfer quarterback Jayden de Laura threw for over 3685 yards and 25 touchdowns and will be back next year. Leading receiver Dorian Singer entered the portal, but Tetaiora McMillan and Jacob Cowing will return. As a true freshman, Arizona’s all-time highest-rated recruit McMillan had 702 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Cowing transferred in from UTEP, and put up 1,035 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Similar to Texas Tech, they don’t have the best running game but I could also see that improving in 2023. Michael Wiley will be back for his 5th year, and he is an explosive runner, finishing with 6.8 yards per carry, 771 total yards, and 8 rushing touchdowns. Add on his 349 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns, and he finished with 1,120 total yards and 11 touchdowns. As Arizona enters its 3rd year under Jedd Fisch, look for them to have a great offense again.
Don’t think we can talk about next season’s Pac-12 QBs without including Jayden de Laura.
Seen a lot about Caleb Williams, Michael Penix Jr., and Bo Nix returning, but nothing about JDL, who finished with 3,685 passing yards (3rd) and 25 TDs (T-4) last season.
— AZ Band Cat Sports (@AZBandCatSports) December 19, 2022
SEC
Kentucky
Kentucky vastly underachieved in 2021, but it could bounce back in a big way in 2022. Two-year starter Will Levis is gone, but it might be a good thing. He played through injury a lot in 2022, and overall regressed. To replace him, Kentucky went back to the portal and got one of the best talents there: Devin Leary. Like Levis, Leary started after the 2021 season and had an amazing year. Finishing with 35 touchdowns to only 5 interceptions on a 65.7% completion percentage, Leary was extremely efficient and led a great offense.
As I mentioned at the top of the article, NC State wasn’t the same after Leary got hurt, which shows how good he is. Other than Leary, Kentucky will bring back a familiar face. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen will come back to Lexington after spending 2022 as the Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator. Levis and the offense were at their peak in 2021 in Coen’s only year as the Wildcat’s offensive coordinator. They scored 32.3 points per game, compared to 22.1 this season. Under his guidance, with a new talented quarterback in Leary, Kentucky can have a great offense again.
Keep your eyes on each of these offenses, as I think they’ll do better than expected in 2023.
