The 2023 college football season wasn't kind to some teams.
Long-standing powers such as Oklahoma and Miami were blasted back to reality during subpar campaigns. Proud programs Auburn and Nebraska found themselves picking up the pieces after failed coaching regimes.
Still others experienced duds. In Kentucky's case, recent success fell by the wayside into mediocrity. Then some, like a certain Pac-12 team in the desert, took a major step forward.
But coaching changes abounded in the offseason, springing optimism to life. With the transfer portal a game-changer, other programs have newfound hope for 2023.
Several teams are primed—or "Prime," in Colorado's case—for a bounce-back season. Let's take a look at those that could experience major turnarounds in 2023.
Arizona Wildcats
Everybody in the desert is excited for the Arizona Wildcats' 2023 season following a major step forward in 2022.
After experiencing just one win in his debut season, coach Jedd Fisch's team leapt to 5-7 a year ago—one that was characterized by some terrific offensive numbers from quarterback Jayden de Laura and his receiving corps, led by Jacob Cowing and Tetairoa McMillan.
All three of those will be back for next season, as will a quality running back room, led by Michael Wiley.
Offense won't be the issue. The Wildcats need major defensive returns to make a bowl game next year, and while they suffered some transfer-portal losses, they also got back a potential program-changing talent in Justin Flowe at linebacker.
Fisch needs to hit on some portal gambles such as linebacker Daniel Heimuli (Washington) and Orin Patu (California), as well as defensive linemen Tyler Manoa (UCLA) and Bill Norton (Georgia), who haven't produced much on the college level yet.
If they can get better on defense after the unit finished 11th in the Pac-12 a season ago, expect a bowl game. This team is good enough to make it to improve by a couple of wins, at least.
Auburn Tigers
The embarrassment of Bryan Harsin's 9-12 record over less than two seasons won't be forgotten, but Hugh Freeze has flipped the Auburn Tigers roster in a short time.
He's done terrific work on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal, and the Tigers fully expect not only to make a bowl game in 2023, but also to perhaps be a dark-horse contender in the SEC West.
To do that, they've got to find an answer to their quarterback woes, and Freeze didn't hit any portal grand slams at that position.
Still, the moves he made were exceptional. The Tigers went from no-man's-land in recruiting to securing the nation's No. 18 class, flipping star prospects Keldric Faulk (Florida State), Kayin Lee (Ohio State), Darron Reed (LSU) and Sylvester Smith (Tennessee).
Additionally, Auburn added 12 transfers, bolstered by defensive linemen Justin Rogers (Kentucky), Lawrence Johnson (Purdue) and Mosiah Nasili-Kite (Maryland), as well as offensive tackle Gunner Britton (Western Kentucky) and running back Brian Battie (South Florida).
This is the type of talent infusion that will equal a quick turnaround.