This page ranks the accuracy of the preseason magazines' conference predictions for 2023, by comparing them to conference finish.
Lower scores indicate more accurate predictions; the lower the score, the closer the predictions were to the actual results. Magazines are sorted by total score for all conferences, with the best predictions (lowest total scores) at the top. The best prediction for each conference/division is highlighted in the list. For information on the scoring method, see the notes file.
Rank | Magazine (yellow=web, blue=PDF) |
Total Score |
Amer. Athl. |
ACC | B1G East |
B1G West |
Big 12 | Conf USA |
MAC East |
MAC West |
MWC | PAC12 | SEC East |
SEC West |
Sun Belt East |
Sun Belt West |
1 | Media Day polls | 202½ | 31 | 47½ | 2 | 7 | 33 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
2 | Steve Wrathell's CPA Rankings | 211 | 30 | 47 | 4 | 7 | 33 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 7 |
3 | CFB Model by Dunham | 215½ | 19 | 54½ | 2 | 7 | 35½ | 16 | 4 | 3 | 19½ | 27 | 4½ | 7 | 4½ | 12 |
4 | Autumn 11 | 216 | 32 | 41 | 4 | 7 | 32 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 24 | 22 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 9 |
5t | McIllece Sports | 216½ | 28 | 55 | 4 | 5 | 30 | 14 | 4 | 4½ | 28 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 11 |
5t | Versus Sports Simulator | 216½ | 23 | 51 | 3 | 6 | 32½ | 17 | 9 | 4 | 25½ | 21 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 7½ |
7t | Lindy's | 218 | 32 | 43 | 2 | 7 | 37 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 9 |
7t | Athlon | 218 | 35 | 51 | 2 | 7 | 31 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 9 |
9 | Phil Steele | 221½ | 30 | 50 | 3 | 6½ | 28 | 26 | 6 | 1 | 23 | 18 | 6 | 4½ | 9½ | 10 |
10 | Pick Six Previews | 225 | 29 | 49 | 4 | 7 | 36 | 25 | 4 | 2 | 26 | 16½ | 4½ | 5 | 8 | 9 |
11 | Arena Fanatic | 226½ | 29½ | 44 | 5 | 11 | 41 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 20 | 24 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 7 |
12 | DRatings.com | 229 | 31 | 53 | 4 | 7 | 41 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 7 |
13t | Fifth Quarter | 233 | 28 | 44 | 4 | 8 | 40 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 27 | 28½ | 4½ | 6 | 9 | 11 |
13t | USA Today | 233 | 25 | 59 | 2 | 5 | 40 | 20 | 6 | 5 | 20 | 22 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 |
15 | CollegeFootballPoll.com | 237½ | 35 | 50 | 2 | 7 | 55½ | 16 | 2 | 4 | 19 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 11 |
16 | ESPN FPI | 244 | 27 | 57 | 8 | 7 | 44 | 23 | 8 | 5 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 8 |