The 2023 American football season delivered incredible drama across both the professional and collegiate ranks, marked by a historic overtime Super Bowl, an undefeated collegiate run, and the undeniable dominance of dual-threat quarterbacks.
The NFL Season and Super Bowl LVIII
The 2023 NFL season concluded with Super Bowl LVIII on February 11, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada. It was a year defined by grueling defenses, strategic coaching, and the continued triumph of a modern football dynasty.
- The Champions: The Kansas City Chiefs successfully defended their title, defeating the San Francisco 49ers 25–22 in a thrilling overtime battle.
- MVP Performance: Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes secured his third Super Bowl MVP award, completing 34 of 46 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns. He orchestrated a masterful game-winning drive in overtime, capping it off with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman.
- Historic Length: The matchup was only the second overtime game in Super Bowl history and became the longest Super Bowl ever played, with a net playing time of 74 minutes and 57 seconds.
College Football and the Heisman Trophy
The 2023 collegiate season was the final year of the four-team College Football Playoff format, highlighted by a clash of undefeated titans in the National Championship and an elite crop of experienced quarterbacks.
- National Champions: The Michigan Wolverines capped off a perfect 15–0 season by defeating the Washington Huskies 34–13 in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Michigan’s dominant rushing attack and stifling defense secured the program’s first national title since 1997.
- Heisman Trophy: LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy after producing one of the most prolific statistical seasons in college football history.
2023 Heisman Trophy Finalists
| Player | School | Position | Total Points |
| Jayden Daniels | LSU | Quarterback | 2,029 |
| Michael Penix Jr. | Washington | Quarterback | 1,701 |
| Bo Nix | Oregon | Quarterback | 885 |
| Marvin Harrison Jr. | Ohio State | Wide Receiver | 352 |
Beyond the championship hardware, the 2023 season featured distinct milestones and shifting trends that will impact the sport for years to come:
- The Transfer Portal Era: The top three Heisman finishers—Jayden Daniels, Michael Penix Jr., and Bo Nix—were all transfer quarterbacks. Daniels, who transferred from Arizona State to LSU in 2022, became the fifth quarterback in seven seasons to win the award after transferring.
- Statistical Marvel: Jayden Daniels finished his regular season with an astounding 3,812 passing yards, 1,134 rushing yards, and 50 total touchdowns. He became the first player in FBS history to pass for 350 yards and run for 200 yards in a single game.
- A Defensive Super Bowl: Despite the offensive firepower of the Chiefs and 49ers, Super Bowl LVIII was largely a defensive struggle early on. The Chiefs were forced to overcome a 10-point deficit, marking another hallmark comeback under head coach Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes to solidify their status as a dynasty.
A Deep Dive into 2023 Football History and Highlights
- January 2, 2023 – The Rose Bowl game featured the Penn State Nittany Lions against the Utah Utes. PSU won the game 35-21, as the Game MVPs were on the Penn State side with Sean Clifford (QB) & Ji’Ayir Brown (S).
- January 9, 2023 – SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California – The National Championship Game: The Georgia Bulldogs defeated the TCU Horned Frogs 65–7 in the College Football Playoff National Championship game.
- February 2-5, 2023 – The Pro Bowl Games: The NFL officially replaced the traditional tackle football all-star game with a multi-day skills competition and a flag football game.
- March 28, 2023 – Rule changes at the NFL Owners’ Meeting included the jersey number 0 be allowed to be worn by all positions that could previously wear single digits. The Play clock will be set at 40 seconds inside the last two minutes of each half instead of 25. And a variety of lesser-impact rules.
- April 24, 2023 – Aaron Rodgers Trade: The Green Bay Packers traded the veteran quarterback to the New York Jets in a blockbuster deal that reshaped the AFC, or did it?. [Source]
- July 20, 2023 – Dan Snyder completed the sale of the Washington Commanders to Josh Harris’s group for a record $6.05 billion while being fined $60 million by the NFL following an investigation. [Source]
- August 4, 2023 – The University of Washington and the University of Oregon left the Pac-10 Conference and joined the Big Ten. [Source]
- September 1, 2023 – Stanford and Cal announced they were leaving the Pac-10 to join the ACC conference in 2024. [Source]
- December 1, 2023 – The two leftover schools after the collapse of the Pac-12 Conference, Oregon State and Washington State, entered into a scheduling agreement with the Mountain West Conference.
- December 9, 2023 – The Heisman Trophy was awarded to LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels, who led all players in total yards and set the NCAA single-season passer rating record. [Source]
