Jesse Palmer may have moved on to helping hype up “The Bachelor” craze, but the former NFL and college football quarterback still finds time to get hyped for the upcoming college football season.
The veteran analyst and television personality got the chance to chat with College Football Network ahead of the 2023 season. He not only spoke about his involvement in the “Fan Out Loud” initiative, but he also revealed who his dark horse surprise team is.
Who Does Jesse Palmer Believe Will Surprise in the 2023 Season?
Palmer, who played for Steve Spurrier in Gainesville from 1997-2000 with the Florida Gators, believes that a forgotten Big Ten powerhouse that underwent a regime change will surprise some folks this season.
“Wisconsin is a team, to me, is a dark horse that I think some people may have forgotten about,” Palmer told CFN.
MORE: Big Ten Power Rankings, 2023
While the Badgers are no strangers to becoming major players in the Big Ten Conference title hunt, the team endured an in-season coaching change by firing Paul Chryst.
However, Palmer believes Wisconsin scored a major head coaching hire victory that points to the Badgers becoming better than what many believe.
“The Luke Fickell hire from Cincinnati, I think was a home run,” Palmer began.
There’s more that fuels Palmer’s optimism for the 2023 Badgers.
“Bringing Tanner Mordecai at QB from SMU was massive,” Palmer adds, as Mordecai produced back-to-back 30 touchdown seasons in Dallas before transferring to Wisconsin.
The Badgers are also pivoting away from their run-heavy scheme from years past.
“They’re running a new Air Raid offense,” Palmer said. “Their new offensive coordinator Phil Longo comes from North Carolina, they have one of the best running back tandems in the nation, they’re going to play great defense…”
Lastly, here’s another reason for Palmer’s optimism for Wisconsin.
“They don’t play Michigan and Penn State, plus they get Iowa and Ohio State at home,” Palmer said. “I think Wisconsin can be a team that makes a lot of noise.”
Palmer Plans to Wear These Colors for ‘College Color Day’
Palmer hasn’t stored away his Florida colors even as he’s become a well-known television personality.
For College Colors Day 2023, set for Friday, he told CFN, “I’m rocking the Orange and Blue, it runs in my veins, and I’m sharing it on social media.”
But he’s hoping others join him in wearing their school colors with pride.
“I’m encouraging college football fans not just in America, but all around the world, whoever your team is and whoever you’re affiliated with, put on the gear, get in the conversation, get on social media, share it, and use the hashtag #collegecolorsday and fans can also go on website for a chance to win tickets to the national championship game in Houston,” Palmer said. “This is an awesome initiative, and it’s coming at the best time of year.”
More on College Colors Day 2023 can be found here.
Palmer, meanwhile, already has busted out the famed “Gator Chomp” as part of his involvement for Fan Out Loud on his personal Instagram page.
As for the red and white Badgers, they start their season with a date against traditional MAC power Buffalo this weekend in Week 1.
