Lingering questions following spring football from each Way-Too-Early Top 25 team
Spring football is over and the spring transfer portal window is closed, so it’s time to look at lingering questions surrounding the teams in our Way-Too-Early Top 25.
Who will win quarterback jobs for Ohio State and Michigan? Can Texas’ secondary improve?
Our reporters broke down spring overreactions already, and now they’re diving into what teams still need to figure out in the next few months.
Lingering question: What will the secondary look like this season?
The back end of Georgia’s defense remains in flux after it lost cornerback Kamari Lassiter and safeties Tykee Smith and Javon Bullard to the NFL draft. There’s plenty of talent left in the secondary, but coach Kirby Smart said the unit had a long way to go after the spring game.
Cornerback Daylen Everette and safety Malaki Starks are the returning starters; Starks was held out of contact drills in the spring after undergoing shoulder surgery. Julian Humphrey and Daniel Harris were working at the other cornerback spot, and Joenel Aguero and JaCorey Thomas were sharing snaps at the safety spots. Veteran Dan Jackson, freshman K.J. Bolden and transfer Jake Pope were in the mix at safety as well. — Mark Schlabach
Lingering question: Is Will Howard the answer at QB?
The Kansas State transfer was among Ohio State’s high-profile portal additions this offseason. Though the Buckeyes have yet to name a starter, Howard will head into the summer presumably as the favorite to win the job over incumbent backup Devin Brown and five-star recruit Julian Sayin.
The Buckeyes appear loaded on both sides of the ball. But Ohio State making noise in the College Football Playoff will hinge heavily on whether Howard — or another player — can give the Buckeyes improved quarterback play from last season. — Jake Trotter
Lingering question: Can the secondary defend the passing game this season?
We know the Ducks have the personnel and the mindset to be physical on the line of scrimmage, but how will they defend the pass game this coming season? Last year, Oregon allowed 3,022 passing yards all season, which ranked 95th in the country.
However, the Ducks did force 12 key interceptions too, and you get the feeling that their success on that side of the field this coming season will depend a lot on how much havoc they can wreak on opposing offenses and quarterbacks. The spring game was a positive sign in that regard, as true freshman cornerback Dakoda Fields made a great play downfield and snagged an interception. — Paolo Uggetti
Lingering question: Can the secondary turn it around?
A highlight of the Texas spring game was the big performances from quarterbacks Arch Manning and Trey Owens as they each threw three touchdown passes, with Manning throwing for more than 350 yards. That’s a positive way to look at a talented Texas offense. However, there’s also the matter of the secondary, which finished 113th in passing yards allowed last season at 254.4 yards per game, allowing all those big plays once again.
The fallout from the game was quick, as junior Terrance Brooks, who started 13 games last fall, entered the transfer portal three days later. Texas did get a commitment this week from San Jose State corner Jay’Vion Cole, who had seven interceptions in the past two seasons. — Dave Wilson
Lingering question: Are there any true stars at receiver?
The Irish haven’t had a receiver with 500 yards since 2021, and even those days weren’t full of elite talent. Since Chase Claypool departed after the 2019 season, it has been more of a patchwork corps, often more reliant on tight ends for big plays. Can this year be different?
The Irish believe this could finally be the breakout season for Jayden Thomas, and they added two potential impact transfers in Kris Mitchell (FIU) and Beaux Collins (Clemson). Jaden Greathouse and Jordan Faison each showed some flashes as freshmen last year, too, so there’s ample hope their development continues. It’s a group with great potential, but Notre Dame has heard that story before. — David Hale
Lingering question: How will the running back rotation shake out?
Ole Miss didn’t shed a lot of tears when leading rusher Quinshon Judkins bolted for Ohio State this offseason. Nonetheless, 2,725 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns over two seasons aren’t easily replaced. The projected starter, Ulysses Bentley IV, has experience as the primary ball carrier when he was at SMU in 2020 and 2021. He rushed for 540 yards and four touchdowns as Judkins’ backup last season after battling injuries in 2022 in his first season at Ole Miss. Bentley was limited this spring with turf toe on his left foot and underwent surgery. He should be ready to go for preseason camp and will have plenty of competition.
Henry Parrish Jr., who started his career at Ole Miss, returns after transferring from Miami. Jacory Croskey-Merritt also transferred in from New Mexico after rushing for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. The Rebels hope former LSU running back Logan Diggs can return from offseason knee surgery at some point during the 2024 season. Sophomore Kedrick Reescano got most of the carries this spring after not getting any carries last season. — Chris Low
Lingering question: Who will replace Cody Schrader?
It’s probably unrealistic to think that one person is going to replace Schrader, who was a star at running back last season for Missouri with an SEC-leading 1,627 rushing yards. Schrader’s consistency and ability to produce in key moments and games were a constant in what the Tigers were able to do on offense a year ago.
Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz may look to use more running backs in 2024. Transfers Marcus Carroll (Georgia State) and Nate Noel (Appalachian State) have both played a lot of football. Missouri running backs coach Curtis Luper said Carroll and Noel remind him of the Tyler Badie–Larry Rountree duo in 2020. Jamal Roberts and Tavorus Jones are the holdovers at running back, but they combined for just one carry last season. — Low
Lingering question: Who will QB Drew Allar be throwing to?
KeAndre Lambert-Smith transferred to Auburn last month, leaving the Nittany Lions without a single returning wideout to post more than 250 receiving yards last season. Harrison Wallace III, who had five grabs in Penn State’s spring game, and Ohio State transfer Julian Fleming, who started 22 games over his career for the Buckeyes, are sure to play key roles. Kaden Saunders, who caught a touchdown from Allar in the spring game, could give the Nittany Lions some pop as well. — Trotter
Lingering question: Who will be Alabama’s finishers off the edge on defense?
Edge rushers Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell have gone to the NFL, and they take with them a combined 18 sacks from a year ago. Alabama has been blessed with a bevy of elite pass-rushers over the years, but there are no obvious replacements for the 2024 season. That doesn’t mean the Crimson Tide are lacking in talent.
The new defensive staff liked what it saw this spring from redshirt junior Keanu Koht and redshirt freshman Qua Russaw. At 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds, Russaw showcased both power and quickness. Redshirt senior Quandarrius Robinson has the most experience, and the Tide hope he can have a breakout season. Redshirt freshman Keon Keeley came to Alabama as one of the top linebacker prospects in the country, but has moved to bandit end in new defensive coordinator Kane Wommack’s 4-2-5 scheme and could provide some pass-rushing punch. — Low
Lingering question: Can Cam Rising stay healthy?
Even though Rising is back and recovered from his knee surgery for one last college season, it remains unclear how he will play and react physically to live play and tackling. After the Utes’ spring game — during which he threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns in three series — Rising looked comfortable and said he felt “strong.”
One of Rising’s talents before his surgery was his ability to move out of the pocket and make plays with his feet. He didn’t do too much of that during the spring game, but that dimension of his game is one the Utes will certainly need in the fall. No matter what, Utah will benefit greatly from Rising’s experience and veteran presence on and off the field. Time will tell if and when he can get fully back to that version of himself that helped the Utes secure back-to-back Pac-12 titles. — Uggetti
Lingering question: How much will Jordan Morgan be missed?
The 2024 first-round draft pick selected by the Green Bay Packers was the lynchpin of the Wildcats’ offensive line — and subsequent offensive attack under quarterback Noah Fifita last season. The All-Pac 12 left tackle was a force who set the tone for the entire group. Even though Arizona returned the rest of its starting line to Tucson, not having Morgan as an anchor to build the line around has forced them to go back to the drawing board in figuring out what the unit will look like.
There’s plenty of talent remaining with players such as Jonah Savaiinaea, three-year starter Josh Baker, Wendell Moe and Raymond Pulido — a true freshman last year who earned a starting spot on the line. There’s no shortage of talent, but finding the right combination and chemistry, something the Wildcats tried to do this spring, will be a key factor in ensuring their offensive attack is one of the most prolific in the country. — Uggetti
Lingering question: Who will play defensive tackle?
The Tigers have two glaring holes on the interior defensive line after Mekhi Wingo and Maason Smith departed for the NFL. Veteran Jacobian Guillory will probably start at one spot after totaling 51 tackles and 0.5 sack in 39 games. Converted offensive lineman Kimo Makane’ole and Florida transfer Jalen Lee were working at the other spot during the spring.
Incoming freshman Dominick McKinley might provide some help this season, but the Tigers were still looking to add at least one more tackle via the transfer portal. Defensive end Ahmad Breaux moved inside to help in the spring. LSU missed out on a couple of big transfer targets in Damonic Williams (TCU to Oklahoma) and Simeon Barrow Jr. (Michigan State to Miami). — Schlabach
Lingering question: Who will win the QB job?
The battle to replace J.J. McCarthy remains wide open heading into the summer. Jack Tuttle, entering his seventh season, backed up McCarthy last fall and has the most experience but is coming back from an injury. Davis Warren was the star of the spring game. Alex Orji can run and throw. Jayden Denegal and freshman Jadyn Davis could factor in the mix, as well. Who emerges in the preseason will be the storyline to watch as Michigan enters into a new era. — Trotter
Lingering question: What will the full-strength offense look like?
Jackson Arnold took some deep shots in the spring game, going 10-of-20 for 233 yards with two touchdowns, including a 64-yard pass to Purdue receiver transfer Deion Burks, who was the star of the show with 174 yards and two scores on five catches. But the Sooners took the field without receivers Jalil Farooq, Andrel Anthony and Nic Anderson, and with no Jovantae Barnes at running back.
With so many bodies at the position, receiver Gavin Freeman has already opted to transfer to Oklahoma State. But with a new-look offensive line, a new offensive coordinator in Seth Littrell and a new starting QB in Arnold, there’s still plenty of curiosity about what shape the offense will take with all the starters back in the lineup. — Wilson
Lingering question: Who will step up in the front seven?
Florida State loses its top two linebackers and tacklers in Kalen DeLoach (drafted No. 68) and Tatum Bethune (No. 70), in addition to its sack leader in Jared Verse (No. 9). Those three are important players for the Seminoles to replace — particularly DeLoach, who did just about everything as the heart of the defense a year ago, with 10.5 tackles for loss, an interception and two forced fumbles.
Let’s start at linebacker, where Florida State expects veteran DJ Lundy to step up and become the leader of the unit. Coaches are also high on Blake Nichelson, who showed flashes as a true freshman. Up front, Florida State returns veterans who will take on bigger roles, including Pat Payton and Joshua Farmer, while it also expects a big year from transfer Marvin Jones Jr., who played well in the spring game. Watch for Darrell Jackson in the interior of the defense as well, after he sat out last year because of NCAA transfer rules. Finding the right rotation up front so Florida State can go two-deep will be an area to watch come fall camp. — Andrea Adelson
Lingering question: What will Tennessee’s secondary look like?
The Vols lost their top six defensive backs from a year ago, some who were multiyear starters, so there’s not really a veteran presence on the back end. But a handful of defensive backs return who played meaningful snaps during the latter part of the 2023 season, including cornerbacks Rickey Gibson III and safeties Andre Turrentine and Jourdan Thomas, who’s poised to take over at the hybrid “star” role.
The big get in the portal was Oregon State cornerback Jermod McCoy, who earned Freshman All-America honors a year ago. Temple transfer Jalen McMurray was one of Tennessee’s most consistent cornerbacks this spring, and true freshman Boo Carter and Middle Tennessee transfer Jakobe Thomas are both new faces to watch at safety. — Low
Lingering question: Who will start at defensive end?
Given the returning production for Oklahoma State, it’s much better positioned going into this season than it was last year. However, one area that we probably won’t know who starts until the season is at defensive end.
Kody Walterscheid has the most game experience at the position with 17 starts and 50 games played. Obi Ezeigbo is a Division II transfer the team hopes can make the leap to Big 12 football. There’s familiarity with Ezeigbo, since Gannon University is where defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo was before coming to Stillwater. — Harry Lyles Jr.
Lingering question: Can the Wolfpack run the ball?
Yes, we saw transfers Jordan Waters and Hollywood Smothers turn in nice performances in the spring game. But last year, NC State had to rely on QB Brennan Armstrong and receiver KC Concepcion to handle virtually all rushing duties.
Over the past three seasons, NC State’s running backs averaged less than 100 yards per game on the ground (119th in FBS in that span). And at the root of the problem is the run blocking, which has afforded tailbacks 1.67 yards before contact per carry since the start of 2021, good for 123rd nationally. The pieces looked much better this spring, but NC State’s backfield still has a lot to prove. — Hale
Lingering question: Is the secondary elite?
A year ago, Clemson’s defense was among the best in the country, led in large part by an elite secondary that just saw one of its corners — Nate Wiggins— selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Gone, too, are safety Andrew Mukuba (transferred to Texas), safety Jalyn Phillips and corner Sheridan Jones. Yet, there is certainly a case to be made that the new faces have a higher ceiling.
Junior Jeadyn Lukus was a five-star recruit when he arrived, and he has gotten snippets of playing time in each of the past two years, though he’ll be battling sophomore Shelton Lewis for playing time. Sophomore Avieon Terrell — the younger brother of former Clemson standout A.J. Terrell — should step seamlessly into a starting corner role, which he held for parts of last season. And returners R.J. Mickens and Khalil Barnes have flashed impressive potential. The question comes from a limited number of snaps, but the ceiling for the group certainly looks high. — Hale
Lingering question: Can Avery Johnson live up to the starting QB role?
We’re not going to know the answer to this question until the season starts, but it feels like the biggest lingering question remains how good can Avery Johnson be in replacing Will Howard. There’s reason for optimism on the ground, given the presence of Johnson, DJ Giddens and Dylan Edwards.
Elsewhere, this is a team that has lost its best pass-catchers in Phillip Brooks and Ben Sinnott, and four of its six offensive linemen who started in 2023, including new Dallas Cowboy Cooper Beebe. Adjustments have been made, but seeing how the final product forms remains the biggest question. — Lyles
Lingering question: Is the transfer portal helping Louisville?
Louisville has had great success using the transfer portal — in fact, its 27 additions a year ago helped the Cardinals make the ACC championship game in Year 1 under coach Jeff Brohm.
This spring, there have been a few question marks after incoming transfers Peny Boone and Tyler Baron quickly reentered the transfer portal after spending one semester with the Cards. Add in returning linebacker Jaylin Alderman, who also entered the portal in the spring and has since committed to Miami, and there are some lingering questions about what exactly happened. — Adelson
Lingering question: Will the new offensive line work, and will it be enough to keep QB Jalon Daniels healthy?
The Jayhawks allowed the fewest sacks in the Big 12 in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Coming out of 2023, they lose three starters in Dominick Puni, Mike Novitsky and Ar’maj Reed-Adams, as well as OL coach Scott Fuchs.
Daryl Agpalsa is Fuchs’ replacement and will be tasked with reshaping a line that will hopefully help keep Daniels healthy, which will be the key to any success the Jayhawks have this season. — Lyles
Lingering question: Who will replace Ray Davis?
There are some big shoes to fill in the backfield after Davis was a one-and-done starter at tailback for the Wildcats. The former Vanderbilt transfer accounted for 68% of Kentucky’s rushing yards and 78% of its rushing touchdowns in 2023.
That’s not good news for an offense that ranked 12th in the SEC with 127.9 yards per game. Chip Trayanum is a veteran runner who was stuck behind TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams at Ohio State the past two seasons. Former NC State transfer Demie Sumo-Karngbaye and freshman Jason Patterson seemed to be next in line during the spring. With four starting offensive linemen coming back, Kentucky has to figure out a way to be more efficient in the running game. — Schlabach
Lingering question: How will Miami’s revamped defensive front fare?
Miami returns freshman All-American Rueben Bain to anchor a unit that will have a different look in 2024. Seven players have entered the transfer portal since the season ended, but the Hurricanes have gone into the portal to help solidify the position.
Elijah Alston (Marshall), C.J. Clark (NC State) and Marley Cook (Middle Tennessee) participated in spring ball, and there are a few early enrollee freshmen who could contribute as well in Marquise Lightfoot and Armondo Blount. Plus, Miami is hoping Akheem Mesidor is back to full strength after he was hurt in Week 2 last year and missed the rest of the season. — Adelson
Lingering question: How will Conner Weigman look in the Aggies’ new offense?
The Aggies limped to the end of the Jimbo Fisher era with multiple quarterbacks starting games the past two seasons. With a new coach in Mike Elko and a new offensive coordinator in Collin Klein, there is new opportunity for a quarterbacks room that has already earned some confidence.
Weigman started eight games in the past two seasons and had moments where he looked like a star in the making (five TDs in last year’s season opener, 336 yards passing vs. Miami). But Jaylen Henderson looked like a star in relief, completing 25 of 35 passes for 294 yards and two TDs on the road against LSU late in the year, before freshman Marcel Reed took over for an injured Henderson in the Texas Bowl to throw for 361 yards and run for 44 more against Oklahoma State. Weigman (foot) was still limited this spring, going just 5-of-14 in the spring game, but Elko was all positive about Weigman’s trajectory and the work he put in this spring to learn the offense despite not being 100%. — Wilson
There’s no conference quite as unpredictable as the Big 12.
Two seasons ago, TCU was coming off a 5-7 season, was picked to finish seventh in the league, then went undefeated in the regular season and beat Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl before losing to Georgia in the national title game, finishing 13-2. The next season, they finished 5-7 again.
Last year, Arizona State, coming off a 3-9 season, was picked to finish 16th in its first year in the league, then won the conference title and took Texas to the wire in a 39-31 loss in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Peach Bowl. Utah, the preseason favorites and another newcomer, finished 5-7, its worst season since 2013. Entering Week 14 of the 2024 season, nine teams were still in mathematical contention for the league title.
None of them was Oklahoma State, which finished 10-4 in 2023 and fell to 3-9 and 0-9 in conference games in 2024 despite returning Ollie Gordon II. Baylor, which was 3-9 in ’23, finished 8-5. TCU bounced back to 9-4 last year.
You get the idea. Anyone can show up at any time. Even the league’s two new coaches are returning to past glory, as Rich Rodriguez took the winding roads back to West Virginia and Scott Frost returned from orbit to UCF.
If last year is any indication, nothing we think between now and December will matter. That’s why it’s exciting to start spring practice, when everyone is undefeated and anything is possible. Don’t disappoint us, Big 12. — Dave Wilson
2024 record: 4-8 (2-7 Big 12)
Spring storyline: Much like their friends in Tempe, the Wildcats are among the teams with the most returning production in the country at 66% (16th overall). However, coming off a 4-8 season in Brent Brennan’s first year, the hope has to be that returning production will be, well, a little more productive. Arizona will have 53 new players, with 25 being transfers. Seeing how the old blend with the new, and who steps up will be the centerpiece.
Position of intrigue: Wide receiver. QB Noah Fifita will be back, and it will be important to have weapons around him, especially with receiver Tetairoa McMillan off to the NFL. Transfers Kris Hutson (Wazzu), Tre Spivey (Kansas State) and Luke Wysong (New Mexico) will be looking to cement themselves in the rotation.
Player to watch: RB Ismail Mahdi. Another transfer, Mahdi has been one of the better backs in the Sun Belt the last couple of seasons. Arizona will need him to be just as prolific in the Big 12. — Harry Lyles
2024 record: 11-3 (7-2 Big 12)
Spring storyline: The Sun Devils were a team that surprised many last year, winning the Big 12 championship in their first season in the conference, and giving Texas a run for their money in the Peach Bowl. This spring and going into 2025, it’s all about building on last year’s success, especially with 79% of last year’s production returning, per ESPN’s Bill Connelly.
Position of intrigue: Cornerback. Javan Robinson is back, which is key for the Sun Devils. Kenny Dillingham also hit the portal and brought in Nyland Green from Purdue and Adrian Wilson from Washington State. They’ll be trying to improve a leaky secondary which ranked 81st against the pass last season.
Player to watch: RB Kanye Udoh. Losing a guy like Cam Skattebo is never easy. But bringing in Udoh, who ran for 1,117 yards and 10 TDs last season at Army, feels like it could ease the transition. — Lyles
2024 record: 8-5 (6-3 Big 12)
Spring storyline: Dave Aranda, never one to stand pat with assistants, shook up his staff after a 3-9 season in 2023 and then started 2-4, with all four losses to the only Power 4 teams the Bears faced. But they flipped a switch and won six straight before a Texas Bowl loss to LSU to finish 8-5 as freshman Bryson Washington broke out at running back and Sawyer Robertson (3,071 yards, 28 TDs to eight INTs) took control of Jake Spavital’s offense. Can the Bears keep building?
Position of intrigue: Baylor had the 94th-ranked pass defense last season, then hired Paul Gonzales, a longtime assistant for Gary Patterson and Sonny Dykes at TCU, as the corners coach and pass game coordinator, while adding DB transfers Calvin Simpson-Hunt from Ohio State, Tyler Turner from Oregon and Devin Turner from Northwestern.
Player to watch: 6-foot-2, 224-pound linebacker Keaton Thomas had 221 tackles over the past two seasons after arriving from Northeast Mississippi Community College and played with a cast on his hand for two months. A healthy Thomas is a problem. —Wilson
2024 record: 11-2 (7-2 Big 12)
Spring storyline: The Cougars fell devastatingly short of the Big 12 championship game last year, being edged out in a tiebreaker and finishing with an 11-2 season and the No. 13 ranking. Jake Retzlaff returns from a breakout season along with his best receiver (Chase Roberts) and running back (LJ Martin) and the core of a stout defense, including Isaiah Glasker, who led the Big 12 in tackles for loss. They’re not under the radar heading into this spring.
Position of intrigue: BYU allowed just 19.6 points per game last year, but one of their strengths was the defensive line, where star Tyler Batty is gone, along with several other key rotation pieces. The Cougars are excited to grab Keanu Tanuvasa from rival Utah and are expecting him to pick up where they left off, along with Texas transfer Tausili Akana, who has added weight and will be an edge rusher.
Player to watch: Keelan Marion, who was an All-America kick returner last year while catching 24 passes, is expected to be a bigger part of the passing offense this season. — Wilson
2024 record: 4-8 (2-7 Big 12)
Spring storyline: It’s a new era with a familiar face at UCF as coach Scott Frost opens his second stint in charge of the Knights. UCF has signed nearly 30 transfer additions since Frost returned in December, so projecting the Knights in 2025 is difficult. But Frost’s ability to get the most out of this overhauled roster in Year 1 will be the first step in his efforts to pull the program back to the heights he previously lifted UCF to in 2016 and 2017.
Position of intrigue: Quarterback. UCF is the site for perhaps the most intriguing quarterback battle in the conference. Indiana transfer Tayven Jackson carries intriguing potential, while former FAU and Marshall quarterback Cam Fancher brings 26 games of starting experience. Dylan Rizk and Jacurri Brown remain on the roster as a pair of quarterbacks who will aim to push the transfer newcomers in a wide-open competition that could run into the fall.
Player to watch: Transfer defensive end Sincere Edwards cracked Pitt’s pass-rush rotation and logged 17 tackles with three sacks in his freshman season last fall. If he can secure a starting role, Edwards could be poised for a breakout season in 2025. —Eli Lederman
2024 record: 5-7 (3-6 Big 12)
Spring storyline: Can the Bearcats build upon what seems to be somewhat of a foundation? Offensively, QB Brendan Sorsby is back after a solid 2024 campaign. Defensively, an experienced group returns second-leading tackler Jake Golday, along with Dontay Corleone on the defensive line. Along with 15 transfer portal additions, Cincinnati could potentially take a step forward from a 5-7 season in which they lost the last five games.
Position of intrigue: Running back. The departure of Corey Kiner is big for this team, as he had 1,153 yards on the ground last season. But in comes Tawee Walker, who has experience at Oklahoma and more recently Wisconsin last season, where he had 864 yards and 10 touchdowns. He could end up being a solid replacement, but the position will be key given the reliability that Kiner brought during the 2024 campaign.
Player to watch: Cornerback Matthew McDoom. A skilled leader at Coastal Carolina last season, he could fit in nicely with a defense that returns plenty in 2025. — Lyles
2024 record: 9-4 (7-2 Big 12)
Spring storyline: Can Colorado remain a Big 12 contender in the post-Shedeur Sanders/Travis Hunter era? The Buffaloes found an experienced replacement for Sanders in Liberty quarterback transfer Kaidon Salter, though the 29-game starter is expected to face competition from five-star freshman Julian Lewis. Defensive backs DJ McKinney, Carter Stoutmire, Preston Hodge and Colton Hood return to a secondary that finished 40th in passing yards per game last season.
Position of intrigue: Wide receiver. Between the departures of Hunter and fellow pass catchers LaJohntay Wester, Will Sheppard and Jimmy Horn, Colorado enters the spring down 255 receptions, 3,251 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns of production from a year ago. That leaves Drelon Miller and Omarion Miller as the program’s only returning receivers who hit double-digit receptions in 2024, while Tulsa wide receiver transfer Joseph Williams — the reigning AAC Freshman of the Year — arrives to a position group screaming for fresh production.
Player to watch: Alabama defensive tackle transfer Jeheim Oatis started 13 games and recorded 52 tackles, five pass breakups and 1.5 sacks in two-plus seasons with the Crimson Tide. He could emerge as a key piece at the heart of a new-look interior defensive line unit at Colorado this fall. — Lederman
2024 record: 4-8 (3-6 Big 12)
Spring storyline: Willie Fritz begins his second spring at Houston with two new coordinators: His first hire on offense, Kevin Barbay, was fired after the Cougars ranked last in the FBS in scoring offense and replaced by Fritz’s former Tulane OC, Slade Nagle. Defensive coordinator Shiel Wood departed for a big raise at Texas Tech and was replaced by Austin Armstrong, formerly Florida’s DC.
Position of intrigue: Offensive line. The Cougars’ struggles on offense last season started up front, and Fritz, who had arrived in December after Dana Holgorsen was fired, had to patch plenty of holes. This year, the Cougars landed five offensive linemen in the portal to help bolster their protection.
Player to watch: Former Texas A&M starter Conner Weigman, a five-star recruit when he signed with the Aggies, was a high school star in the Houston area and will get a fresh start after a coaching and scheme change in Aggieland. —Wilson
2024 record: 11-3 (7-2 Big 12)
Spring storyline: Iowa State reached the Big 12 title game and turned in the winningest campaign in program history last fall. Quarterback Rocco Becht returns in 2025, but he’ll be leaning on new pass catchers this spring with transfers Chase Sowell (East Carolina) and Xavier Townsend (UCF) arriving with the tall task of replacing 1,100-yard receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel within an offense that finished sixth in the conference in passing yards.
Position of intrigue: Secondary. Safeties Beau Freyler and Malik Verdon lead a group of four departing starters from the back end of the Cyclones’ defense. Those exits will spell increased opportunities for safeties Ta’Shawn James and Jamison Patton. Elsewhere, coach Matt Campbell turned to the portal for Lindenwood cornerback transfer Tre Bell, an experienced addition to an otherwise lightly tested position group.
Player to watch: Linebacker Caleb Bacon was Iowa State’s second-leading tackler in 2023 before a lower leg injury derailed his season last fall. The former walk-on should step right back in as a central piece in coordinator Jon Heacock’s defense in 2025. — Lederman
2024 record: 5-7 (4-5 Big 12)
Spring storyline: Sixth-year quarterback Jalon Daniels will be limited in spring camp after undergoing recent knee surgery. Daniels, a 33-game starter for the Jayhawks, missed 14 games across the 2022 and 2023 seasons but returned to start all 12 for Kansas last fall, eventually leading the program to three consecutive ranked wins in November. Assuming he’s healthy come Week 1, Daniels will be a motor for Kansas once again in 2025.
Position of intrigue: Running back. Devin Neal’s 1,266 rushing yards powered the Big 12’s third-ranked ground game in 2024. With Neal off to the NFL, redshirt senior Daniel Hishaw Jr. remains as the Jayhawks’ most experienced returner in the backfield. Iowa transfer running back Leshon Williams will also contend for carries and could emerge as a weapon if he can regain his form from the 2023 season.
Player to watch: Wide receiver Bryson Canty, a transfer from Columbia, caught 43 passes for 760 yards and nine touchdowns last fall. He has the chance to become an important piece in a passing attack missing its top seven pass catchers from a year ago. — Lederman
2024 record: 9-4 (5-4 Big 12)
Spring storyline: Expectations are about to go up another notch for QB Avery Johnson. His first full year as a starter was solid, with 2,712 yards passing, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also had 605 yards on the ground along with seven touchdowns. If Johnson can take a leap in 2025, Kansas State is going to be a difficult out every Saturday.
Position of intrigue: Wide receiver. Part of Johnson’s improvement can come in part because of the Wildcats’ efforts to improve here. Jayce Brown returning is big, and they hit the portal nabbing Jerand Bradley from Boston College, Jaron Tibbs from Purdue, and Caleb Medford from New Mexico.
Player to watch: RB Dylan Edwards. DJ Giddens has been a workhorse for this team the last couple of years, and seeing how Edwards takes over with more responsibility will be key for this team. — Lyles
2024 record: 3-9 (0-9 Big 12)
Spring storyline: Coach Mike Gundy responded to the worst finish of his tenure (and a contract-related standoff with the university) by hiring an entirely new staff of assistants and he’ll enter 2025 with an equally unfamiliar roster. TCU transfer Hauss Hejny is the favorite to emerge from a crowded quarterback room, and Oklahoma State must replace the production of Ollie Gordon, De’Zhaun Stribling and a handful of key defenders if the Cowboys want to execute a quick turnaround in 2025.
Position of intrigue: Offensive line. Oklahoma State is replacing its top six snap-getters from an offensive line that allowed 13 sacks last fall, 10th-fewest nationally. In 2025, the Cowboys’ blocking unit projects to be transfer-heavy following the portal arrivals of Tyler Brumfield (Snow Junior College), Louie Canepa (New Mexico State), Kasen Carpenter (Tulsa), Lavaka Taukeiaho (Weber State). Alongside them, redshirt junior Austin Kawecki is the only returner who played more than 100 snaps last fall.
Player to watch: Defensive line transfer Kyran Duhon was a second-team All-CUSA selection after he totaled 43 tackles and seven sacks in his freshman season at UTEP. His ability to get into the backfield will be critical for a defense that lost a series of impact defenders this season, including Collin Oliver and Nick Martin. — Lederman
2024 record: 9-4 (6-3 Big 12)
Spring storyline: Coming off a 5-7 season in 2023 following a historic win over Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl and a national title game blowout, last season got off to a rocky 3-3 start, including a lopsided loss to rival SMU and a home defeat to a struggling Houston team. But as Josh Hoover (3,949 yards, 27 TDs, 11 INTs) cut down on turnovers, the Frogs sailed to a 9-4 finish, winning their last four straight. Finding a running game to keep defenses off-balance is key.
Position of intrigue: The Frogs lost a combined 179 catches with the graduation of their three top targets: Savion Williams, Jack Bech and JP Richardson. Idaho’s Jordan Dwyer, who caught 78 passes for 1,192 yards with 12 touchdowns last year, was a big addition in the portal, choosing TCU over USC, Georgia and others.
Player to watch: TCU landed the Big 12’s best-rated recruiting class, and 6-5, 230-pound edge rusher Chad Woodfork, the No. 54 player in the 2025 ESPN 300, was the gem. — Wilson
2024 record: 8-5 (6-3 Big 12)
Spring storyline: The Red Raiders were the talk of the college football personnel world this offseason, going big in the portal, spending more than $10 million to sign 17 new players, including seven on the offensive and defensive lines. But the expectations that go along with that, of course, is that Joey McGuire, 23-16 in his three seasons in Lubbock, wins the Big 12 and makes a run at the College Football Playoff.
Position of intrigue: Shiel Wood arrives as the new defensive coordinator after the Red Raiders finished 126th in total defense in 2024. The secondary was particularly troubling, giving up 308.1 passing yards per game, 132nd nationally. Five members of that transfer haul are defensive backs.
Player to watch: Romello Height is an interesting prospect. The 6-3, 240-pound edge rusher spent two seasons at Auburn out of high school, transferred to USC, then Georgia Tech and now Texas Tech. In 36 career games, he has 73 tackles (15.5 for loss) and 6.5 sacks. — Wilson
2024 record: 5-7 (2-7 Big 12)
Spring storyline: Utah is turning to first-year offensive coordinator Jason Beck and a cast of newcomers to revamp an offense that finished 115th nationally in yards per game last season. Beck brought transfer quarterback Devon Dampier with him from New Mexico, and the Utes will hope that eight new additions across their running back and wide receiver rooms can lift Utah back to conference contention following the program’s first losing season since 2013.
Position of intrigue: Cornerback. After leading the Utes to the conference’s fifth-ranked pass defense in 2024, the cornerback unit projects to be a strength again in the fall despite the departure of former all-conference defender Zemaiah Vaughn. Upperclassmen Smith Snowden and Elijah Davis are back in 2025, and the Utes have reinforced at the position with the portal additions of Donovan Saunders (Texas A&M), Blake Cotton (UC Davis) and Rock Caldwell (Garden City Community College).
Player to watch: Transfer running back Wayshawn Parker carried 137 times for 735 yards as Washington State’s second-leading rusher in his freshman season last fall. He’s primed to take on an even bigger workload with Utah in 2025 stepping in to replace 1,000-yard rusher Micah Bernard. — Lederman
2024 record: 6-7 (5-4 Big 12)
Spring storyline: Rich Rodriguez is back in Morgantown after a nearly 20-year absence. Rodriguez led West Virginia to their most exciting seasons in school history in the mid-2000s, and Mountaineer faithful hopes he can rekindle a similar flame. The 2025 season will be somewhat of a reset.
Position of intrigue: Running back. West Virginia’s rushing attack was essentially a three-headed monster last season between QB Garrett Greene and running backs Jahiem White and CJ Donaldson. Only White will be back from that group, with Greene gone to the NFL and Donaldson having transferred to Ohio State. Whether White gets a new running mate, or is able to take on a greater load will be noteworthy.
Player to watch: QB Nicco Marchiol. Marchiol has made a handful of appearances over the past two seasons and will be replacing Greene. — Lyles
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Andrea Adelson
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Andrea Adelson
ESPN Senior Writer
- ACC reporter.
- Joined ESPN.com in 2010.
- Graduate of the University of Florida.
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David Hale
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David Hale
ESPN Staff Writer
- College football reporter.
- Joined ESPN in 2012.
- Graduate of the University of Delaware.
March is a busy month on the sports calendar, with college basketball jumping headlong into tournament season, the NBA and NHL hitting their playoff pushes and baseball getting ready for Opening Day.
It also provides college football coaches, players and fans with their first look at what could be in store for the 2025 season as teams conduct spring practices.
We begin our power conference spring previews with the ACC, which has no shortage of compelling storylines.
How will Georgia transfer Carson Beck fare at Miami as Cam Ward’s replacement as the Canes’ starting quarterback? Can Clemson’s defense deliver as the Tigers seem poised for big things? What does SMU do for an encore after ripping through the ACC unbeaten in its first season in the conference? How does Florida State pick up the pieces from a 2-10 campaign in 2024?
And then there’s North Carolina, which opens camp with Bill Belichick in charge after one of the most shocking coaching hires in recent memory.
Here’s a look at the top storyline, a position of intrigue and player to watch for every ACC team as spring camps get underway.
2024 record: 7-6 (4-4 ACC)
Spring storyline: Who’s the starting QB? In 2023, BC named a starter, then made a switch by Week 2. In 2024, BC again benched its starter, Thomas Castellanos, during the season, which led to his transfer. Now the Eagles enter spring with Grayson James as the incumbent but a big-name transfer in Dylan Lonergan pushing for the job. Getting this decision right the first time might be critical if the Eagles want to finally get over that seven-win hump.
Position of intrigue: The offensive line has long been a position of strength for BC, including on last year’s group, which featured an All-ACC season from Ozzy Trapilo. He’s gone, as is stalwart center Drew Kendall, and the Eagles are looking to rebuild with some veteran talent from the FCS ranks, including Amir Johnson (Merrimack) and Tommy Matheson (Princeton).
Player to watch: Linebacker Bryce Steele took a redshirt year in 2024 while recovering from cancer. He saw serious action in BC’s bowl game, however, and he hopes to be back to full strength for 2025, where he’ll compete for a starting job in hopes of regaining the reputation he held as a blue-chip recruit.
2024 record: 6-7 (2-6)
Spring storyline: Coach Justin Wilcox overhauled his offensive staff after the Bears lost four games by 5 points or fewer in their ACC debut, culminating with yet another season with more frustration than joy. Wilcox hired former Boise State and Auburn coach Bryan Harsin as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, while also bringing in new assistants to coach the offensive line, receivers and running backs. He also hired former Washington State coach Nick Rolovich as a senior offensive assistant. Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon is reportedly moving on to the New Orleans Saints, which means this staff will look almost entirely different when spring kicks off.
Position of intrigue: Fernando Mendoza transferred to Indiana, leaving an open quarterback competition behind. Ohio State transfer Devin Brown is expected to compete with true freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who transferred to the Bears a month after signing with Oregon. Sagapolutele had flipped to Oregon after initially committing to Cal, but after joining the Ducks for their Rose Bowl prep, he changed his mind and decided he wanted to come to Cal after all.
Player to watch: Cal got huge news when running back Jaydn Ott decided to return for one more year after an ankle injury hindered him for most of 2024. With Ott and Jaivian Thomas returning, Cal has one of the best running back duos in the ACC.
2024 record: 10-4 (7-1)
Spring storyline: There’s a new sheriff on D, as Clemson parted ways with Wes Goodwin in favor of former Penn State coordinator Tom Allen. The goal is to rejuvenate a pass rush that has floundered in recent years, and fresh off a dominant season coaching the likes of Abdul Carter, Allen should have plenty to work with, including T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, on the line of scrimmage.
Position of intrigue: The Tigers were stymied by a late-season injury to Phil Mafah, and they struggled to get the running game going down the stretch. This spring, Clemson will be looking to iron out a backfield that has ample options but no lead rusher. Former blue-chip receiver Adam Randall is making the full-time switch to tailback, and he’ll get plenty of run alongside David Eziomume, but the biggest name to watch might be freshman Gideon Davidson, whom Dabo Swinney believes could be the best first-year back in the country.
Player to watch: In what might have been the biggest shocker of the offseason, Clemson took a big name from the transfer portal for the first time, landing former Purdue edge rusher Will Heldt. That he’s Swinney’s first big signing in the portal means Heldt will undoubtedly be an object of fascination around Death Valley, but the bigger story is that Clemson is desperate for a big impact off the edge — something that was sorely lacking at times in 2024.
2024 record: 9-4 (5-3)
Spring storyline: Is Duke ready to push into the ACC’s upper echelon? Here’s a fun fact: The only teams with more conference wins in the past three years than Duke (14) are Clemson and Louisville. After last season’s surprising 9-4 finish, Duke spent big to land transfer Darian Mensah at QB, and expectations are incredibly high in Durham for the first time in — well, it’s been a while.
Position of intrigue: Mensah was the big offseason splash, but there remains a question as to who he’ll be throwing the ball to. The Blue Devils’ top two receivers and their leading pass catcher at tight end from 2024 are all gone. In their wake, Duke will rely on third-year option Que’Sean Brown, who emerged late in the season, and a pair of transfers in Andrel Anthony (from Oklahoma) and Cooper Barkate (from Princeton).
Player to watch: Jaquez Moore was supposed to be a centerpiece to Duke’s offense in 2024, but an early injury upended his season, and he finished with just 32 carries. He’s healthy again, and if he can get back into the form he showed as an all-around playmaker in 2022 and 2023, the Blue Devils should have a nicely balanced attack.
2024 record: 2-10 (1-7)
Spring storyline: Can Will Smith or Tommy Lee Jones show up on day one and zap away all memories of 2024? If so, that’d be a good start for Florida State, a team that went from the penthouse (13-0, ACC title before a bowl blowout in 2023) to the outhouse (2-10 and a big part of the coaching staff fired in 2024). The Seminoles are looking to find their footing again. Mike Norvell said he has invested in the right guys — attitude, work ethic, character — in the transfer portal, but there’s a lot of work to be done to move past a disastrous 2024 campaign.
Position of intrigue: Take your pick. At virtually every spot, Florida State has a big question after last year’s debacle. QB certainly fits the bill as “intriguing,” but BC transfer Thomas Castellanos isn’t likely to change a lot of hearts and minds this spring by himself. The bigger issue might be getting the O-line in order after an unmitigated disaster last season. If FSU can’t block, it won’t matter who’s in the backfield.
Player to watch: The defense is getting a fresh start under new coordinator Tony White, and he brings two transfers with him from Nebraska — edge rusher James Williams and linebacker Stefon Thompson. Williams arrives with his share of hype, and if FSU is going to regain some semblance of its 2023 magic, finding a pass rusher in the mold of Jermaine Johnson or Jared Verse will be critical.
2024 record: 7-6 (5-3)
Spring storyline: Georgia Tech ended last season with a good bit of buzz, and the Yellow Jackets return one of the most productive QBs in the ACC in Haynes King. Will all of that add up to a breakthrough season? There’s a lot to like on this team, but the story of coach Brent Key’s first few years in Atlanta has been the Jackets’ ability to play their best in big games then stub their toes against teams they should beat. Key is a ferocious competitor, and this spring seems like it should be a turning point when he pushes Tech from surprising upstart to a real contender.
Position of intrigue: The wide receiver room will look a lot different this spring. Three of the five wideouts with at least 100 receiving yards last season are gone, including star Eric Singleton, who exited via the portal for Auburn. Malik Rutherford is back, and he’ll be joined by a pair of FIU transfers in Eric Rivers and Dean Patterson, who combined for 112 catches and 19 touchdowns last year, as well as freshman Jamari Bruce.
Player to watch: Key is a former offensive lineman, and he believes championship teams are built in the trenches. Enter Josh Petty, a five-star recruit and arguably the most talented O-lineman the Jackets have landed in decades (and their first five-star signee since Calvin Johnson). Petty will need to work his way into the starting five, which already features talented veterans in Joe Fusile and Keylan Rutledge, but that doesn’t mean all eyes won’t be on the talented freshman this spring to see just how much bang Georgia Tech is getting for its buck.
2024 record: 9-4 (5-3)
Spring storyline: Just how good can this offense be? In his first year, Jeff Brohm made the most of veteran QB Jack Plummer. Last season, Tyler Shough developed into one of the most productive QBs in the country. Now Brohm turns to USC transfer Miller Moss, perhaps the most talented QB he has had at Louisville, and the Cards will surround Moss with a host of ubertalented skill players, including Caullin Lacy and Isaac Brown. Brohm’s offenses are always explosive, but this Cardinals squad has a chance to be one of the most terrifying units in America.
Position of intrigue: The secondary is littered with transfers — no shocker at Louisville — including the two corner positions, where Jabari Mack (Jacksonville State), Rodney Johnson (Southern) and Justin Agu (Louisiana) will be in the mix for playing time. There’s a big void in the secondary, after Louisville said goodbye to a host of veterans, including Quincy Riley. How this new unit jells will be crucial for a Louisville D that was far too susceptible to the big play in 2024.
Player to watch: Here’s a fun scenario: Isaac Brown was among the most prolific freshmen in the country last season, racking up 1,527 all-purpose yards. And yet, it’s another rising sophomore — Duke Watson — who might be the more explosive player. Watson got just 67 carries last season but averaged nearly 9 yards per rush and scored seven times. His role will grow alongside Brown in 2025, giving Louisville arguably the best 1-2 punch at tailback of any squad since last season’s Ohio State national champs.
2024 record: 10-3 (6-2)
Spring storyline: Can the defense get turned around? Miami parted ways with Lance Guidry after the D let the Canes down in 2024, and new coordinator Corey Hetherman is taking over with sights set on a far more dominant unit. Getting star defensive lineman Rueben Bain healthy will be a big first step, but figuring out a game plan for a beleaguered secondary will be even more significant.
Position of intrigue: Did we mention the secondary? Yes, breakout freshman OJ Frederique returns, but most of the rest of the DB room gets a fresh start with transfers Ethan O’Connor (Washington State), Charles Brantley (Michigan State), Zechariah Poyser (Jacksonville State) and Xavier Lucas (Wisconsin) arriving with ample hype, alongside blue-chip freshman Bryce Fitzgerald, among others. Miami’s DBs were a mess down the stretch last season — in part due to talent, in part due to injuries — so this spring is about breaking in the new faces and developing some depth at key spots.
Player to watch: How do you follow a season with Cam Ward at QB? By landing the best transfer available in former Georgia star Carson Beck. Once considered a potential No. 1 NFL draft pick, Beck saw his stock slip a bit last season, but with more playmakers at his disposal in 2025, he could be in for a huge final season.
2024 record: 6-7 (3-5)
Spring storyline: Last year, NC State hit the portal hard — and with ample hype — only to see its season dissolve behind an injured QB and an underperforming supporting cast. Dave Doeren learned some lessons from all that, and he insists the focus this year is on chemistry and continuity, starting with a hefty investment in building around QB CJ Bailey, who flashed signs of stardom as a freshman but still has much to learn before he’s ready to take the Wolfpack to the next level.
Position of intrigue: NC State needs far more from its O-line that it got last season — or really, at almost any time in the past few seasons. With that in mind, the Wolfpack added some experienced toughness up front with transfers Teague Andersen (Utah State), Brock Stukes (North Carolina A&T) and Jalen Grant (Purdue). The run game improved as last season progressed, but with Hollywood Smothers and Kendrick Raphael looking like potential stars, NC State must find a combination up front that can run block with some consistency. NC State hasn’t finished in the top eight in the ACC in rush yards per game since 2017.
Player to watch: Bailey might be the key to NC State’s 2025 campaign. He was forced into action last season before he was ready but put together some solid numbers — 22 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 8 yards per pass — but he was wildly inconsistent. With a chance for him to get a full offseason under his belt and some gaps in his foundation filled in, the expectations go way up. NC State promoted QB coach Kurt Roper to offensive coordinator, a move made as much to help Bailey as anything.
2024 record: 6-7 (3-5)
Spring storyline: Oh, there’s not really much to talk about at North Carolina this spring. Just a normal offseason in which … a six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach took over the program. That’s right, Bill Belichick is in Chapel Hill now, and he will undoubtedly be one of the biggest storylines in the country. How will the Heels look under a head coach with six rings but no college experience? It’s anyone’s guess. The move will either be a stroke of genius or a source of endless second guessing. Either way, it’s bound to be fun.
Position of intrigue: Tom Brady ain’t walking through that door, as they say, but UNC’s QB room could sure use him. The Heels saw two of the three quarterbacks to start for them last season leave via transfer, while the third, Max Johnson, is still rehabbing a bad leg injury suffered in the season opener. Belichick has put his faith (so far, at least) in Purdue transfer Ryan Browne and freshman Bryce Baker and — well, much like hiring Belichick in the first place, this seems like a big gamble. Of course, Belichick knows a thing or two about finding a good QB, so if he doesn’t see a gem this spring, he might be able to upgrade in the next portal window.
Player to watch: Belichick spent last season as an advisor at Washington, where his son Steve was defensive coordinator. Both are at UNC now, and they brought some talent with them, including corner Thaddeus Dixon and safety Peyton Waters, who will try to lock down a Tar Heels secondary that looked a mess at times in 2024.
2024 record: 7-6 (3-5)
Spring storyline: Pitt got off to an unexpected 7-0 start last season, only to finish on an equally unexpected six-game losing streak. After winning 20 games between 2021 and 2022, Pitt has struggled to find the same winning consistency the past two seasons. The hope is that the return of quarterback Eli Holstein and all-everything back Desmond Reid, plus a healthier offensive line, in Year 2 under offensive coordinator Kade Bell will allow the Panthers to find the rhythm and consistency to win.
Position of intrigue: Pitt struggled on the offensive line last season for a variety of reasons, including injuries that hindered the overall cohesion of the group. The Panthers put an emphasis on this position group in the portal, particularly offensive tackle, signing transfers Jeff Persi (Michigan) and Kendall Stanley (Charlotte). Stanley played 706 offensive snaps, all at right tackle, this past season, while the 6-foot-8, 310-pound Persi brings an imposing presence — though he has spent the majority of his career as a backup.
Player to watch: Pitt does a terrific job developing defensive backs, and safety Cruce Brookins could be next in line. With All-ACC safety Donovan McMillon gone to the NFL, Brookins has drawn praise for his striking ability and ball skills (two interceptions in reserve duty last season, including one against West Virginia).
2024 record: 11-3 (8-0)
Spring storyline: SMU did the unprecedented last year, rolling to an ACC championship game appearance in its first year in a power conference. Despite the success the Mustangs had in their inaugural ACC season, they lost to Clemson in the ACC title game and then lost to Penn State in the first round of the College Football Playoff. While Year 1 should be considered a success, all eyes will be on SMU to see whether it is able to sustain its momentum and position near the top of the conference.
Position of intrigue: Brashard Smith emerged last season as a dynamic playmaker for the Mustangs, gaining a school-record 1,977 all-purpose yards; now they have to find a way to replace his production. SMU signed Miami transfer Chris Johnson Jr., hoping he can follow in the footsteps of Smith, also a Miami transfer. Johnson joins returning players LJ Johnson and Derrick McFall, who showed playmaking ability as a true freshman last season in the handful of games he played.
Player to watch: The biggest question here is how quarterback Kevin Jennings responds after throwing three interceptions — two that were returned for touchdowns — in the CFP loss to Penn State. Jennings was so good for SMU the bulk of the season; how he responds to the adversity from that game will be telling.
2024 record: 3-9 (2-6)
Spring storyline: It was more of the same for Stanford in Year 1 in the ACC — a fourth straight 3-9 campaign that has increased the sense of urgency for Troy Taylor headed into his third season as Cardinal coach. Stanford was active in the transfer portal to fill key holes at receiver, offensive line and defensive back, so how those players mesh with the young talent Taylor has recruited to The Farm will ultimately determine how well Stanford does this season.
Position of intrigue: With Ashton Daniels and Justin Lamson gone, former four-star recruit Elijah Brown is expected to enter spring as the starter at quarterback, and with good reason. Brown came into Stanford last year as an ESPN 300 prospect, immediately boosting hopes he could help the Cardinal win again. An injury limited him last season, so 2025 is his chance to prove he has what it takes to lead this team.
Player to watch: The new receivers are all intriguing, as Stanford looks to replace Elic Ayomanor and several others who transferred. Three are enrolled for spring: Caden High (South Carolina State), Jordan Onovughe (Colorado) and CJ Williams (Wisconsin).
2024 record: 10-3 (5-3)
Spring storyline: Fran Brown surprised and impressed in Year 1, leading Syracuse to its first 10-win season since 2018, including a regular-season finale victory over Miami that kept the Hurricanes out of the ACC title game. But this will be a very different team on offense this spring with Kyle McCord, LeQuint Allen and Oronde Gadsden all gone to the NFL draft. Indeed, the biggest questions this spring surround how the Orange are going to replace all that production.
Position of intrigue: Replacing McCord is at the top of the list. Syracuse signed transfer Rickie Collins from LSU and returns backup Michael Johnson Jr. and redshirt freshman Jakhari Williams. In addition, the Orange signed two freshmen quarterbacks in Luke Carney and Rich Belin. Offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon said Syracuse will have an open quarterback competition this spring. Though the room is missing the veteran presence McCord brought last season, Nixon said he is pleased with the depth he has among his quarterbacks.
Player to watch: Syracuse was not nearly as aggressive in the transfer portal as it was a year ago, but landing defensive lineman Chris Thomas Jr. from Marshall should help shore up a run defense that was inconsistent for most of last season.
2024 record: 5-7 (3-5)
Spring storyline: Virginia hit the transfer portal hard to boost its roster, signing 16 players in hopes of putting the Cavaliers in position to make a bowl game for the first time since 2021. While the program has made some strides since Tony Elliott was hired in 2022, he also knows this has to be the year in which significant progress is shown. His players have already spoken confidently about putting Virginia in a spot where it can compete for championships. We will get our first glimpse at the possibility this spring.
Position of intrigue: Virginia lost quarterbacks Anthony Colandrea (portal) and Tony Muskett (final season) and went into the portal to find their replacements. The headliner is Chandler Morris, now at his fourth school after spending last season at North Texas. Virginia also signed Daniel Kaelin from Nebraska as the potential quarterback of the future with four years of eligibility remaining. Look for Morris to take the reins giving his experience.
Player to watch: Linebacker Fisher Camac, a transfer from UNLV, has the ability to make the type of plays that set the tone on defense. Last season, he had 15 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 5 pass breakups, 3 QB hurries and a forced fumble.
2024 record: 6-7 (4-4)
Spring storyline: Last season was supposed to be a breakout year for Virginia Tech. Instead, the Hokies struggled to a 6-7 record, lost 24 players to the transfer portal and saw some of their best players move on to the NFL draft. Though the Hokies bring back veteran quarterback Kyron Drones, there will a lot of changes, not only from a personnel perspective but among its coaching staff, with new offensive (Philip Montgomery) and defensive coordinators (Sam Siefkes).
Position of intrigue: The Hokies have holes to fill across the board, given the roster turnover. But let’s stick with offense and look at the running back room, where leading rusher Bhayshul Tuten is off to the NFL and backup Malachi Thomas transferred. Virginia Tech signed three transfer backs: Terion Stewart (Bowling Green), Braydon Bennett (Coastal Carolina) and Marcellous Hawkins (Central Missouri State) to fill the void.
Player to watch: Wide receiver Donavon Greene, a Wake Forest transfer, brings much needed experience and a veteran presence to the young, unproven Virginia Tech receiver group. Greene has been limited by injuries over the past few seasons, so staying healthy is imperative.
2024 record: 4-8 (2-6)
Spring storyline: New coach Jake Dickert replaces Dave Clawson, who stepped down after 11 seasons and one of the most successful tenures in Wake Forest football history. Dickert spent the past four seasons at Washington State, and though he has spent the majority of his career outside the Eastern time zone, he has found success at schools similar in stature to the Demon Deacons. Much will be different this spring beyond the head coach. Wake Forest will feature a new offensive scheme for the first time in 12 years.
Position of intrigue: Wake Forest goes into spring practice with a three-way competition at quarterback, a position the Demon Deacons have struggled with since Sam Hartman departed in 2022. Sophomore Jeremy Hecklinski returns, but Wake added two transfers: Robby Ashford from South Carolina and Deshawn Purdie, who played at Charlotte last season as a freshman before briefly signing with Florida in December, then opting to leave in January.
Player to watch: Running back Demond Claiborne is one of the most under-the-radar players in the country, so keeping him in the mix is huge for Wake Forest. As their leading rusher and a dynamic kickoff returner, Claiborne ranked No. 11 in the nation in all-purpose yards in 2024 with 131.7 per game.
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Andrea Adelson
North Carolina and new coach Bill Belichick will not be the subject of HBO’s “Hard Knocks: Offseason,” a source confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.
Front Office Sports reported last week that North Carolina would be featured on this year’s show, which would have given viewers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how Belichick would manage his first offseason as a college head coach.
When asked about it on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Tar Heels general manager Michael Lombardi said that nothing had been signed with the university but that the program was receiving “a lot of offers from people all over to come in and look at our program.”
But, as CBS Sports first reported earlier Tuesday, a deal could not be reached.
UNC hired Belichick in December after he had spent his entire career in the NFL, where he won six Super Bowls as coach of the New England Patriots. The Patriots never were selected to appear on “Hard Knocks.”
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