Spring football games: Who wins QB battles, who’s out, others to watch
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ESPN staff
It’s that time of year when everyone’s undefeated, every team got stronger and faster, and the coaches are smiling.
That’s right, it’s time for spring games, when optimism reigns and we’re all happy to get a taste of college football before the transfer portal opens up again and reshapes all the rosters before fall practice.
This week brings one of the biggest slates of spring games and some of the biggest names. Some schools have already played, and more games will come next weekend (we’ll be back for those).
But here are the highlights of what to watch Saturday, when we can get our first glimpse of many of tomorrow’s stars.
ACC
2022 record: 3-9, 2-6 ACC
QB outlook: After three years with Phil Jurkovec at the helm, BC turns its offense over to Emmett Morehead. The third-year sophomore from California played heavily down the stretch for the Eagles last season, throwing nine touchdowns and five picks in November. It was good enough to earn the full support of head coach Jeff Hafley, who also elevated QB coach Steve Shimko to offensive coordinator.
Non-QB to watch: The Eagles’ biggest loss from last season is undoubtedly wide receiver Zay Flowers, who might soon be a first-round NFL draft pick. There are options to replace him, but none quite so game ready as UCF transfer Ryan O’Keefe, who finished last season with 73 catches for 725 yards and five TDs.
Notable injuries: Boston College was utterly derailed in 2022 because of its offensive line, which was among the worst in the country after losing all five starters from the previous year, including Christian Mahogany, who went down with injury last summer. Mahogany’s return has been slow going thus far, and BC isn’t interested in rushing him. Mahogany went through his first full practice on April 5, and he’ll likely play a few series in the spring game, but getting the O-line back to full strength in time for the fall is job No. 1. — David Hale
2022 record: 11-3, 8-0 ACC
QB outlook: Clemson coach Dabo Swinney made one of the biggest hires of the offseason with Garrett Riley as offensive coordinator, hoping he would be able to bring the most out of quarterback Cade Klubnik. Swinney calls the Riley offense “very quarterback friendly” and said it lines up with what Klubnik did in high school. “I just felt like with Garrett, that he was the voice, the energy and the confidence that we needed in the room,” Swinney said. “The timing was good. It’s been an easy transition.”
Non-QB to watch: DL Peter Woods, the top-rated defender in the 2023 recruiting class. The early enrollee from Alabaster, Alabama, has not disappointed this spring and should have an immediate impact this season. Last week, Swinney said this of Woods: “Smart, tough, loves to play, high character. Doesn’t really have any deficiencies other than he needs to go and get some game experience.”
Notable injuries: If there is one position group that remains a question because of injuries, it’s the wide receivers. Beaux Collins (shoulder) and Adam Randall (knee) are projected to either start or be significant contributors and they were either limited or did not participate this spring. Among the others sidelined: DE Xavier Thomas (foot), DT Ruke Orhorhoro (shoulder), OLs Walker Parks (ankle) and Marcus Tate (knee). — Andrea Adelson
2022 record: 10-3, 5-3 ACC
QB outlook: Jordan Travis is entrenched as the starter, so the Seminoles have spent some time this spring giving more work to backups Tate Rodemaker and A.J. Duffy. Both have played the majority of the first two scrimmages the Seminoles had in the spring. Coach Mike Norvell is still looking for more consistency from them in particular headed into the spring game.
Non-QB to watch: DE Patrick Payton. Payton won ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors last year, but defensive coordinator Adam Fuller said earlier this spring that Payton is the most improved player on the team. “Patrick is going to be a good athlete. He’s going to be a really smart football player,” Fuller said. “That’s what he is, and that’s what he was last year. But he had to develop physically, too, with strength and size. Now you’re seeing the physicality, and that’s critical because there are no great finesse defensive linemen.”
Notable injuries: WR Mycah Pittman, OL Robert Scott and CB Kevin Knowles II are among the key players out for the game. — Adelson
2022 record: 5-7, 4-4 ACC
QB outlook: The QB position proved to be a revolving door down the stretch in 2022 for the Yellow Jackets, with Jeff Sims going down with an injury and Zach Pyron, Zach Gibson and Taisun Phommachanh all receiving playing time in November. Sims and Phommachanh are gone now, and the starting job is a three-man race between Gibson, Pyron and former Texas A&M starter Haynes King. King likely has the most upside, and Georgia Tech fans would love to see him showcase his skill set in the spring game to lock down the job now.
Non-QB to watch: Georgia Tech said goodbye to its top three receivers from last year’s squad, which means transfers Abdul Janneh and Christian Leary have been at the forefront this spring. Leary was once a top recruit for Alabama, and he brings an impressive skill set that has yet to be truly refined. Janneh (6-3, 180 pounds) arrives from Duquesne and could become a true threat on the outside for the Yellow Jackets.
Notable injuries: Georgia Tech is in good shape healthwise, but just five members of the Yellow Jackets’ high school signing class enrolled early, meaning a significant chunk of Brent Key’s latest recruits won’t be around until the summer. That might show up most on the offensive line, where three of Tech’s recruits — Benjamin Galloway, Patrick Screws and Ethan Mackenny — didn’t enroll early. None would likely compete for starting jobs, but developing depth at a position that’s been a black hole the past few years is critical. — Hale
2022 record:5-7, 3-5 ACC
QB outlook: Tyler Van Dyke looks to bounce back after a disappointing 2022, and he has a new coordinator to help. Shannon Dawson is bringing a version of the offense that allowed Van Dyke to have a breakout freshman season in 2021, and so far Van Dyke has been happy with what he has seen. “It’s been good,” Van Dyke said earlier this spring. “There are a lot of different ways that he gets the plays, in the run game, the pass game, which is good.”
Non-QB to watch: OL Francis Mauigoa. It’s no secret Miami needs a major improvement on the offensive line, and the consensus five-star prospect has turned heads as an early enrollee in the spring. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound Mauigoa is already getting first-team reps at right tackle. Offensive line coach Alex Mirabal told local media, “He’s got like a sixth sense. He sees things that you as a coach don’t have to tell him. You know, and that’s a gift.”
Notable injuries: OL Zion Nelson, TE Elijah Arroyo and essentially the top returning defensive linemen in Leonard Taylor, Jared Harrison-Hunte, Akheem Mesidor and Jahfari Harvey. — Adelson
2022 record: 9-5, 6-2 ACC
QB outlook: Breaking news: Drake Maye is really good. If there’s one sure thing at North Carolina following last year’s trip to the ACC championship game, it’s that the Heels are in good shape at QB. The bigger question here is how Maye looks without Phil Longo calling the plays. Chip Lindsey takes over as the new OC, and maximizing Maye’s immense talent while not putting all the onus for UNC’s success on his shoulders will be a top priority.
Non-QB to watch: The North Carolina defense has been a train wreck for the past two years, with serious problems both up front and in the secondary. The back end of the D will have a ton of eyes on it during the spring game, too, after three of last year’s starters hit the transfer portal. Alijah Huzzie and Armani Chatman — two transfers who arrived this spring — will be at the forefront of the rebuilding effort.
Notable injuries: The bulk of North Carolina’s stars will be on the field for the spring game, but a few expected contributors will be out or in noncontact jerseys, including a few potential members of the secondary. Gio Biggers and Chatman have both been back at practice, but the Heels are being cautious with them. On offense, receiver J.J. Jones and tailbacks Caleb Hood and British Brooks will both be out for the game and aren’t likely to see serious work until the summer. — Hale
2022 record: 3-7, 1-6 ACC
QB outlook: With Brennan Armstrong off to NC State, Virginia has an open quarterback competition between two players: Monmouth transfer Tony Muskett and Jay Woolfolk, who is limited this spring because he’s the closer on the Virginia baseball team. Depth here is an obvious concern, and so is the experience level in general. Though Muskett has played and started on the FCS level, making the jump to Power 5 quarterback will require some patience.
Non-QB to watch: RB Mike Hollins. In perhaps the most remarkable story in college football this spring, Hollins has returned to practice after surviving a shooting that took the lives of teammates Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry. Hollins has been running with the first team and said earlier in the spring he feels an extra sense of motivation in carrying on the legacy of his teammates.
Notable injuries: Among the key players limited or out are DL Chico Bennett Jr., DT Aaron Faumui and S Jonas Sanker. — Adelson
2022 record: 3-8, 1-6
QB outlook: Virginia Tech brought in Baylor transfer Kyron Drones to challenge Grant Wells for the starting job, and at least through the first few weeks of practice, Wells appeared to be ahead. Wells has started more games to be sure, but he also was not nearly as effective as he needed to be during last year’s 3-9 season. So the hope continues to be for Drones to keep pushing and improving as he acclimates to a new school and system.
Non-QB to watch: RB Bhayshul Tuten. The Hokies added several skill players from the transfer portal to help their productivity, and while receiver Ali Jennings has received a lot of the attention among that group so far, Tuten has had a nice spring and has been a welcome addition to the running back room. Since 2016, Virginia Tech has had only one 1,000-yard rusher. Coach Brent Pry has praised Tuten for his “level of competition and play.”
Notable injuries: S Nyke Johnson and DE Ishmael Findlayter won’t play in the spring game. — Adelson
2022 record: 8-5, 3-5 ACC
QB outlook: Oh how Dave Clawson wishes he could stop talking about the QB position. Yes, Sam Hartman is gone after rewriting the ACC record book during his career at Wake Forest, but that doesn’t mean the Deacons don’t feel good about the position in 2023. Mitch Griffis takes over, and Clawson has lauded the veteran as a ready-made replacement. Wake fans got a look at Griffis in the opener last year when Hartman was out following surgery to repair a blood clot, but the spring game will put Griffis on the big stage for the first time as the Deacons’ clear-cut starter.
Non-QB to watch: Wake’s defense made strides last season under new coordinator Brad Lambert, and the Deacons return a good bit of talent at linebacker and in the secondary. Up front, however, there are real questions, particularly on the interior of the D-line. Jasheen Davis returns at end after a strong 2022, but beyond that, there are a lot of unanswered questions, and if the Deacons are going to take another step forward on that side of the ball, Lambert & Co. need to identify some impact talent along the line. Keep an eye on Villanova transfer Bryce Ganious along with freshman early enrollees Kerrington Lee, Chris Marable and Ka’Shawn Thomas.
Notable injuries: A handful of Wake starters, including tailback Justice Ellison and receiver Jahmal Banks, missed time this spring, but as the spring game approaches, the biggest names all are at close to full strength. How much they actually play during contact situations, however, remains a question given Clawson’s penchant for maximizing depth. — Hale
BIG TEN
2022 record: 5-7, 3-6 Big Ten
QB outlook: A year removed from throwing a program-record 27 touchdown passes in 2021, Payton Thorne‘s hold on the job is in some question this spring. Thorne (2,679 yards, 19 TDs in 2022), a redshirt senior with 26 career starts, will be battling redshirt freshman Katin Houser, a four-star signal-caller from the 2022 class, and redshirt junior Noah Kim (14-of-19 passing for 174 yards and three TDs in four games in 2022). Thorne, Houser or Kim will be looking to improve a unit that ranked ninth in the Big Ten in total offense (353.0 YPG) and eighth in points (24.4 PPG) last year.
Non-QB to watch: Nate Carter comes to East Lansing from UConn and will be asked to help jump-start a running game that averaged just 113 yards a game last year — 12th in the Big Ten. Carter, a redshirt sophomore, rushed for a combined 983 yards and three touchdowns in his two seasons with the Huskies. Carter hopes to form a potent one-two punch with redshirt junior Jalen Berger (683 yards, six TDs in 2022) as they attempt to take some load off the shoulders of whoever wins the quarterback competition.
Notable injuries: Darius Snow was expected to be one of the linchpins of the defense after racking up 87 tackles (61 solo) and 5.5 tackles for loss in 2021 as a nickelback and safety. Shifted to linebacker heading into last season, he sustained a knee injury in the season opener against Western Michigan that ended his season. Snow, the son of former Spartan and NBA player Eric and nephew of former Spartan and NFL linebacker Percy, will be instrumental in helping a defense that sorely missed him last fall — finishing 13th in the Big Ten in total defense (416.5 YPG). — Blake Baumgartner
2022 record: 11-2, 8-1 Big Ten
QB outlook: Kyle McCord and Devin Brown have competed throughout the spring to replace two-time Heisman Trophy finalist C.J. Stroud, but Brown won’t participate in the spring game after undergoing a procedure on a finger on his throwing hand. McCord, who also teamed with top wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in high school, is seen as a slight favorite, but neither he nor Brown, ESPN’s No. 81 overall recruit in 2022, pulled away in practice. “It’d be nice to see one of them kind of separate,” coach Ryan Day said earlier this spring. The Buckeyes’ quarterback will be throwing to the nation’s deepest wide receiver group, but also will be playing behind a reworked offensive line and facing a seemingly energized defensive front applying more pressure.
Non-QB to watch: Nickel safety Cameron Martinez. Ohio State’s secondary clearly must improve after the struggles late last season, and Martinez has emerged this spring as a potential playmaker. The safeties loom large in coordinator Jim Knowles’ scheme, and Martinez’s versatility in coverage and as a run-stopper should help a group returning Lathan Ransom and others but needing more depth and reliability. Martinez has made several interceptions in practices and should look to punctuate his spring.
Notable injuries: Aside from quarterback candidate Brown missing the spring game, Ohio State had several starters or key contributors miss all of spring practice, including linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming, and running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Evan Pryor. Henderson dealt with a foot injury for much of last season. Starting linebacker Steele Chambers sustained a right leg injury during spring practice that will require surgery, and wide receiver/returner Xavier Johnson injured his left leg. Both are expected back for preseason camp. Without both Eichenberg and Chambers, Ohio State is rotating several players into the first-team linebacker roles. — Adam Rittenberg
2022 record: 11-2, 7-2 Big Ten
QB outlook: Coach James Franklin said Penn State is holding a genuine competition at quarterback, even though decorated 2022 recruit Drew Allar has long been projected as Sean Clifford’s successor. Allar and fellow second-year player Beau Pribula both have logged significant work this spring. Pribula didn’t see the field last season, while Allar, ESPN’s No. 2 pocket passer and No. 51 overall recruit in the 2022 class, had 344 passing yards and four touchdowns in 10 appearances. A scenario where Allar doesn’t start seems unlikely, but Pribula’s athletic ability gives him opportunities to see the field in other ways.
Non-QB to watch: Penn State will lean on KeAndre Lambert-Smith as its top receiver, but other options must emerge for an inexperienced quarterback. One will arrive this summer in Kent State transfer in Dante Cephas, and others will get their opportunity on the spring game stage, including third-year Harrison Wallace III, Florida State transfer Malik McClain and sophomore Omari Evans. Wallace averaged 14.4 yards per catch in limited work last year, while McClain is a big target at 6-4 who started games in each of the past two seasons. The speedy Evans has generated good reviews this spring.
Notable injuries: Franklin doesn’t discuss injuries, but Penn State is mostly healthy. He said defensive tackle Coziah Izzard and tight ends Theo Johnson and Tyler Warren both entered the spring with “bumps and bruises,” so they could be limited or unavailable for the Blue-White Game. The tight end situation likely will increase opportunities for sophomore Khalil Dinkins and Penn State’s other reserves. — Rittenberg
BIG 12
2022 record: 9-5, 6-2 AAC
QB outlook: John Rhys Plumlee is the incumbent, but his spring has looked a little different from those of most quarterbacks. Plumlee has split his time with the baseball team, where he is the starting center fielder. Despite his added responsibilities, Plumlee had not missed any practice time with the football team in the spring.
Non-QB to watch: DT John Walker. The highest-rated recruit in UCF history, the four-star prospect enrolled early and participated in bowl practices. His growth in the spring has been noticeable, according to coaches and teammates, and he is expected to play — possibly start — right away.
Notable injuries: None. — Adelson
2022 record: 9-4, 6-2 AAC
QB outlook: Ben Bryant, who went 9-2 as the starter last season, throwing for 2,723 yards and 21 TDs before a season-ending injury, is back for a sixth season. But the Bearcats also added former Florida and Arizona State starter Emory Jones. Evan Prater, who completed 22 of 58 attempts for 312 yards in three games after Bryant’s injury last year, returns but is out with an injury and won’t play Saturday.
Non-QB to watch: Everything will be new with Scott Satterfield taking over for Luke Fickell, with Satterfield saying he just wants to let the players play and get everyone reps in this game without the coaches getting in the way. One big key for the season is Dontay Corleone, a 6-2, 230-pound defensive tackle who is a preseason All-America candidate after bursting onto the scene as a redshirt freshman, racking up 45 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and 2 forced fumbles in 2022.
Notable injuries: Aside from Prater, TE Joey Beljan, a Western Kentucky transfer, is out, along with OL Luke Kandra, a transfer from Louisville who appeared in 21 games the past two seasons. Satterfield said Tuesday he expects eight to 10 players to be out for the game. — Dave Wilson
2022 record: 10-4, 7-2 Big 12
QB outlook: Will Howard returns after helping lead the Wildcats to a Big 12 title last season, including starts in the conference championship game over TCU and the Sugar Bowl against Alabama. He’s listed at 6-5, 242 on the spring roster and could be the league’s preseason first-team QB when the media votes.
Non-QB to watch: There are a lot of holes to replace on defense, notably on the defensive line where the Wildcats lost Felix Anudike-Uzomah, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. They also lost starting nose tackle Eli Huggins. With an inexperienced secondary, finding the pieces up front to replace them will be key. K-State added junior DT Jevon Banks from Mississippi State this offseason to help.
Notable injuries: DJ Giddens, the favorite to replace all-everything RB Deuce Vaughn, is out for the spring, as is Treshaun Ward, the splashy transfer RB Kansas State landed from Florida State. Some of the younger backs will get time to shine, but the real competition will be in the fall. Tight end Ben Sinnott also is out. — Wilson
2022 record: 13-2, 9-0 Big 12
QB outlook: Chandler Morris, who signed with Oklahoma out of high school before transferring back to TCU, has had an interesting career with the Horned Frogs. He started one game in place of the injured Max Duggan in 2021 and looked like a superstar in an upset of eventual Big 12 champ Baylor when he had 531 yards of offense, second best in school history. Then he won the job over Duggan last year but was injured in the opener and watched as Duggan became a Heisman finalist. If Morris can stay healthy, he should put up big numbers in new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles’ offense.
Non-QB to watch: The receiver position got a major overhaul this offseason with JoJo Earle arriving from Alabama and John Paul Richardson coming in from Oklahoma State. Returners like junior Savion Williams, who’s in line to fill Quentin Johnston‘s position as he heads off to the NFL, will get lots of work, along with redshirt freshman Major Everhart, who has 10.38 speed in the 100.
Notable injuries: A couple of other anticipated wide receivers, Jack Bech (LSU transfer) and Jaylon Robinson (Ole Miss transfer) are both out this season recovering from injuries. — Wilson
2022 record: 8-5, 6-3 Big 12
QB outlook: Quinn Ewers is back for Year 2 and has skill-position talent all around him. It’s his job to lose, but the most famous freshman in the country, Arch Manning, will be the source of much spring game curiosity.
Non-QB to watch: With Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson preparing for the NFL draft, there is a good chance there won’t be much clarity on the future of the running back rotation from this game, with both Jonathon Brooks and Keilan Robinson, the top two returners from last year, nursing injuries and likely seeing limited action. Freshman CJ Baxter and sophomore Jaydon Blue have both gotten plenty of reps in the spring and will get an opportunity to make an impression.
Notable injuries: Safety Jalen Catalon, a transfer from Arkansas who’s in the mix for a starting job, won’t play and is still rebounding from a season-ending shoulder injury last year. Sophomore DJ Campbell, an offensive lineman who appeared in seven games last year, will also be out, coach Steve Sarkisian said Tuesday. — Wilson
PAC-12
2022 record: 5-7, 3-6 Pac-12
QB outlook: After throwing for 3,685 yards and 25 touchdowns — and helping the Wildcats to improve from 124th to 48th in scoring offense — in his first season after transferring from Washington State, Jayden de Laura enters Year 2 with far better familiarity in head coach Jedd Fisch’s system. He’ll have his go-to guy, deep-threat receiver Jacob Cowing, back as well.
Non-QB to watch: Take your pick on defense. The Wildcats have been dismal for a while on that side of the ball, and second-year coordinator Johnny Nansen is looking at massive turnover as well. Of the 12 defenders with at least 300 snaps, only three return. Transfers Justin Flowe (Oregon linebacker) and Bill Norton (Georgia tackle) have been asked to provide immediate leadership.
Notable injuries: The most notable injury happened in the fall and might benefit the Wildcats in 2023. Left tackle Jordan Morgan allowed only two sacks in 10 games but injured his knee in November, which prevented him from declaring for the NFL draft. If he’s good to go this fall, de Laura’s supporting cast becomes a lot more proven. — Bill Connelly
2022 record: 3-9, 2- Pac-12
QB outlook: With last year’s leading passer, Emory Jones, transferring to Cincinnati, Kenny Dillingham’s first spring as head coach features quite the QB battle between Notre Dame transfer Drew Pyne, blue-chip freshman Jaden Rashada and Trenton Bourguet, who took over late in 2022 and threw for at least 349 yards in three of ASU’s final five games.
Non-QB to watch: There are lots of jobs up for grabs on the ASU defense, and Dillingham hit the transfer portal about as hard as anyone when it comes to filling them. Edge rusher and former top-100 recruit Clayton Smith, a sophomore transfer from Oklahoma, has made an early impression in Tempe and could stand out Saturday.
Notable injuries: With LaDarius Henderson transferring to Michigan, Cal transfer Ben Coleman, honorable mention all-conference in 2021, was a leading candidate to take over at left guard in 2023. But a late-March injury will potentially keep him out until well into the fall. The O-line underwhelmed last season and appears awfully thin this spring. — Connelly
2022 record: 4-8, 2-7 Pac-12
QB outlook: In two years at TCU, Sam Jackson saw minimal playing time in a backup role before opting for the transfer portal, eventually landing in Berkeley. His arrival comes at a pivotal time as the Bears attempt to reinvent their offensive identity, shifting back to more of a spread approach under new OC Jake Spavital.
Non-QB to watch: One bright spot last season was the emergence of freshman running back Jaydn Ott, who ran for 897 yards and eight touchdowns. He was already one of the better running backs in the Pac-12 last season and has the potential to receive more national recognition this season if he can build off his promising start.
Notable injuries: Brett Johnson‘s long road back from injury appears to be coming to an end. After missing the past two seasons — for separate injuries — the standout defensive lineman is expected to be ready for the start of the season. — Kyle Bonagura
2022 record: 11-3, 8-1 Pac-12
QB outlook: You could say the QB situation is pretty decent. Junior Caleb Williams returns after throwing for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns and winning the Heisman in his first season out west. There’s certainly some spring intrigue with the backup QB role — how is blue-chip freshman Malachi Nelson progressing? will he top last year’s backup Miller Moss? — but the starter is quite obviously set.
Non-QB to watch: USC’s defense was abjectly awful in 2022, and the run front was a big reason for that. Adding 300-pound transfers Kyon Barrs (Arizona) and Anthony Lucas (Texas A&M) was a major step in rectifying that, and with sacks leader Tuli Tuipulotu gone, other transfers like Jack Sullivan (Purdue) and Jamil Muhammad (Georgia State) could be integral as well.
Notable injuries: The good news is no one has suffered any key, long-term injuries this spring. The bad news is a number of nagging injuries have resulted in head coach Lincoln Riley having to shuffle the practice schedule around a bit. “Too many nicks,” he told local media. — Connelly
SEC
2022 record: 7-6, 3-5 SEC
QB outlook: KJ Jefferson is the established fifth-year senior starter for the Razorbacks, and at this point, we know what we’re getting out of one of the better quarterbacks in the conference. If anything, seeing how new offensive coordinator Dan Enos changes anything will be the surprise.
Non-QB to watch: Missouri transfer Trajan Jeffcoat, who comes over after starting the past three seasons. Coach Sam Pittman has expressed praise for Jeffcoat, who should be a promising addition to an Arkansas team that led the SEC in sacks last season.
Notable injuries: Players who won’t be around until the summer include RB Dominique Johnson, DB Alfahiym Walcott and OL Luke Brown. — Harry Lyles Jr.
2022 record: 6-7, 3-5 SEC
QB outlook: Anthony Richardson and his out-of-this-world talent are gone. And, after going after some bigger names in the transfer portal, Florida landed on Graham Mertz — a veteran who could still have some upside left in him. The former No. 1 QB prospect in the class of 2019, Mertz started 32 games at Wisconsin, totaling 5,405 passing yards, 38 touchdowns and 26 interceptions.
Non-QB to watch: Keep an eye on pretty much the entire offensive line, where four starters are gone, including standout O’Cyrus Torrence. Austin Barber, a frequent contributor off the bench last season, could slide in at left tackle. Former Alabama transfer Damieon George could play opposite him at right tackle. The good news is center Kingsley Eguakun and his 26 consecutive starts return.
Notable injuries: Tight end Keon Zipperer could be out for a while after suffering a knee injury last month. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound senior, who caught 13 passes last season, indicated in a Facebook post he could miss the entire season, writing, “2024 shake back year.” — Alex Scarborough
2022 record: 15-0, 8-0 SEC
QB outlook: There is a full evaluation going on between quarterbacks Brock Vandagriff and Carson Beck. Coach Kirby Smart told reporters last week, “I don’t put a lot of pressure on offensive identity in the spring. We got to figure out who the quarterback is, who the guys that get the ball are, who the guys that without the ball in their hand are valuable.”
Non-QB to watch: The receivers room. The Bulldogs will need a sturdy receiving corps with a new quarterback, and Smart acknowledged with two transfers and three midyear receivers, “That’s five people that are basically trying to learn a new language, and it is a new language.”
Notable injuries: Marvin Jones Jr., Joshua Miller, Dan Jackson, Andrew Paul and Jalon Walker are all out. — Lyles
2022 record: 9-4, 4-4 SEC
QB outlook: If Will Rogers isn’t the best quarterback in the conference — and we’re not saying he isn’t — then he’s certainly the most accomplished. He has started 33 games and is already the SEC career completions leader (1,159) and has school records for career passing yards (10,689) and passing touchdowns (82). The only question facing Rogers and the State passing game is how they adjust to a new system under OC Kevin Barbay, who spreads the field but doesn’t run the pure Air Raid that Mike Leach did.
Non-QB to watch: Let’s double-dip and spotlight a pair of transfers in Geor’Quarius Spivey and Ryland Goede. Why are they notable? Well, a few months ago they were competing for the national championship — Spivey with TCU and Goede with Georgia. But what’s most compelling is the position they play: tight end. Under Leach, the position was nonexistent. Without any pure tight ends on the roster, Barbay had to go out and find them on his own.
Notable injuries: The good news is State returns a fairly veteran offensive line. The bad news is Kameron Jones, who started 12 games last year, has been out all spring recovering from offseason surgery. — Scarborough
2022 record: 8-5, 4-4 SEC
QB outlook: The Rebs appeared to be in pretty good shape at quarterback with Jaxson Dart returning after the former USC transfer threw for 2,900 yards last season. But Lane Kiffin wasn’t satisfied with the depth at the position. When Luke Altmyer left, Kiffin went out and signed Spencer Sanders, a former All-Big 12 selection at Oklahoma State, and Walker Howard, a former four-star prospect from LSU.
Non-QB to watch: The tight end position didn’t offer much for Ole Miss last season. Michael Trigg, the highly touted former USC transfer, appeared in only seven games after suffering an injury. So, adding to the competition, Kiffin signed former Memphis starter and John Mackey Award semifinalist Caden Prieskorn. He has the size and blocking ability to be a difference-maker and play well off Trigg, should Kiffin choose to utilize more two-tight end sets.
Notable injuries: A shoulder injury late in the season hampered Sanders during offseason conditioning and limited him early on in spring practice. He eventually worked up to being a full participant during a recent scrimmage, but that delay might cause coaches to hold off on any bold proclamations about the quarterbacks until fall practice, when everyone is healthy. — Scarborough
2022 record: 8-5, 4-4 SEC
QB outlook: Spencer Rattler is the man in Columbia; the only question is, can his play and confidence carry over from the end of 2022? In the Gamecocks’ final three games, Rattler completed 69% of his passes for 1,044 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Non-QB to watch: The edge has been something Shane Beamer has emphasized since the end of last season, particularly the depth. Donovan Westmoreland, Desmond Umeozulu, Bryan Thomas, Terrell Dawkins and Tyreek Johnson are all players to watch here.
Notable injuries: DL Tonka Hemingway, OT Cason Henry, LB Mo Kaba and EDGE Jordan Strachan will likely miss the entirety of the spring, while CB Marcellas Dial, nickel Keenan Nelson Jr. and safety Peyton Williams have dealt with other injuries and have missed a portion of practice. — Lyles
2022 record: 11-2, 6-2 SEC
QB outlook: From the praise coming out of Knoxville this spring, it feels like Joe Milton is the favorite to be the starter going into next season. However, there’s understandable hype around freshman Nico Iamaleava, who comes in as the 23rd player in the ESPN 300 and the fourth-ranked quarterback.
Non-QB to watch: Offensive lineman Cooper Mays. He has spoken this spring about being the head of the room and has been actively working to get better at it. Look for him to show leadership qualities in the small sample we get.
Notable injuries: The Vols have a handful of injuries all over the place, but most notably among running backs. Running backs coach Jerry Mack mentioned that because Jaylen Wright hasn’t been able to practice as much, other players are getting reps. — Lyles
2022 record: 5-7, 2-6 SEC
QB outlook: Sophomore Conner Weigman was thrust into the starting job last year and looks to be the future for the Aggies, with all the tools to be a star in new coordinator Bobby Petrino’s offense. But Max Johnson, who started 14 games at LSU before transferring to A&M before last season, also is in the mix and went 2-1 as a starter last year with wins over Arkansas and Miami before suffering a season-ending injury.
Non-QB to watch: Jimbo Fisher hasn’t entertained much discussion of how playcalling and the offense will look with Petrino on board. After the Aggies ranked 101st nationally in scoring offense last season (22.8 PPG), 93rd in total offense (360.9), and 99th in third-down conversions (35%), any chance to see what the new-look offense has in store will be dissected. But the big plays will have to wait. The Aggies are playing with only half the field due to stadium construction.
Notable injuries: Star wide receiver Evan Stewart reportedly returned to practice this week after wearing a boot on his foot and missing some spring practices. Offensive linemen Bryce Foster, Trey Zuhn, Hunter Erb, along with TE Max Wright and DB Deuce Harmon, have all been out or limited this spring and center Matthew Wykoff just said this week he’ll be entering the transfer portal. — Wilson
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Greg Wyshynski
HENDERSON, NV — Connor Bedard didn’t take it personally when Canada left the Chicago Blackhawks sensation off its 4 Nations Face-Off roster.
“I mean, I kind of knew. I had a slow start last year,” he told ESPN last week. “There are so many great players in Canada. Even if I went out and played great and didn’t make the team, it’s not like I was going to be butt-hurt.”
Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres took it a little more personally when Team USA passed him over for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
“Going into the second half of the season, it was extra motivation to show them that I could play,” he said. “That maybe I did belong out there. I used it to fuel my game and push it in the right direction.”
Apparently, trying to earn the chance to represent one’s country in a best-on-best tournament is a heck of a motivator. Thompson had 24 points in 27 games for the Sabres following the 4 Nations break, with 18 goals.
Dozens of NHL players enter the 2025-26 season with Olympic aspirations. The NHL is returning to the Winter Games for the first time since 2014, taking a break in its season so players can chase gold in Italy next February.
While many players from the 4 Nations Face-Off rosters for Canada, the U.S., Sweden and Finland will carry over to their respective Olympic rosters, executives such as Team USA GM Bill Guerin have said that the 4 Nations group was “probably not gonna be the exact lineup that we take to the Olympics.”
That’s good news for players such as Clayton Keller, the Utah Mammoth forward who was left off the 4 Nations roster and, like Thompson, wasn’t exactly thrilled about it.
“Obviously I was upset, but I used it as motivation,” Keller said. “I think I played my best hockey of the year after that. We really came out strong and made a push for the playoffs”
THOMPSON WAS PERHAPS the most significant snub from the Team USA 4 Nations roster. That he was added as an injury replacement reserve for the championship game against Canada underscored how close he was to making the cut.
Thompson watched that game in Boston. Watched as the U.S. lost in overtime, 3-2, unable to break through against goalie Jordan Binnington before Connor McDavid ended the game and secured the gold medal for Canada.
“Obviously, I would’ve loved to be out there and be a guy to help them win,” he said. “But I don’t pick the team. I’m just playing and doing my job on the ice.”
When Team USA was constructed for the 4 Nations Face-Off, Guerin and his management team opted for veteran depth forwards with potential as two-way players — such as Vincent Trocheck, Chris Kreider and Brock Nelson — rather than bringing on younger players better known for their offense.
One reason was their versatility, as players such as Nelson and Trocheck have thrived in different roles in the NHL. Guerin said it’s an adjustment for star players when they join a best-on-best team and are no longer getting their usual ice time and offensive looks.
“You have to check your ego at the door. That happens on any championship team. I feel like we had that in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey team,” Guerin told ESPN. “You just have to do things that you’re not used to doing. Play roles that you’re not used to playing or the minutes that you’re not used to playing. You have to accept that.”
Another reason players such as Keller and Thompson were overlooked was a lack of championship tournament experience. Thompson has never appeared in a Stanley Cup playoff game after eight seasons — seven of them with Buffalo. Keller has appeared only once in the NHL postseason, playing nine games with Arizona during the empty-arena COVID bubble playoffs in 2020.
Both players sought to boost their résumés by playing on the U.S. team in the 2025 IIHF world championships last spring, when the Americans captured their first title since 1960. Guerin put a premium on having players who might be on the Olympic bubble play in worlds.
Not only were Thompson and Keller there, but so were hopefuls such as defensemen Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins, both of whom were on the 4 Nations roster. Younger players such as Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic parlayed their world championship experience into Team USA Olympic orientation camp invites in August.
While Thompson and Keller both said their focus is on their respective NHL seasons, they can’t ignore the Olympic carrot dangling in front of them.
“I think it’s something super cool and exciting and something to play for, and I’m just going to play my game and let the rest take care of itself,” said Keller, who led Utah with 90 points in 81 games last season. “I’m not stressing about it.”
“You don’t want to think about it too much. I feel like my priority is helping our team win in Buffalo. If I do that, then everything just falls into place,” said Thompson, who was Buffalo’s leading scorer with 44 goals in 76 games. “The Olympics is a big goal of mine. It’s something I’ve wanted to be able to do for a long time. So to make the team would be something pretty special. But you don’t want to put too much thought into it.”
Bedard, entering his third season in the NHL after being drafted first overall by Chicago in 2023, opted not to play for Team Canada at IIHF worlds this year. His focus was on his skating and other developmental work in the offseason. Despite Canada’s considerable depth at forward, Bedard is keeping his Olympic hopes alive, having attended orientation camp in August.
“It’d be incredible. It’s not something I think about now too much. I just want to go into camp and have a good start, personally and as a team, and then you see what happens,” said Bedard, who had 67 points in 82 games to led Chicago last season.
Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson‘s name was circulated among fans after the Americans — and specifically the Tkachuk brothers — mucked things up at 4 Nations. In fact, Wilson fought Brady Tkachuk in a game against the Ottawa Senators a few weeks after the tournament.
While Olympic rules likely mean there won’t be another punch-up between Canada and the U.S., Wilson did earn a Team Canada Olympic orientation camp invite this summer after being left off the 4 Nations roster.
“It was cool. It’s an impressive group of guys, to say the least. It really makes you want to put your head down and just work as hard as you can to put yourself in the conversation for making the Olympic team,” Wilson said. “When you’re a kid, it’s the Stanley Cup and an Olympic gold medal. That’s everything. That’s your biggest, wildest dreams. But you look around that [camp] room, every guy beside you wants it just as much as you do — and it’s the best players in the league.”
Wilson believes that the first few months of the 2025-26 season will see players with Winter Games dreams working extra hard to make a final impression.
“For all those Olympic hopefuls, you don’t have a lot of opportunity to gracefully dip your toes in the water to start the year. It’s a small runway before they started announcing rosters and stuff like that,” he said. “You better believe every guy that was in the conversation this summer was working really hard to start well.”
MAKING AN OLYMPIC ROSTER means taking a roster spot from someone who played in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim played three games for Team Canada at 4 Nations, and competed for the Canadians at IIHF worlds, where they were stunned in the quarterfinals by Denmark.
“Obviously, 4 Nations was something that was a privilege to be on. I probably wasn’t thinking about it a couple years ago, and just the last couple seasons I put myself in that situation,” Sanheim said.
The work doesn’t stop just because he made that roster. Sanheim was one of 14 defensemen who attended Team Canada’s Olympic orientation camp. He’s considered on the bubble for the 2026 Winter Games.
“I think Canada’s such a deep team and the guys that are competing for those roster spots — you could take about 20 guys to fill, what is it, eight spots? So it’s going to be a challenge,” Sanheim said. “The Olympics are something that I’m striving towards and want to be a part of. It’s exciting to have that opportunity.”
Patrick Kane has had that opportunity twice, winning silver in 2010 and losing bronze in 2014 for the Americans. The 36-year-old winger’s absence from Team USA’s 4 Nations roster wasn’t a surprise, as Kane himself admitted his play last season didn’t warrant a selection. However, his presence at the U.S. Olympic orientation camp in August was a surprise to some, although not to Kane.
“They told my agent there’s the potential of maybe making the team. That I was under consideration. So when you hear that, it’s not really that big of a surprise that you’re there,” he said.
Kane said the real surprise was that his Detroit Red Wings teammate Alex DeBrincat wasn’t invited to camp after not making the 4 Nations cut either.
“I think both of us have some motivation to get off to good starts this year,” he said.
Kane remembers back in 2010 when he was a 21-year-old star on the U.S. Olympic team, surrounded by veteran national team members such as Chris Drury, Jamie Langenbrunner and Brian Rafalski. Now, he would be that elder statesman should he make the cut for 2026. But like every other NHL player that hasn’t formally been named to an Olympic roster, Kane knows he must earn it.
“I want to get to a point where obviously you put yourself in consideration for the team just on your play, right? Not for your name or what you’ve done in the past,” Kane said. “That’s the goal going into this year.”
If there’s an overriding storyline through three weeks, it has been about the winners and losers of some big bets on quarterbacks.
Miami bet on Carson Beck reviving his NFL prospects after a down year at Georgia. So far, he has delivered, averaging nearly 10 yards per pass with eight total touchdowns, and the Canes are ranked in the top five.
Oklahoma wagered Brent Venables’ future on John Mateer, and the Washington State transfer has been electric, leading the Sooners past Michigan in a Week 2 showdown and earning Heisman front-runner status.
Auburn felt sure former five-star recruit Jackson Arnold still had plenty of untapped potential, and through three weeks, he has looked like the superstar he once was, getting the Tigers to 3-0.
Ohio State, Georgia and Oregon all bet on in-house QBs rather than dipping into the transfer portal, and all have been rewarded.
Florida State, Indiana and Tulane hit pay dirt in the portal.
That’s the good news.
On the flip side, so many quarterbacks who were expected to provide massive dividends — Arch Manning, Cade Klubnik, DJ Lagway, Nico Iamaleava, LaNorris Sellers — have wavered between average or awful.
Week 4 offers some chances for redemption, with Lagway getting another big test against Miami, Klubnik hoping to right the ship against Syracuse and UNC‘s Gio Lopez going on the road against UCF in the Tar Heels’ first real test since a blowout loss to TCU.
Some of the nation’s most talented young players have a chance to break through, too. CJ Carr can earn win No. 1 against woeful Purdue. Michigan’s Bryce Underwood, coming off a strong performance against Central Michigan, has a much bigger test against Nebraska. Ole Miss’ Austin Simmons hopes to return from injury in time to make his mark in a showdown with Tulane.
The story is just beginning to be written, so there’s plenty of time for Manning, Klubnik and other preseason darlings to find their footing. But it has been a cold September for some of the nation’s most renowned passers, and Week 4 could be another opportunity for others to grab their share of the spotlight. — David Hale
Jump to:
Auburn-Oklahoma | Utah-Texas Tech
Quarterbacks who are falling short
Breakout players | Quotes of the week
What do each of these teams need to do to win?
Auburn: The Tigers have to disrupt Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer and make him pay for running the ball, and they have the ingredients to do so. Auburn is tied for sixth nationally in sacks per game (3.67) and tied for 12th in tackles for loss per game (8.7). Although Keldric Faulk is the headliner, Arkansas State transfer Keyron Crawford has been the team’s most disruptive pass rusher so far with three sacks and a forced fumble. The defense and run game, which ranks 16th nationally at 240 yards per game, ideally must reduce the pressure on quarterback Jackson Arnold in his highly anticipated return to Oklahoma. Arnold is completing nearly 70% of his passes, running the ball effectively and limiting mistakes, but the more Auburn’s other playmakers can take off his plate, the better the chances for a key road win. — Adam Rittenberg
Oklahoma: Arnold started nine games for the Sooners last fall. If anyone knows his weak spots, it’s Oklahoma coach Brent Venables. As Adam points out, Arnold (eight turnovers in 2024) has played efficient, mistake-free football in his first three games at Auburn. A Sooners defense that’s creating pressures on 44.6% of its snaps this season — 10th nationally, per ESPN Research — is built to change that and make Arnold uncomfortable, although Oklahoma will be without 2024 sack leader R Mason Thomas for the first half Saturday following a Week 3 targeting ejection. Mateer will have his own work cut out for him against the Tigers’ defensive front, but he should be able to find holes in a secondary that ranks 85th in yards allowed per game (220.0). The difference, ultimately, could come on the ground where a still-figuring-out Oklahoma rushing attack meets Auburn’s 10th-ranked run defense (67.0 yards per game) on Saturday. Freshman Tory Blaylock (5.4 yards per carry) has been the Sooners’ most effective running back through three games. — Eli Lederman
How do each of these quarterbacks need to perform?
Utah: Through three games a year ago, Utah had gone without a first down on nearly a quarter of its drives. This season, it has happened only three times in three games. The difference is Devon Dampier, who has looked as at ease running his brand of dual-threat football in a Power 4 backfield as he did a year ago at New Mexico. Dampier has racked up more than 800 yards of offense and accounted for eight touchdowns, and he has yet to turn the ball over. His skill set has made him particularly effective. He has already accumulated 80 yards on scramble plays, and three of his seven TD passes have come from outside the pocket. This will be his biggest test to date, but he’ll also be, by far, the biggest challenge for Texas Tech’s defense. — Hale
Texas Tech: Behren Morton hasn’t taken a snap after the third quarter across three straight 30-plus point victories to open the season. Still, Texas Tech’s senior quarterback enters Week 4 tied for No. 1 nationally in passing touchdowns (11) and ranks ninth in passing yards (923), leading the nation’s highest-scoring offense (58.0 PPG). Utah, with the nation’s 20th-ranked pass defense (134.0 yards per game), should present Morton with his toughest test yet in 2025. He’ll have to be accurate against an experienced Utes secondary, and Morton’s decision-making will be key, too, in the face of a Utah front seven that features the nation’s joint sack leader in John Henry Daley — five in three games — and blitzes on 42.6% of its snaps, the 10th-highest rate among FBS defenses, per ESPN Research. Most of all, Texas Tech will hope Morton’s experience (27 career starts) can keep its offense steady in the Red Raiders’ first visit to a notoriously hostile Rice-Eccles Stadium. — Eli Lederman
Three quarterbacks who aren’t meeting their preseason hype
1. Arch Manning
Anyone can have a rough outing in a Week 1 matchup against the defending champs, and Manning looked fine a week later against San José State. So, nothing to worry about, right? Ah, not so fast. A dismal first half against UTEP ignited a full-on inferno of criticism of the preseason Heisman favorite, and for good reason. Manning is completing just 55% of his throws and has turned the ball over three times, and Texas has gone without a first down on nearly a quarter of its drives so far. Add the sideline grimace that coach Steve Sarkisian chalked up to — well, we’re not quite sure — and it would be enough reason for concern even if Manning didn’t carry a legendary name and a ton of hype. That this all comes on the heels of such high expectations means Manning will be fighting critics for the foreseeable future.
2. Cade Klubnik
What’s wrong with Clemson‘s offense? The answers are everywhere, but none appear bigger than Klubnik, who has at times looked lost, frustrated or intimidated in the pocket. His 37.5 QBR through three games ranks 121st out of 136 FBS passers, and his miserable first-half performances — no passing touchdowns, two turnovers — have put Clemson in some early holes. Klubnik is completing less than 60% of his throws on the year, but the bigger issue is the number of open receivers he hasn’t even targeted in key moments. He has been sacked just three times this year, but he has gotten moved off his position too often, and abandoned ship even more frequently. So, what’s wrong with the Tigers? The better question is what’s wrong with the Tigers’ QB?
3. DJ Lagway
After last year’s hot finish, the assumption was that Lagway would take the next step in 2025 to becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Through three weeks, he’s nowhere close. Not only is Florida off to a 1-2 start, Lagway has been the primary culprit. He’s completing 71% of his throws, but nearly one-third of his throws are behind the line of scrimmage. He has done nothing to extend the field, attempting just seven throws of 20 yards or more. On those throws, he has one completion and two picks. Lagway’s six interceptions overall are tied for the second most nationally through three games. If Florida wants to turn things around amid a brutal schedule, it has to start with Lagway looking more like the player he appeared to be down the stretch in 2024. — Hale
Five early breakout players
Rueben Bain Jr., DL, Miami: The 6-foot-3, 275-pound pass rusher is performing at an All-America level so far this season with 15 stops, 11 pressures, 2.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble through three games. Bain was a top-100 recruit and a Freshman All-American in 2023, so there’s nothing shocking about his rise, but he’s making the leap as a junior and proving he’s a no-doubt NFL draft first-round pick. As ESPN draft expert Jordan Reid put it, no other draft-eligible player in the sport is having a greater down-to-down impact than Bain.
Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas: Green is off to an incredible start to his second season under OC Bobby Petrino, leading the country in total offense with 866 passing yards, 307 rushing yards (most among all FBS QBs) and 13 total touchdowns. Last week against Ole Miss, he became the first QB in program history to surpass 300 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in a single game. The Razorbacks came up short in their SEC opener but have seven more top-25 opponents on the schedule, which should give Green every opportunity to play his way into Heisman contention.
Mario Craver, WR, Texas A&M: The Aggies faced Craver last year during his freshman season at Mississippi State and knew he could be a dangerous playmaker. He has been an absolute game changer for Marcel Reed and Texas A&M’s passing game with an FBS-leading 443 receiving yards and four TDs on just 20 receptions. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound wideout isn’t flying under the national radar anymore after burning Notre Dame’s secondary for a career-best 207 yards on seven catches, and his 279 yards after catch are nearly 100 more than any other pass catcher in the country.
Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri: Hardy had a prolific freshman season at UL Monroe and hasn’t slowed down one bit since making his move to the SEC. He’s now the second-leading rusher in the FBS with 462 yards and five TDs after a ridiculous 250-yard day against Louisiana last week. The sophomore has played in only 15 career games, yet he already has three 200-yard performances on his résumé, and he leads all FBS backs with 29 forced missed tackles, according to ESPN Research.
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, QB, Cal: The true freshman from Hawaii was a late riser in the recruiting rankings as a high school senior, and we’re quickly learning why he became so coveted. Sagapolutele signed with Oregon but flipped back to Cal in early January, believing he’d have a chance to start right away for the Golden Bears. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound lefty has flashed big-time arm talent and exciting potential with 780 passing yards and seven total TDs while leading a 3-0 start. He’s becoming must-see TV on a Cal squad that looks poised to exceed expectations. — Max Olson
Quotes of the Week
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney on speculation about his job security:
“Hey, listen, if Clemson’s tired of winning, they can send me on my way. But I’m gonna go somewhere else and coach. I ain’t going to the beach. Hell, I’m 55. I’ve got a long way to go. Y’all are gonna have to deal with me for a while.”
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian on quarterback Arch Manning:
“Here’s a guy who’s had an awesome life, the way he’s grown up, the people he’s been surrounded by. I think you learn a lot about yourself through adversity and overcoming adversity. … When he gets on the other side of it, I think all of this is going to serve well not only for him, but for us as a team.”
LSU coach Brian Kelly:
“LSU won the football game, won the game. I don’t know what you want from me. What do you want? You want us to win 70-0 against Florida to keep you happy?”
Michigan fill-in coach Biff Poggi on Bryce Underwood:
“He might actually be Batman. We need to do a DNA test on him.”
Georgia Tech coach Brent Key addressing his team after beating Clemson:
“Enjoy the s— out of it, man. Guess what? Next week is going to be bigger.”
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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.
The ACC is closing in on a change to its scheduling format that will require all league teams to play at least 10 games against Power Four competition, though the number of intra-conference games played — eight or nine — remains a sticking point, according to multiple sources.
Athletics directors are scheduled to meet Monday in Charlotte to discuss the details of what will either be a move to a nine-game conference slate with one additional Power Four game required out of conference or an “8+2” model that would provide more flexibility to schools who already have an annual non-conference rival.
“The ACC committing to go to 10 Power Four games is a big step forward,” Clemson athletics director Graham Neff said. “It’s indicative of where college football is and leans into emphasizing the importance of strength of schedule and more Power Four matchups.”
Neff is among the handful of ADs concerned that a nine-game conference slate would be problematic in limiting schools’ ability to play marquee non-conference games, as Clemson did this season against LSU in Week 1.
The Tigers play South Carolina annually and, beginning in 2027, will also have a yearly game against Notre Dame.
A straw poll of 13 of the ACC’s 17 athletics directors showed nine supported or were amenable to the nine-game slate, while Clemson and Florida State are among the others with concerns about the impact on non-conference scheduling.
The SEC announced last month it would move from an eight-game to a nine-game conference slate — a decision that has spurred the ACC’s interest in adjusting its scheduling model, too.
Multiple sources said ACC commissioner Jim Phillips wants to see the conference play nine league games annually plus require each school to schedule one out-of-conference game against another Power Four school, essentially matching the SEC’s new strategy. ACC schools are already supposed to have at least one Power Four non-conference game each year, but that rule has not been enforced and several programs have avoided playing a more difficult schedule. Sources told ESPN that the current conversations have reached a consensus that 10 Power Four games must be an enforced minimum moving forward.
One administrator said it felt inevitable the league was going to go to nine league games. Duke coach Manny Diaz agreed.
“I think it’d be awfully strange to be the only conference not at nine conference games,” Diaz said. “Usually when you’re the only one doing something, it’s either really good or really bad. It just feels like you’d want continuity in what everybody does in college sports.”
The SEC’s move coincided with the College Football Playoff committee’s revised guidelines that emphasize strength of opponent. SEC schools are also expected to see an increase in revenue from its TV partner, ESPN, for adding the additional conference game.
ACC ADs were briefed on the various plans during a call Wednesday, though several said there remains little understanding of how potential changes would be accepted by ESPN or considered among the College Football Playoff committee. Indeed, as Radakovich noted, the ideal formula for a 12-team playoff vs. an expanded playoff might not be the same, but the ACC will need to decide its scheduling fate before knowing what the future playoff might look like.
“Hopefully Jim [Phillips] will give us some insight into that when we get together Monday, and help set the table that, hey, nine is going to be really important for us to keep a very good seat at the table as it relates to the other CFP commissioners and the Power 4 conferences,” Miami athletics director Dan Radakovich said. “It all depends on how big the CFP gets. That’s another driving factor we won’t know. We’re going to have to make this decision without that knowledge and try to project it the best way we can.”
No additional revenues are expected to come from ESPN if a change is made. The ACC also changed its revenue-distribution model starting in 2025, awarding a higher percentage of revenue to schools based on TV ratings.
“It’s important we continue to be strategic in providing value to our media partner, ESPN,” Neff said. “And with how the ACC has adapted our financial distribution model, that has direct school revenue implications unlike any other conference.”
The ACC has wrestled with how many league games it should play for more than a decade. In 2012, the ACC agreed to play nine league games, but decided to stay at eight after adding Syracuse and Pittsburgh and coming to a scheduling agreement with Notre Dame the following year. The intra-state nonconference rivalry games that Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Louisville play annually against their SEC rivals have always been a sticking point in any of these discussions.
For those four specific teams, their rivalry games coupled with a nine-game conference slate would provide a full inventory of 10 Power Four matchups — with more in years in which those schools play Notre Dame as part of the league’s agreement that requires five games per year against the Irish. That leaves little room for marquee matchups like Clemson-LSU or Florida State-Alabama, two games that did monster ratings in Week 1 of this season, each drawing more than 10 million viewers.
But future marquee non-conference matchups like those could disappear once the ACC moves to a nine-game conference slate, Neff said, which could diminish the overall product and inhibit revenue opportunities, given the ACC’s new distribution model that provides more money to schools with better TV ratings.
Radakovich noted that games like this week’s showdown with Florida are unlikely to be played moving forward due to the constraints of a larger conference schedule, but he will continue to have conversations with Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin.
“It’s going to be a real tough sell because Florida has their nine SEC games and their rivalry game with FSU,” Radakovich said. “Scott and I will have some chats to see if it can happen but it’s going to be some tough sledding.”
Louisville athletics director Josh Heird said his school would still schedule top non-conference competition, even if that means an 11th Power Four game. The Cardinals currently have future games scheduled against Georgia in 2026 and 2027 and Texas A&M in 2028 and 2029.
“Play good teams,” Heird said. “We’ll play Kentucky every year, and we’ll have Notre Dame every once in a while. And we absolutely want to still play the home-and-homes with Georgia and Texas A&M. I think the kids want to play those games, too.”
Several ADs expressed concern, however, that series like Louisville’s with Georgia and Texas A&M would disappear regardless, as the SEC bows out of such matchups now that its teams will play nine league games. Others suggested the SEC and Big Ten — the two leagues with the most financial clout — could work together for non-conference scheduling, leaving the ACC and Big 12 with few options to fill out their schedules, particularly if the ACC has two Power Four non-conference games required.
“You’re not guaranteed 10,” one AD in favor of a 9+1 model said. “That’s the issue. Who’s to say the other Power four leagues want to schedule ACC schools?”
One alternative could be for ACC teams to schedule non-conference games against each other, as NC State and Virginia did in Week 2. Several ADs expressed skepticism about that plan, however, suggesting it would be extremely confusing for fans to understand which ACC vs. ACC matchups counted in the league standing and which did not.
Regardless, the ACC will have to figure out a way around a more basic problem of math. With 17 football-playing members, there’s no way for all schools to play nine conference games.
One initial plan involved games vs. Notre Dame — an ACC member in all sports except football — to count as conference games. Multiple ADs told ESPN that plan has been shelved for the time being, likely in favor of an imbalanced model in which at least one team will play just eight conference games while the rest play nine.
Monday’s meetings in Charlotte are expected to move the league closer to a final decision, but several sources said they did not expect an official vote to happen for a few weeks and were similarly dubious a change would take effect for the 2026 season.
“Let’s look to try to set our course,” Radakovich said. “The discussions will happen Monday but decisions will hopefully happen shortly thereafter. Hopefully we’ll come out of that with a consensus that leads the ACC to a final conclusion.”
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