Spring Football Storylines

It's been said that hope springs eternal, but in college football it's like spring football gives eternal hope.

Teams are acclimating new players into the mix, getting guys back from injury or maybe picking up where they left off the previous season. Everyone is unbeaten, has the best work ethic and all coaches love what they see from their guys this time of year.

All teams have something they can improve upon, and that's where we come in.

Here is our look at the top 25 teams from the final Associated Press poll, and their biggest concerns this spring.

1 LSU: The defending national champs have a lot of retooling to do, so spring ball should be especially beneficial for guys stepping in to new/more pronounced roles. Star WR Ja'Marr Chase is back on offense, but he's just about the only one -- QB Joe Burrow, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire and WR Justin Jefferson are all gone, as are some major pieces on the OL. Throw in the loss of numerous playmakers on the stop side, along with offensive wunderkind Joe Brady, and it looks like a bit of a step back for the Bayou Bengals.
SPOTLIGHT ON: The linebackers. Gone are Patrick Queen, Michael Divinity, Jacob Phillips and K'Lavon Chaisson, so that group is starting from scratch. The offensive backfield and receiving corps also bears watching, as does the offensive mindset now that Brady is gone. He and Burrow combined to make magic in 2019, but both left for the NFL. It will be interesting to see if LSU reverts back to more of a ball-control, power game.
2 Clemson: The Tigers got a huge boost when RB Travis Etienne chose to return for his senior season, helping an offense that was already going to be lethal. Trevor Lawrence returns for what is likely his final season, and he still has standout WR Justyn Ross as a top weapon. Frank Ladson and Joseph Ngata should make themselves known this season, but there are some question marks on the offensive line, which must replace four starters. On defense, the questions are who is going to replace Swiss army knife Isaiah Simmons? And can the secondary rebound from its poor performance in the national championship game?
SPOTLIGHT ON: The secondary. Corner AJ Terrell decided to jump to the NFL a year early, and safeties K'Von Wallace and Tanner Muse have used up their eligibility. It's a big spring for Nolan Turner at one safety spot, and for Andrew Booth, who came in with a ton of accolades last season, at the corner spot vacated by Terrell.
3 Ohio State: Year one of the Ryan Day era went about as well as possible, with the Buckeyes making an appearance in the CFP. QB Justin Fields was a Heisman finalist and should be a favorite in 2020, but he will have to get used to a mostly new receiving corps and a couple of new faces up front. But it's on defense where things get interesting -- Chase Young and Jeff Okudah jumped to the NFL, Davon Hamilton, Damon Arnette, Malik Harrison and Jordan Fuller used up their eligibility, and all were vital cogs to one of the best defensive units in America. There is talent on hand, as well as a new sheriff in charge on defense (Kerry Coombs), so spring will be big in terms of getting everyone on the same page and unearthing new gems.
SPOTLIGHT ON: The backfield. It's hard to convey just how good, and valuable, JK Dobbins was. He was elusive and powerful as a runner, could catch the ball and was a solid blocker in pass pro. Among the candidates to replace him are Master Teague, a powerful straight ahead runner but without Dobbins shiftiness, Marcus Crowley, a nice combo of speed and finesse, Steele Chambers and freshman Miyan Williams. It will likely be a committee approach, and OSU needs to have a running game that complements Fields' massive skill set.
4 Georgia: There was some thought that the Bulldogs might take a bit of a step back with the loss of QB Jake Fromm and RBs D'Andre Swift and Brian Herrien. But good news came in the form of Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman, who brings more of an athletic dynamic to the quarterback spot. The backfield is deep, and it will be fun to watch how much freshman receiver George Pickens improves in his second season. There are some losses on defense -- JR Reed and Tyler Clark most notably -- but a lot of young talent ready to prove itself.
SPOTLIGHT ON: The offensive line. Bookend tackles Andrew Thomas, Isaiah Wilson and Solomon Kindley all  left for the NFL a year early, and upcoming star Cade Mays transferred to Tennessee. That leaves center Trey Hill as the lone holdover up front, though versatlie Ben Cleveland has a ton of experience and has played guard and tackle. Finding new pieces to replace the veterans will be a big order, but there isn't a lack of talent. O-line is about reps and chemistry, and that's what UGA will focus on this spring.
5 Oregon: The Ducks enter spring with potentially the best defense in college football. A loaded secondary returns, the linebacking corps has some star power and the front will be led by potential superstar EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux. Offense is where things get dicey -- Penei Sewell returns at OT, and is the nation's best at his spot. But Oregon must replace the other four, as well as QB Justin Herbert. Mario Cristobal has recruited well the last couple of seasons so the Ducks are getting better in the talent department.
SPOTLIGHT ON: The offense. Tyler Shough appears to be the leader at quarterback, and he has big time potential. But he's never had any meaningful action, and there isn't much experience behind him. Finding cohesion up front is paramount, and while Sewell is an uber talent, he can't do it alone. Oregon needs to find a combination that works by the time spring ends.
6 Florida: This could be the year when the Gators finally upset the SEC East apple cart and win the division. Dan Mullen has done very well with recruiting and has been able to utilize the talent on the roster, most of which returns. This is Kyle Trask's team now, though he will need to find some new weapons as the bulk of his receiving corps departs. The defense was aggressive under Todd Grantham and should be good once again, especially in the secondary.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Florida's hands guys. Freddie Swain, Van Jefferson, Josh Hammond, Tyrie Cleveland are all gone, so the Gators will look to fortify with some youth. Trevon Grimes should take center stage, and Kadarius Toney provides a speed component.
7 Oklahoma: The Sooners head into 2020 as the class of the Big 12 -- again -- but there are a few more questions than normal for Lincoln Riley's crew. Who is the go-to guy now that CeeDee Lamb has moved on? The guess is Charleston Rambo, though if Theo Wease or Jadon Haselwood emerge it would be no surprise. The line is mostly intact, and the ground game is in capable hands. Can Spencer Rattler live up to the tremendous hype that followed him from Arizona prep play? OU's top defensive stars are gone, and while the unit improved a ton over 2018 it still wasn't much better than average.
SPOTLIGHT ON: The back end of the defense. OU allowed 27 TD passes and had just seven picks last season, WITH Parnell Motley at one corner spot. He's gone, and while Tre Brown is emerging as a star at corner, the rest of the unit hasn't been good. The Sooners were good at creating pressure on the QB, so these guys bear the brunt of the blame for a leaky pass defense.
8 Alabama: Missing out on the CFP was a first for the Crimson Tide, so you have to believe that Nick Saban will be full-on tyrant mode this spring. There should be a battle at quarterback (Mac Jones and Bryce Young) and a few new faces on the OL. The defense is where the real retooling will be done, though the return of LB Dylan Moses cushions the blow of losing half of the starting unit. Bama's strength should once again be its front seven.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Attitude, and the secondary. A wounded Bama is a dangerous Bama, and Saban seethed when he saw a division rival win the national title. Look for him to ramp up the intensity this spring. Patrick Surtain is the only returning starter in the secondary, and while is an elite talent, he can't do it alone. This is step up time for Josh Jobe, Jordan Battle and DeMarco Hellams, all of whom entered the program with lofty prep praise.
9 Penn State: There was a ton of attrition at Michigan, so its logical to believe that the Nittany Lions will be Ohio State's chief obstacle in the B1G East. It will be intriguing to watch new OC Kirk Ciarrocca doing his thing, as his style at Minnesota seemed more suited to a team that favored the run. That plays to PSU's strength, as RB Journey Brown is a breakout talent and QB Sean Clifford proved himself a dangerous runner. For the offense to work, Clifford needs to improve his accuracy -- which might be tough given the paucity of weapons on hand. KJ Hamler left for the NFL and Justin Shorter transferred to Florida, so outside of excellent TE Pat Freiermuth there isn't much pass-catching experience. The defense should once again be nails, though the pass D needs to get better.
SPOTLIGHT ON: The secondary. For all of the good that Brent Pry has accomplished in his time as PSU DC, his secondaries have been hit (2017 & 18) or miss (2016 & 19). Interceptions have never been more than 13 in a season, and no one on the roster comes in to 2020 with more than two. Shoring up the back end is paramount because for as good as the pass rush is if it doesn't get there there's usually a big play for the opponent. Marquis Wilson looks like a burgeoning star at cornerback.
10 Minnesota: The Gophers had been trending upward, but few saw a double-digit wins season coming. Tanner Morgan is back at quarterback, and Mo Ibrahim will have the backfield to himself after sharing it with Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith. Rashod Bateman is already one of the best wideouts in college football and a big spring could catapult him to even bigger stardom. The defense loses a lot, and the coaching staff went through some changes.
SPOTLIGHT ON: The defense. The Gophers lose seven starters, including ball-hawking safety Antoine Winfield Jr and rush force Carter Coughlin. Minnesota ranked top 30 in Yards Per Play allowed (5.06) but may have trouble challenging that with a host of turnover on the stop side. DE Esezi Otomewo and DT Keonte Schad will have opportunities this spring to show their talents.
11 Wisconsin: This will be an interesting spring in Madison, as the Badgers gear for life without Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Biadasz and Quintez Cephus, among others. The offense welcomes back QB Jack Coan, but it may take him the entire spring before he learns the names of all of the new faces surrounding him. Most of the defense is back, but its two best players -- Zack Baun and Chris Orr -- depart for the NFL. Paul Chryst has won 52 games in five years and has shown the temperament to handle the UW job. Getting back to his winning ways in 2019 was great, but he may have to work a bit harder if the Badgers are to repeat. It begins in the spring.
SPOTLIGHT ON: The offense. It will be impossible for one guy to replace Taylor, so look for a committee of Nakia Watson and Julius Davis to handle the ground game. There will be three new faces in front of them, too, so gaining chemistry will be important.
12 Notre Dame: Apprehension turned to elation when QB Ian Book announced he was returning to South Bend for his final season. While not a game changer, Book is smart and can make enough throws for the Irish offense to be dangerous, Most of the offensive line returns, and RB Jafar Armstrong is also back. The defense returns most of its crucial pieces, including pass rusher Khalid Kareem and safety Kyle Hamilton. Brian Kelly has as much depth as at any point in his 11 years at Notre Dame, and how he gets that talent to gel will be a chief focus this spring,
SPOTLIGHT ON: The receiving corps. Chase Claypool, Chris Finke  and Cole Kmet have moved on, and finding replacements won't be easy. Lawrence Keys, Michael Young, Javon McKinley and a host of others should get ample chances to state their case for playing time.
13 Baylor: It's a new era in Waco as former LSU DC Dave Aranda takes over for NFL-bound Matt Rhule. The Bears won 11 games a year ago but may be hard pressed to reach double digits as they transition to a new system and some attrition. Questions abound at quarterback, with the status of Charlie Brewer very much up in the air. He suffered his fourth career concussion in the Sugar Bowl and his status heading into spring is unknown. Jacob Zeno and Gerry Bohanon each played a bit in 2019 an could stage an intriguing competition if Brewer can't go. The defense should be good under Aranda, even with top stars James Lynch, Bravvion Roy and Grayland Arnold all gone. Baylor has been midpack in Big 12 recruiting the last few seasons so Aranda may need to get creative with personnel.
SPOTLIGHT ON: The offense. Three OL starters departed, the entire starting receiving group as well as leading rusher JaMycal Hasty are also gone. If Brewer can't play the Bears could be looking at an uphill climb. But you know the defense will be good, and maybe a new boss and scheme will work out better than expected. There will be many curious eyes in Waco this spring, that's for sure.
14 Auburn: The Tigers posted nine wins in a season when they were breaking in a freshman quarterback and were inconsistent on offense, so another year of experience for QB Bo Nix should make that unit better in 2020. The transfer of RB Boosie Whitlow means that DJ Williams has the backfield largely to himself. How Auburn's D will stay consistent is a big question -- it loses interior beast Derrick Brown, pass rushers Nick Coe and Marlon Davidson and most of its starting secondary. Gus Malzahn brought in former Arkansas HC Chad Morris to run the offense, so the Tigers should score points in bunches. The spring will be used to determine whether or not they can stop anyone.
SPOTLIGHT ON: The offensive line. All five starters depart, which isn't usually a portent of good things. With so much turnover up front it's imperative that Nix become a better passer. Whether or not his protection allows that will be the big question of the spring.
15 Iowa: With the improvement forecast in the Big Ten West, the Hawkeyes will need to navigate a lot of attrition on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Chief among them is QB Nate Stanley, who threw all but 12 of the Hawkeyes 411 passes last season. A bit of retooling is needed up front, but OT Alaric Jackson chose to return so that's a boost. On defense, the secondary will need to be retooled, and someone will need to take the place of pass rush terror AJ Epenesa, who jumped early to the pros.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Offensive explosiveness. From the beginning of October forward, Iowa scored more than 27 points just once, against USC in the Holiday Bowl. The defense should be slightly less lethal, so the offense will need to show that it can score points. Progress at quarterback in the spring will be a chief concern.
16 Utah: The window may have closed for the Utes national contention hopes, but the Pac-12 is still there for the taking, and there's enough talent left to keep Utah in the conversation. The OL returns largely intact, as does the receiving corps, but there will be a ton of new faces in the backfield, including QB Jake Bentley, a transfer from South Carolina. Defense is where the real patching begins, however, as eight starters depart. LB Devin Lloyd will become the leader in a unit lacking experience, but he has shown flashes of being a dynamic talent.
SPOTLIGHT ON: The defense. A really good unit in 2019, the Utes will be almost starting from scratch in 2020. DC Morgan Scalley will definitely be proving his worth if he can get this crew to play as well as last year's did. The good thing is that there may be a little more explosiveness on offense, so the D won't have to be quite as good.
17 Memphis: All eyes will be focused on the start of the Ryan Silverfield era, but fortunately for the Tigers it won't be a huge transtion as Silverfiled has been a part of the program for awhile. As an offensive line coach, he could bring a bit more toughness to the Memphis offense, but you know he'll want to keep the explosiveness Finding the right blend of both will be an interesting challenge. The return of QB Brady White and top WRs Damontie Coxie and Pop Williams (who missed most of 2019 with an injury) are welcome, and the defense returns largely intact.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Continuity. Can Silverfield keep up the momentum of last year's 12-2 campaign? Memphis has been inconsistent in recent seasons, going from 8 wins to 10 to 8 to 12. Will there be another dip this year, as players get acclimated to the new head coach? That's definitely something to watch this spring.
18 Michigan: Another year, another disappointment. UM felt 2019 was the year it was all going to fit, when it would beat Ohio State and be a Big Ten champ. Nope. With much of the offense gone it will be interesting to see what Jim Harbaugh does to put the Wolverines into contender status. He'll say all of the right things, that his team is focusing on itself and how much the OSU loss hurt. But the gap in talent between UM and OSU is tangible, and results are not likely to change until Michigan gets better players.
SPOTLIGHT ON: The offense, specifically quarterback. Shea Patterson had his moments over the last two seasons but was lacked consistency. Can Dylan McCaffrey alleviate that and make the Wolverines offense lethal? As much as anything, a deficit in quarterback play is what has kept UM from achieving its goals during the Harbaugh Era.
19 Appalachian State: Maybe fans in Boone feel used after Eli Drinkwitz bolted for Missouri after just one season as head coach, but the Mountaineers have been a resilient bunch and should be able to get past that. Shawn Clark, offensive line coach under Drinkwitz, takes the reins, and it's fortunate for him that most of the offense returns intact -- including four starters up front and QB Zac Thomas. The defense will need to be retooled, especially the secondary, but the Mountaineers have some good, young talent on hand who should be able to make their presence felt this spring.
SPOTLIGHT ON: The secondary. Shaun Jolly and Desmond Franklin were all-league performers and valuable leaders last year, and replacing them will not be easy. App State was top 20 nationally in pass efficiency defense, and must hope that Shemar Jean-Charles is the next prime time performer on the back end.
20 Navy: The Middies came back in a big way after a lackluster 2018, winning 11 games and finishing the year ranked in the top 25. This spring is about a rebuild, however, as record-setting quarterback Malcolm Perry has exhausted his eligibility. Navy can focus on offense this spring because most of the defense returns, including leading tackler LB Diego Fagot. Navy's triple option system is intricate and takes experience to run, so you can bet plenty of attention will be paid to the man taking the snaps.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Quarterback play. Perry did everything but play in the marching band, and it's silly to think that the Middies offense will be as good as it was last season. Perry Olsen got the most work of the returning quarterbacks and should have a leg up going into spring ball, but has to know that much of the onus of the Navy offense is resting on his shoulders.
21 Cincinnati: The Bearcats won 11 games in 2019 and enter the spring secure in the knowledge that coach Luke Fickell will still be around, after he fended off overtures from Michigan State to take over its head coaching spot. UC's offense will need to patch a few holes, but the defense should take center stage as most of a good unit returns, including secondary stars Ahmad Gardner and Coby Bryant..
SPOTLIGHT ON: Offensive line. The Bearcats were a physical, gritty team, but lacked explosiveness on offense. A big factor in that was OL play. The trench guys allowed 35 sacks, which was 108th nationally, and just 4.73 YPC, which was 46th. A young but talented group should get a lot of work this spring, and if it can find some cohesion it should be able to give the offense a bit of a boost.
22 Air Force: Like Navy, Air Force racked up 11 victories and proved to be a tough customer every tie out. The Falcons will have most of their backfield returning, and the left side of the OL is lethal with OT Parker Ferguson and OG Nolan Laufenberg anchoring things. Defense will be the big challenge this spring after losing seven starters. DC John Rudzinski has his work cut out plugging in new pieces, but the Falcons have improved as a defense in the past two seasons under his guidance, so the worries appear to be minimal.
SPOTLIGHT ON: The secondary Three starters depart from a group that was nothing special last year -- ranking 86th in pass efficiency D and picking off just seven passes. Milton Bugg III is the only real experienced player on the back end, so getting more productivity from this unit is paramount.
23 Boise State: The Broncos have recruited better than any other MWC team and have emerging young talent that should keep them in contention for a New Years Six bowl bid for the foreseeable future. Boise State won a dozen games despite losing QB Hank Bachmeier for nearly half of the season He returned for the bowl game and should be good to go this spring. Some new faces will need to be found on defense as more than half of the starting unit is gone, including pass rush terror Curtis Weaver. Sophomore Demitri Washington has a good shot at posting big numbers in that spot with a big spring showing.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Offensive line. Ezra Cleveland jumped a year early and three other starers -- all of whom made some form of the all-MWC team -- exhausted their eligibility. Finding replacements will be the chief task for the Broncos offensive braintrust this spring.
24 UCF: It tells you the kind of program UCF has built when 10-3 is seen as a disappointing season. Most of the important offensive pieces return, including QB Dillon Gabriel, RB Otis Anderson and WRs Tre Nixon and Marlon Williams. Defense took center stage in 2019 as UCF ranked fifth in YPP (4.57), but did allow 23 PPG. LB Eric Mitchell and S Richie Grant are hard hitters with experience and should lead a unit filled with speed and athleticism.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Discipline. UCF was one of the worst teams in America when it came to penalties, ranking 126th in yardage and 127th in infractions. The old adage is that you play the way you're coached, so Knights fans need to hope that the coaches have gotten better in their teaching methods. Too many times last season drives were ended because of unnecessary penalties -- and UCF still found a way to rank top 10 in scoring for 2019. This aspect will be scrutinized closely this spring.
25 Texas: The last time Texas lost fewer than four games was 2009, and Longhorns fans must be wondering when (or if) their team will ever truly be "back." There is a solid foundation in QB Sam Ehlinger and a fairly experienced offensive line, but some familiar receiving weapons must be replaced. The defense has some skill and experience, but was ravaged by injury in 2019. Getting those guys healthy and on the same page with new DC Chris Ash, who was let go after a disastrous stint as head coach at Rutgers. His defensive pedigree is excellent and his scheme allows the corners to make plays and  the front to get after the quarterback without being blitz-happy.
SPOTLIGHT ON: The receiving corps. Even with the change in coaching and personnel on defense, the guys who catch the football will loom as huge pieces in any success Texas has in 2020. Collin Johnson and Devn Duvernay were old reliables, but now it's time for Jake Smith, Jordan Pouncey, Malcolm Epps and Brennan Eagles, among others, to show that they can handle the responsibility. Ehlinger is a great leader and lethal runner, but he can also throw the football. But if his receiving corps can't make plays then the offense will stagnate.