A lot of attention will be paid to the Masters this weekend, but college football never sleeps. There will be many storylines to follow this weekend as spring games take place across the country. Which transfer will make the most noise? Who will win the coveted QB1 spot? Which team will come up with the best spring-game trick? We will be watching the games on Saturday. Arizona.
3 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network
Is there an answer at quarterback?
Since de Laura announced he was transferring in, it has been assumed that he is the starter. In 16 games for Washington State, de Laura threw for 2,798 yards and 23 touchdown with nine interceptions and represents what Fisch can only hope will offer stability at the position (five players attempted a pass last year for Arizona). de Laura will throw in front of Arizona fans for the first time at the spring game. One of his best attributes will not be on display because quarterbacks are off limits in a spring setting. Arizona fans will have to wait until the fall to appreciate how he can turn a broken play into something positive.
Arizona State.
10 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network
How will they replace Jayden Daniels?
There is a genuine quarterback battle. This time of year, the element of the unknown makes things more intriguing, even though not everyone is thrilled to be in this position. The consensus is that either Paul Tyson or Trenton Bourguet will be the starting quarterback. Tyson, the great-grandson of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, arrived as a transfer from Alabama in January, while Bourguet signed with Arizona State. It is possible that the SunDevils reach back into the portal during the inevitable next wave of transfers, but these are the two names to know going into the spring showcase.
There is a city called auburn.
1 p.m. ET
Who will be the leader at QB?
No one will win the starting quarterback job on Saturday. It doesn't matter what they do. We don't know what direction Bryan Harsin and the coaching staff want to go until former Texas A&M starterZach Calzada has fully recovered from shoulder surgery. A-Day is an opportunity for the three of them to separate from one another. It feels as if he is in the driver's seat, but he has something to prove after coming on for an injured Nix late last season and not exactly blowing the doors off the place. He was the starter and was 0-3 with four passing touchdown and one interception.
Boston College.
11 a.m. ET, ACC Network and the ESPN App
What will the offense look like?
The Eagles will not look the same in the spring game or the upcoming season despite the return of quarterback Phil Jurkovec. Jeff Hafley has offered few details about what the offense will look like in an effort to keep it out of opposing scouting reports. Maybe the spring game will be the first chance to see what the new BC offense will look like. Getting the offensive line squared away is the top priority, with four new starters in the mix. There will be no new look or running lanes if there is no time to pass. BC has to find more ways to get Zay Flowers involved after his productivity dropped a year ago.
The city of Cincinnati.
1 p.m. ET
Who has the edge in the quarterback battle?
The Cincinnati team that reached the College Football Playoff in 2021 will look a lot like the team that will be coached by Fickell in 2022. There are still some dynamic and explosive stars in the making, such as receiver Tyler Scott, running back Ryan Montgomery and safety Javon Hicks, who are still coming along. There are huge shoes to fill at quarterback. Senior Ben Bryant was Ridder's backup before transferring to Eastern Michigan, while sophomore Evan Prater was Ridder's backup again. Bryant has more experience than Prater. Who stands out?
There is a school called Clemson.
1 p.m. ET, ACC Network and the ESPN App
Do the Tigers have a problem with a quarterback?
D.J. Uiagalelei was a disaster as a quarterback in 2021. The spring opened with a sense of hope that he could get back to being the pitcher he was two years ago. Uiagalelei slimmed down and was laser focused on fixing his sophomore campaign. The problem is that he has few weapons at his disposal, making it hard to see how far he has come. The same goes for the freshman, who has the potential to replace Uiagalelei as the starter if he does well in the spring game. It might not matter who takes the snaps at quarterback until the team gets healthy at receiver, tight end and running back.
Florida State.
5 p.m., ACC Network and the ESPN App
Which new players will have an impact?
Florida State has an intriguing mix of veteran players returning, including starting quarterback Jordan Travis, along with 23 early enrollees who are there for the spring. The number leads the nation, but it also speaks to the importance of finding players who can make an immediate impact in order to get them back to a bowl game. The players will be keeping an eye on both in the spring and the season. The defense is poised to take another step forward with the help of a number of players. Thanks to the additions of Mycah Pittman and Johnny Wilson, the receiver group has looked stronger. The passing game should be improved with the help of that.
The state of Kansas.
2 p.m. ET
Lance Leipold is trying to build a culture.
Leipold took over in Lawrence at the worst possible time. After Les Miles was fired, the Jayhawks went through spring ball under an interim coach, and Leipold took the job on April 30. He and his coaches didn't get to see their roster in action until August, and it was hard to see any progress from the team until November. In November, the Jayhawks knocked off Texas in a close game, then came close to doing the same against West Virginia. Leipold and his assistants have an experienced roster that will allow them to begin laying the foundation of a real culture. What does that look like? Jalon Daniels had a run of strong late-season performances. How does the second string look? How are some well-touted transfers looking? How realistic is optimism in Lawrence?
Kentucky.
1 p.m. ET
Who is the next Wan?
The former Nebraska wide receiver was signed by the Wildcats via the transfer portal. Robinson had a school-record 104 catches and 1,334 receiving yards. It is fair to wonder who will be quarterback Will Levis' go-to weapon in the passing game now that he is off to the NFL. There are two good options if the answer comes from the transfer portal again. The other is Tayvion Robinson, who played three seasons at Virginia Tech. Javon Baker, who struggled to break into the starting lineup during his two seasons at Alabama but showed flashes of the same ability that made him an ESPN 300 prospect in 2020, is the other.
The state of Nebraska.
2 p.m. ET, BTN
How will the transition from Scott Frost to Mark Whipple go?
In addition to hiring a veteran playcaller in Whipple, who oversaw a record-setting Pitt offense led by Kenny Pickett, Frost kept his job. Fans will get a glimpse at the product during the spring game, as they will be able to see how the philosophy blends with that of Frost. All eyes will be on Texas transfer Casey Thompson, who has been throwing to LSU transfer Trey Palmer and others during practice. The running back group should be interesting with JaquezYant, Anthony Grant and others. Although injuries might prevent Nebraska from using a traditional spring game format, the offense's ability to produce -- and limit mistakes -- will be very much under the microscope until the opener.
The state of North Carolina.
3 p.m. ET
Ignore the team in Chapel Hill.
The Tar Heels were a hit in the spring a year ago. The college football world was high on UNC, which spent an entire off-season soaking in the adulation, only to finish 6-7 with a host of genuinely ugly losses. According to the folks at UNC, it might all be for the best now that Howell is gone. The team just wants to play and not be noticed. Who will be making those plays is a big question. There are some big questions on the O-line, and there are holes at tailback, outside receiver, and linebacker. Mack Brown won't be eager to hype any progress made, but the spring game might offer a few insights into how close he is to finding solutions at each spot. The less said, the better.
Pitt.
1 p.m. ET
Will the offense look the same without Kenny Pickett?
The quarterback position is the most obvious storyline, where USC transfer Kedon Slovis and veteran backup Nick Patti are competing. Pat Narduzzi has kept his mouth shut about whether one is ahead of the other or not, and he has not given any indication that he is about to name a starter. On paper, he would have an edge because of his experience with the USC. Both quarterbacks are learning a new system under Frank Cignetti Jr., adding another layer of questions as to what the offense will look like without Pickett. Konata Mumpfield has turned heads, and Jordan Addison returns. The entire starting backfield and offensive line return. The quarterback who emerges from the competition should be in a good position to succeed.
There is a school called Purdue.
Noon ET, BTN
Is the Boilers a threat to the West Division?
The best season under coach Jeff Brohm came in 2021. The team needs to build on its nine-win performance and challenge for the Big Ten West Division title. The most recognizable players on both the offense and defense are gone. The void left by Bell could be filled by a transfer from Iowa, as well as by other players. The Boilers need to get King Doerue and others back. In the interior, there might be more depth along the defensive line in 2022, despite the loss of Karlaftis. The Boilers have a number of dynamic players in the secondary, such as safety Cam Allen.
There is a school called Stanford.
4 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network
Is there a way to get back to relevance?
For a decade, the picture of consistency was presented by the college. The program rode a firm identity to 10 straight bowl games, half of which were New Year's Six games. The Cardinal had a lot of success during that time period. The Cardinal lost what made it great in the past two seasons. Success disappeared with the disappearance of the dominant offensive line and running game. David Shaw's future is in question after the Cardinal went 2-7 in the conference last season. Saturday's spring game won't provide any definitive answers, but it is an important opportunity to showcase the early stages of a possible revival.
Texas A&M.
2 p.m. ET, SEC Network and the ESPN App
Who will take the reins at QB1?
You might have heard about the Aggies making noise in the recruiting world, including a historic haul that includes four of the ESPN 300's top seven overall prospects, all defensive linemen, along with two other top 10 defensive ends. The most glaring issue was the defense. The Aggies struggled at quarterback and wide receiver. Haynes King returns to the starting job he held last year before he was injured, despite the fact thatZach Calzada is off to auburn. Jimbo Fisher has the deepest roster of QBs he's had since arriving in College Station, adding LSU transfer Max Johnson, a very Fisher type of quarterback, as well as hyped freshman Conner Weigman, whom the coaches felt brought. With another star recruit, Evan Stewart, making his debut as well, all eyes will be on the passing game and who can start to separate.
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