College Football Spring Practice: The Biggest Spring Storyline for Each BCS Team

March is here, and you know what that means, college football fans. 

Yes, spring practice is right around the corner.

While some teams have already begun hitting the field, many will be starting up within the next few weeks.

Teams will get 15 practice sessions to install the basics of their offensive and defensive systems, try to work out depth chart issues and get a look at a few up-and-coming younger players. 

While we usually don't learn all that much from spring practices, as no team is going to set anything in stone before fall camp arrives, it at least gives us all the opportunity to start talking about college football again, and to start focusing on the upcoming 2012 season. 

The season kicks off in less than six months, so it's time to start getting ready, folks. 

With that in mind, here's a look at the biggest spring storyline for each BCS team.

Alabama: Finding New Defensive Leaders

For the past two years, Alabama has had three of the best players in college football—linebackers Courtney Upshaw and Dont'a Hightower and safety Mark Barron, to lead its defense. But now, after Upshaw, Hightower and Barron helped the Tide finish with the top-ranked defense in the country during the team's championship run last year, all three will have to be replaced. 

Alabama will now need to find some new defensive leaders, but thankfully, because of the way coach Nick Saban has recruited in recent years, there's plenty of talented reinforcements waiting in the wings. 

It will be up to key returning players like safety Robert Lester, linebackers Nico Johnson and C.J. Mosley and defensive lineman Jesse Williams to step up and lead the way in 2012.

What will really be interesting, though, is to see which new faces will emerge this spring and claim an open spot. 

Nose Tackle Brandon Ivory, linebackers Trey Depriest and Adrian Hubbard, and cornerbacks Dee Milliner and John Fulton are just a few of the names to watch out for in Tuscaloosa this offseason.

Arizona: Implementing the Spread

Rich Rodriguez's spread offensive system just seemed like an awkward fit at a school like Michigan right from the beginning. While Rodriguez was able to bring in some top notch talent during his time in Ann Arbor, he was never able to pile up the victories to please the Wolverines fan base. 

Now, after a year away from the sport, Rodriguez will make his return to coaching at Arizona, which seems like it could potentially be a much better fit for the type of schemes he likes to run.

Still, 2012 is shaping up to be a transition season and a learning experience for the Wildcats, as there's a lot of rebuilding to do on both sides of the ball. 

On offense, QB Nick Foles, RB Keola Antolin and WR Juron Criner will all have to be replaced. But the good news is, QB Matt Scott and RB Ka'Deem Carey both seem like they should be quality fits for Rodriguez's zone read attack. 

It's going to take time to put the system in place, and it's going to be a challenge for the players to learn all the nuances of the offense right away, but Rodriguez should at least have some intriguing offensive pieces to work with this offseason. 

Arizona State: Todd Graham Settles in

Todd Graham has been college football's biggest nomad over the last few years. Since 2006, Graham has made stops at Rice, Tulsa and most recently a one-year stint at Pittsburgh last season. After an unceremonious exit from the Panthers program, Graham has now found himself out in Tempe, coaching an Arizona State team that lost six out of its last seven games in 2011. 

Obviously, Graham's got work to do, especially since QB Brock Osweiler bolted for the NFL a year early. 

The coach will at least have one of the better running backs in the country, Cameron Marshall, to lean on in 2012. But if Graham wants to stay out in the desert for the long haul, he's going to have to do a better job of getting the most out of his players than his predecessor Dennis Erickson did. 

Arkansas: The Return of Knile Davis

After finishing the 2010 season as the most productive running back in the SEC with over 1,300 rushing yards, Knile Davis wasn't able to show us what he had in store for an encore, as a preseason ankle injury robbed him of the chance to play at all in 2011. 

Davis will be back and ready to go for 2012, though, and the Razorbacks couldn't be happier about his return. Last year, Arkansas finished 9th in the SEC in rushing offense, averaging just 137 yards on the ground per game. 

With Davis back to full speed, that's sure to change in 2012. 

The powerful and speedy 6'0'', 220-pound junior will join QB Tyler Wilson, WR Cobi Hamilton and TE Chris Gragg to give the Razorbacks the type of offensive foursome that they need to compete for an SEC championship in 2012. 

If Davis can stay healthy all year and get consistent play out of his offensive line on a weekly basis, he should challenge for the SEC rushing title next season. 

Auburn: Getting a Feel for the New Offense

The Auburn offense is going to have a much different look next season than it did in 2011, as new coordinator Scott Loeffler will take over for Gus Malzahn, who left to become the head coach at Arkansas State. Malzahn took star RB Michael Dyer with him, which means Onterio McCalebb and Tre Mason will now become the go-to players in the backfield. 

Another change will be at the quarterback position where last year's starter Barrett Trotter will have to be replaced.

The battle to take Trotter's job will come down to Clint Moseley and Kiehl Frazier, with Moseley looking like he'll ultimately be the better fit. 

Loeffler's going to have some work to do, improving an offense that ranked 70th in the country in scoring last season. But with a solid offensive line, a standout receiver in Emory Blake and a strong 1-2 punch at running back with McCalebb and Mason, the pieces are definitely there for Auburn to get back and moving in the right direction in 2012. 

Baylor: Life After RG3

After spending over a decade as a Big 12 basement-dweller, Baylor was in dire need of a savior to come in and give the program a boost, and luckily for the Bears, they were able to find that special type of player in Heisman-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III. 

Griffin put together the most magical season in the history of the program in 2011, as he guided Baylor to a 10-win campaign and earned national praise and publicity as one of college football's biggest celebrities.

The star quarterback was arguably the best and most important player to ever put on a Bears uniform, but now that he's off to the NFL, it's going to be interesting to see how the team can replace a player who seems so irreplaceable.  

It doesn't help that the team will also have to figure out how to make up for the losses of RB Terrance Ganaway and WR Kendall Wright.

The good news is that Griffin's replacement, Nick Florence, got nine games worth of starting experience in 2009 when RG3 went down for the year with a knee injury early in the season.

The even better news is that Florence will be surrounded by some explosive skill-position players like RB Lache Seastrunk, WR's Terrance Williams and Tevin Reese and TE Jordan Najvar.

Another 10-win season may be out of the question, but if Florence plays well in 2012, the Bears may not fall as far as some people are expecting them to. 

Boston College: No Montel Harris

Boston College's all-time leading rusher Montel Harris was granted a fifth year of eligibility after missing most of the 2011 season with a knee injury, however, he won't be competing this spring because he re-aggravated the injury during workouts. That has to be concerning to Eagles fans, as Harris is set to be the team's key offensive weapon if he can get back to full health. 

If Harris isn't 100 percent by the time the season rolls around, Boston College's offense, which ranked dead last in the ACC in total offense last year, could really struggle to be productive in 2012. 

California: Rebuilding the Defensive Front

California ranked No. 1 in the Pac-12 in total defense last season, but the Golden Bears are now going to have to replace four key players—defensive ends Trevor Guyton and Ernest Owusu and linebackers Mychal Kendricks and D.J. Holt—from the defensive front seven. 

All four will be missed, but the Bears do have some talented up-and-comers like defensive linemen Kendrick Payne, Deandre Coleman and Aaron Tipoti, and linebackers like David Wilkerson, Cecil Whiteside and Chris McCain that they should be able to rely on in 2012.

If Cal can get some of the younger linebackers to step up and make plays, the Bears should still have one of the top defenses in the conference again next season. 

Cincinnati: Munchie Mania

Cincinnati fans, are you ready for the onslaught of unfunny pun-filled Munchie headlines that you'll get to read during the 2012 season?

I know I am.

Even though he struggled to find consistency during relief duty last season, Munchie Legaux appears to be the favorite to take over for Zach Collaros at quarterback this offseason. 

Legaux only completed 47 percent of his passes and tossed just five touchdowns in six games of action last season, but the former 3-star recruit did show some intriguing athleticism, and he looks like he should develop into a solid starter once he gains more experience. 

Clemson: Licking Defensive Wounds

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney sure looked silly after saying things like this right before his team got stomped by West Virginia in an embarrassing 70-33 loss in the Orange Bowl. But if you put that terrible performance to the side, Swinney actually led the Tigers to a pretty successful campaign in 2011, as he surprisingly transformed Clemson into an ACC champion.

The Tigers return a bunch of explosive playmakers on offense such as QB Tajh Boyd, RB Andre Ellington and WR's Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins, but there will be plenty of questions to answer on defense, especially after the Orange Bowl disaster. 

Three starting defensive linemen—Andre Branch, Brandon Thompson and Rennie Moore—will all have to be replaced, as will cornerback Coty Sensabaugh. But Clemson does have some intriguing returning talent on defense such as DE Malliciah Goodman, LB's Corico Hawkins and Jonathan Willard and S Rashard Hall.

If the Tigers can put the Orange Bowl behind them, they should be able to get right back in the hunt for an ACC championship in 2012. 

Colorado: Year 2 of the Embree Era

Colorado fans were glad to see anyone but Dan Hawkins coaching the Buffaloes last season, well that is, until new coach Jon Embree started off his tenure by going 1-9 in his first ten games. 

Expectations may not have been high for 2011, but a 3-10 record, which included eight losses by double-digits was certainly a disappointment. 

Now Embree will enter his second year, having to find a new starting quarterback, a new starting running back and having to figure out a way to improve a defense that finished 102nd in the country in total defense last season. 

Yes, let's just say, there's some work that needs to be done in Boulder this offseason. 

Connecticut: Adding Some Explosion to the Offense

Last year, Connecticut's offense may have featured one of the most productive running backs in the country, Lyle McCombs, who turned out to be one of the biggest surprise stories in the Big East. But it didn't feature much else, as the Huskies ranked 108th in the country in total offense in 2011. 

McCombs will be back to lead the charge in the backfield, but if UConn wants to get back to the postseason in 2012, the offense is going to need some offensive playmakers that can create big plays, something that rarely happened last season. 

The Huskies had just 38 plays of 20 yards or more last year, which was the one of the lowest totals in the country. 

Finding some speedy and explosive receivers that can stretch the field has to be a priority for coach Paul Pasqualoni this offseason. 

Duke: Focusing on the Small Things

Duke will return 17 starters from last season. The only problem is, those 17 starters were part of a team that could only muster up three wins in 2011. 

What's encouraging, though, is that the Blue Devils had four losses by a touchdown or less, which means they actually weren't as bad as their record would lead you to believe. 

If Duke can find a way to correct all the small deficiencies that plagued the team last year such as failing to get pressure on the quarterback, not being able to cause turnovers and not running the ball effectively, then the Blue Devils should be able to build on last year's disappointing win total in 2012. 

Florida: Jeff Driskel or Jacoby Brissett?

John Brantley never managed to live up to his high school hype while in Gainesville, but Florida fans are hoping that his successor will ultimately be able to find more success over the coming years. 

The only question is, who will that successor be, Jeff Driskel or Jacoby Brissett?

Like Brantley, both Driskel and Brissett are former highly touted recruits who have some great physical skills to offer. The only problem is, neither of them have much experience to speak of, as they combined to throw just 73 passes in 2011.

We know that Florida should have one of the top defenses in the country next season, but the Gators' ultimate success will depend on whether or not they can find a quarterback who can step up and play with consistency in 2012. 

Florida State: How Do the Running Backs Stack Up?

If Florida State wants to win the ACC in 2012, the Seminoles are going to need more production out of their backfield. Last year, the team ranked 104th in the country in rushing offense. But the good news is, the Seminoles will bring back two talented backs—Devonta Freeman and Chris Thompson, and add in one of the best running back recruits of the 2012 class, Mario Pender. 

James Wilder Jr., a former 5-star recruit, could also be in the mix, but right now, he's currently suspended after being arrested and charged with battery and resisting arrest. 

It will be interesting to see how Thompson fares after returning from a back injury that limited him to five games last season, and to see how Pender performs in his first year. 

The real back to watch, though, seems like it will be Freeman, who possesses all the traits you look for in a potential star rusher. 

Georgia: Giving QB Aaron Murray Some New Bodyguards

Georgia will enter next season as the favorite to win the SEC East once again, and the Bulldogs look like they have the talent at the offensive skill-positions, and on defense to make a run back to Atlanta in 2012.

The only real question mark is on the offensive line where three key starters—Cordy Glenn, Ben Jones and Justin Anderson will have to be replaced. 

Guards Kenarious Gates and Chris Burnette will be asked to be the leaders of the group in 2012, but guys like Austin Long, David Andrews and incoming 5-star recruit John Theus will all have to step up and help out as well.

Georgia Tech: Finding a New Go-to Receiver

Given the run-heavy triple-option scheme that coach Paul Johnson loves to run, Georgia Tech isn't a team that throws the ball very often, in fact the Yellow Jackets ranked second to last in the country with just 167 pass attempts last season. However, when they did throw the ball, WR Stephen Hill was often times the main target. 

Hill only caught 28 passes in 2011, but the speedy receiver averaged a sensational 29 yards per catch and scored five touchdowns.

Replacing his presence on the outside won't be easy, as Hill had the type of field-stretching speed to keep a defense from stacking the box. 

Projected starting receivers Chris Jackson and Daniel McKayhan had zero catches between them last year, and even though Georgia Tech may not throw the ball that often, that's obviously a major concern. 

Illinois: Nathan Scheelhaase’s Job Security

Nathan Scheelhaase has been Illinois' starting quarterback for the past two years, but after a very inconsistent campaign in 2011, some around Champaign are wondering if he'll be able to hold on to his job for 2012. 

When Scheelhaase is playing well, he's the type of dangerous dual-threat quarterback that can really energize an offense, just like he did during the team's 6-0 start last year. However, when he's off his game, like he was during the second half of the season when the Illini dropped six straight games, he can really be a hindrance.

With new coach Tim Beckman now taking over at Illinois, Scheelhaase could really use a solid effort this spring to impress the new coaching staff and show everyone that he's the right player to lead the team in 2012. 

Indiana: Tre Roberson's Development

Indiana has brought in former Arizona assistant Seth Littrell to try and liven up an offense that ranked 101st in the country in scoring last season. One key area that Littrell will have to focus on is developing talented, yet inconsistent QB Tre Roberson. 

Roberson showed flashes of his potential in the final seven games of the season last year, but he only averaged 6.6 yards per attempt and he finished with just a 3-6 touchdown to interception ratio. 

If Littrell can design an offense that can get the ball down the field on a more consistent basis, Roberson should really benefit, as it would allow him to show that he's got the arm strength to create explosive passing plays.

Iowa: Replacing Marcus Coker

Losing Adam Robinson at the end of the 2010 season didn't seem like all that big of a deal for Iowa, since the Hawkeyes knew that they had Marcus Coker to fall back on for 2011. But now that Iowa has lost Coker, who transferred to Stony Brook in January, the team is going to have to scramble to help fill the huge void he's left. 

Last year, Coker finished second in the Big Ten with 1,384 rushing yards, and he finished 12th in the nation with 280 total rushing attempts. 

Because Coker was hogging up most of the carries, that left little for other backs like freshman Jordan Canzeri and De'Andre Johnson, who only touched the ball a combined 49 times. 

Canzeri and Johnson will now be asked to produce at a much higher rate in 2012, and it will be interesting to see if the two backs are up for the challenge. 

Iowa State: Jared Barnett vs. Steele Jantz

One of the more interesting quarterback battles to watch this spring will occur at Iowa State where Jared Barnett and Steele Jantz will be fighting for the starting job. 

Barnett may be the more physically gifted of the two, but he didn't exactly light defenses up when he had the chance during the second half of last season. The 6'0'', 200-pound freshman completed just 50 percent of his passes and he finished the year with a 6-6 touchdown to interception ratio. 

His running ability may be an added bonus, but his counterpart, Jantz, was the more consistent passer last season. 

Barnett may be Iowa State's quarterback of the future, but Jantz is gong to give him a run for his money, trying to win the job for 2012. 

Kansas: Can Charlie Weis Resurrect Dayne Crist’s Career?

Highly touted former 5-star recruit Dayne Crist was supposed to be the next great quarterback in South Bend. After coach Charlie Weis was dismissed, though, Crist's career at Notre Dame went down the drain. He hit rock bottom in last year's season-opener against South Florida when he was benched after just one half and he was never able to regain the starting job. 

Now Crist will have a new opportunity with his old coach, as he'll be reuniting with Weis at Kansas after leaving the Irish in December. 

The 6'4'', 235-pound senior will have one last chance to salvage his career, and it should be interesting to see if Weis can get the most out of the talented signal-caller now that he's away from the South Bend spotlight. 

Kansas State: Developing a Passing Game

Last year, Collin Klein proved that he was one of the most dangerous running quarterbacks in the country, as he ran for 1,141 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Klein's legs were a big reason that Kansas State shocked everyone and won 10 games in 2011. 

The problem is, the speedy signal-caller won't be able to catch any team's off guard with his mobility like he did last year, which means that opponents are going to likely stack the box and make Klein beat them with his arm in 2012. 

That's not good news for a team that ranked 108th in the country in passing last season and could only muster up a measly 151 yards through the air per game. 

Developing a more consistent passing attack this spring has to be one of the top priories for the Wildcats. 

Kentucky: QB Maxwell Smith

Football is probably the last thing on the mind of most Kentucky fans and students right now, given that the Wildcats basketball team is ranked No. 1 in the country with just a week to go before the NCAA Tournament. Still, there are a few football storylines to pay attention to in Lexington over the next month, and the main one revolves around the team's starting quarterback position. 

Since Morgan Newton will be forced to sit out spring practices after shoulder surgery, the spotlight will be fully on QB Maxwell Smith this spring. 

Smith stepped in for Newton against Mississippi State last year, but he could only muster up one win in the final four games he played in before going down with an injury before the season finale. 

The 6'4'', 220-pound freshman will now have the stage to himself this spring to show the coaches that he deserves to be the starter for 2012.

Louisville: Finding a New Pair of Tackles

Charlie Strong is doing some really great things at Louisville. The third-year coach now has the type of offensive skill talent with guys like QB Teddy Bridgewater, RB Dominique Brown and WR's Eli Rogers, Michaelee Harris and DeVante Parker, along with the type of stout defense to win an outright Big East championship in 2012 and make it to a BCS bowl game. 

There are a few positions of concern that will need attention this spring, though, and one of the key ones is offensive tackle where both starters from last year, Hector Hernandez and Ryan Kessling, will have to be replaced. 

Neither Hernandez or Kessling were All-Star caliber players, but they were reliable cogs up front.

If Louisville wants to keep Bridgewater healthy in 2012, the Cardinals had better make sure they find the young breakout star quarterback some proper protection.

LSU: Getting over the BCS Championship Game Hangover

LSU was the toast of the college football world for much of last season, as the Tigers enjoyed a terrific 13-0 run to an SEC championship. But everything came crashing down on one fateful night in New Orleans when Les Miles' crew was outplayed and outclassed by Alabama on the biggest stage the sport has to offer—the BCS championship game. 

That awful performance has left a sour taste in the mouths of a lot of LSU fans. 

The good news, though, is that the Tigers will likely start off the 2012 season as the No. 1-ranked team in the country, as they return the nation's most talented defense and the most talented running back unit. 

Quarterback is the only major question mark for the Tigers, but then again, it was a question mark in 2011, and look how the team performed. Zach Mettenberger is more physically gifted than either Jordan Jefferson or Jarrett Lee, and if the former Georgia Bulldog finally plays up to his potential, the LSU offense has a chance to be much more explosive than it was in 2011.  

The loss that LSU experienced in the BCS championship game is the type of defeat that sticks with a team. But if the Tigers can refocus their attention on the future instead of the past, they should be right back in the hunt for a national championship in 2012. 

Maryland: Searching for Stability

Randy Edsall's career at Maryland started off pretty well, as the Terps defeated Miami in their season-opener in front of a national audience on Labor Day night.

Then things proceeded to go downhill in a hurry, as Maryland lost 10 out of its next 11 games and finished with a disastrous 2-10 record. 

After the dismal performance, some Maryland fans have started to question Edsall's ability to lead the team, and he's going to have a lot to prove in 2012. 

Edsall isn't going to have to win 10 games and an ACC championship to save his job, but he is going to have to show that he can keep his team focused and competitive for a full season. 

Hopefully, the Terps will stop worrying about what type of seizure-inducing outfit they're going to wear every Saturday and start worrying about how to win some games or else Edsall is going to fall out of favor with the fan base and the administration pretty quick.

Miami: New Offensive Playmakers Have to Step Up

It certainly hurts to lose a running back the caliber of Lamar Miller, but when you add that departure on top of losing your starting quarterback and your top two receivers, it can be downright devastating for an offense.

The Hurricanes are now going to have to find a whole new group of offensive skill-position players to lead the way in 2012, as Miller, QB Jacory Harris and WR's Tommy Streeter and Travis Benjamin will all have to be replaced. 

Luckily, new quarterback Stephen Morris and running back Mike James have some experience, but Morris will be limited this spring as he rehabs a back injury.

The real player to watch in the spring will be WR Allen Hurns, who has the type of talent to be a star in the ACC over the next few years. Hurns will likely be the offense's key weapon in 2012 as he steps into a more prominent role after the departures of Streeter and Benjamin. 

Michigan: The Defensive Line

Michigan's defense enjoyed a major resurgence under new coach Brady Hoke last season, as the Wolverines ranked 17th in the country in total defense. 

Much of that success can be attributed to the strong play of the defensive line, but the problem is, three starters from last season—Mike Martin, Ryan Van Bergen and Will Heininger—will all have to be replaced.

DE Craig Roh will be back to lead the way, but it will be up to former 5-star recruit William Campbell to step up at nose tackle, and for other linemen like Quinton Washington, Nate Brink and incoming 4-star recruit Ondre Pipkins to make an impact if the Wolverines want to stay strong in the trenches in 2012. 

Michigan State: Replacing Kirk Cousins

Even though Michigan State lost some key underclassmen players like RB Edwin Baker and DT Jerel Worthy a year early to the NFL draft, the Spartans still seem to have all the necessary pieces in place to make it back to the Big Ten championship game in 2012. The one big variable, however, is at quarterback where Andrew Maxwell is set to take over for dependable long-time starter Kirk Cousins.

Over the past three years, Cousins was one of the most reliable starting quarterbacks in the country, and it won't be easy for Maxwell to just step in and take over without any problems. 

The bright side is that the former 4-star recruit has the type of talent and necessary skills to lead the team to success in 2012. 

Developing chemistry between Maxwell and the largely inexperienced group of wide receivers that he'll be working with next season will be a top priority for the Spartans this spring. 

Minnesota: It’s Time to Get Offensive

Minnesota finished just 3-9 in coach Jerry Kill's first season at the helm, and a big reason for the Gophers' struggles in 2011 was the dismal offensive output that the team had.

Last year, Minnesota ranked dead last in the Big Ten in both scoring offense and total offense, averaging just 18 points and 310 yards per game. 

The key to finding more offensive consistency in 2012 will be the play of dual-threat quarterback Marqueis Gray. 

Gray is a terrific athlete with great mobility, but he's going to have a lot to improve on as a passer this offseason. 

If Gray develops as a passer and becomes a more well rounded player as a senior, the Gophers should at the very least be able to put up a more respectable showing on the scoreboard next season.

Mississippi: Houston’s No Longer a Problem

The Houston Nutt era at Mississippi certainly didn't turn out to be as successful as Rebels fans were hoping for, as the the team followed up consecutive 9-4 campaigns with a disastrous performance in the SEC over Nutt's final two seasons. 

The Rebels finished with only one conference win in 2010, and had zero to speak of last season. 

Needless to say, new coach Hugh Freeze is going to have his work cut out for him trying to right the ship in Oxford. 

Freeze brought in a solid first recruiting class, though, and Nutt left him with some intriguing young players to work with. 

The coach certainly won't have Ole Miss in contention to win 10 games like he did at Arkansas State in 2011, but this is a team that should at least add a few more victories to the win column next season. 

Mississippi State: Preaching Defense

Since Dan Mullen arrived at Mississippi State before the 2009 season, much of the focus surrounding the team has been on the offense. However, if the Bulldogs actually want to start making a move in the SEC West, it's the defense that's going to have to step it up, as the team has finished eighth in the SEC in total defense each of the past two years.

Even though Mississippi State loses standout DT Fletcher Cox, the Bulldogs still have plenty of key defensive pieces heading back to Starkville for 2012, including NFL prospects like CB Johnthan Banks, S Nickoe Whitley and DT Josh Boyd. 

Whitley is still rehabbing from an Achilles tear, but Boyd and Banks should develop into leaders for the defensive line and the secondary this spring, while Cameron Lawrence and Deontae Skinner lead the way in the linebacker corps. 

Even without Cox manning the middle, the Mississippi State defense will still have the chance to make some noise in the SEC in 2012. 

Missouri: Lining Up for the SEC

Everyone around the country always likes to talk about "SEC speed", but really, much of an SEC team's success usually depends on its strength in the trenches, as the conference routinely features some of the strongest offensive and defensive lines in the country. 

Missouri will find that out in a hurry next season when the Tigers join the SEC East. 

The Big 12's got some solid defensive lines, but the Tigers are going to get a wake up call when they go up against the type of big, strong and athletic defensive fronts that schools like Florida, Georgia and South Carolina have. 

It doesn't help that the Tigers will have to replace three starting offensive linemen and three starting defensive linemen from a year ago. 

Brad Madison and Sheldon Richardson will lead the way on the defensive line, while OT Justin Britt and C Travis Ruth will handle things on the offensive side. But all the new starters are going to have to step up in a hurry if Missouri wants to compete in the East in 2012. 

Nebraska: Can Taylor Martinez Quiet His Critics?

Nebraska has won a total of 19 games over the past two seasons, but that hasn't stopped some Cornhuskers fans from complaining about starting quarterback Taylor Martinez. 

After a breakout freshman campaign in 2010, Martinez didn't take the next step toward becoming an all-around versatile quarterback in 2011 like some were expecting him to. 

Martinez had a great season running the ball, as he ran for 874 yards and nine touchdowns, however, he was only able to complete 56 percent of his passes. 

The bottom line is, if the Cornhuskers want to compete for a Legends division crown in 2012, they're going to need a more dangerous passing attack next season. 

Martinez has the talent, he just has to make progress as a passer. 

If he can do that this offseason, he should be able to quiet many of his doubters in 2012. 

North Carolina: Larry Fedora Has Tools to Work with

New North Carolina coach was one of the hottest coaching candidates on the market last December after he led Southern Mississippi on a 12-2 run in 2011. 

The former Florida and Oklahoma State offensive coordinator will now get his chance to prove himself as a head coach at the BCS level, as he takes over as coach of North Carolina for 2012. 

Luckily for Fedora, there's some top notch talent on both sides of the ball in Chapel Hill. 

With QB Bryn Renner, RB Giovani Bernard, WR Erik Highsmith and one of the strongest offensive lines in the ACC returning, North Carolina's offense has the chance to be very dangerous next season. And the defense, led by LB Kevin Reddick, DT Sylvester Williams, DE Kareem Martin and S Tre Boston, will feature future NFL players at all three levels. 

Fedora will have plenty of talent to work with in 2012, and it will be interesting to see what he can make of it. 

N.C. State: Help Wanted: Linebackers

There's no question about which position group at N.C. State is going to need the most work this offseason. 

Not only did the Wolfpack lose leading tackler, LB Audie Cole, and fellow senior LB Dwayne Maddox. They also lost talented junior LB Terrell Manning early to the NFL, and sophomore linebacker D.J. Green to suspension.

So what does a team do when it loses its top four linebackers?

Well, that's a question that North Carolina State coaches are going to have to somehow figure out how to answer this offseason. 

Northwestern: Kain Colter Takes the Reigns

Dan Persa's senior season was sadly marred by injury troubles, however, when Persa went down, it did allow his understudy Kain Colter to gain some valuable experience. The dangerous dual-threat quarterback accounted for 1,793 yards of total offense and 18 touchdowns in 2011.

With Persa gone, Northwestern is now officially Colter's team. 

With some valuable experience under his belt, and a world of potential, Colter could turn out to be one of the surprise stars in the Big Ten in 2012. 

Notre Dame: And the Starting Quarterback Is...

Tommy Rees?

Andrew Hendrix?

Gunner Kiel?

Everett Golson?

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly is going to have a key decision to make as he prepares for his all-important third season in South Bend. 

After positing consecutive 8-5 campaigns in his first two years, Kelly knows that 2012 is going to be a big year for him and his team, and he can't afford to make a mistake at the quarterback position.

Returning starter Tommy Rees will be the quarterback to beat, but Hendrix, Kiel and Golson will all be lining up this offseason to try to do just that.

Ohio State: Urban Restoration

In case you haven't heard the thousands upon thousands of Ohio State fans screaming "We're back, watch out" for the past few months, Urban Meyer has returned to coaching, and he's returned to the place where his college coaching career started, Columbus, Ohio. 

Meyer has come back to lead the Buckeyes after successful head coaching stints at Bowling Green, Utah and Florida, and he's now added some life to a team that was basically sleepwalking through the entire 2011 season. 

While Meyer won't be able to take his team to the Big Ten championship game or a bowl next season, he will have the chance to prove that the Buckeyes mean business once again. 

One of the biggest storylines of 2012 will be how talented dual-threat QB Braxton Miller ultimately ends up fitting into Meyer's spread offensive scheme, and we should get an early indication of how things are shaping up when Meyer and Miller mesh this spring. 

Oklahoma: Who Will Step Up on Defense?

It's never easy to replace key defensive players like DE's Frank Alexander and Ronnell Lewis, LB Travis Lewis and CB Jamell Fleming, but that's just what Oklahoma is going to have to do this offseason. The Sooners should still be in good shape, though, as they have a few returning veterans such as S Tony Jefferson, LB Tom Wort and CB Damontre Hurst back to lead the way. 

Last year, Oklahoma finished first in the Big 12 in scoring defense and second in total defense. If the Sooners can find a new pair of productive pass-rushers, and if Wort and Jefferson step up and become true leaders in 2012, they should once again have one of the top defenses in the conference next season. 

Oklahoma State: Developing a New Dynamic Passing Duo

Oklahoma State won't be able to just replace players like QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blackmon, given the fact that Weeden and Blackmon formed one of the most prolific passing combinations in college football history. Still, that doesn't mean that the Cowboys are prevented from having another explosive passing attack in 2012. 

Clint Chelf is the likely heir apparent to Weeden, and he'll have some dangerous receivers to toss the ball to next season with guys like Tracy Moore, Josh Stewart and Isaiah Anderson all returning. 

While none of those three may be the star that Blackmon was, they should form an effective trio of targets for Chelf to rely on.  

Oregon: The New Look Backfield

Oregon's national championship hopes took a pretty big hit when both QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James announced that they would be entering the 2012 NFL draft. Most people expected that James would leave, but Thomas shocked everyone with his announcement. The two backfield mates combined for over 4,900 yards in 2011, and that type of production is going to be sorely missed. 

The good news is, the Ducks will return two ultra dangerous offensive weapons in running backs Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas, who did their fair share of damage as well last season. 

Barner and Thomas will join new QB Bryan Bennett to form one of the best rushing backfields in college football for 2012. 

Thomas and James may not be easy to replace, but Oregon may actually have the proper players to make up for their losses next season.  

Oregon State: Jacquizz Rodgers Isn’t Walking Through That Door, Folks

Oregon State couldn't overcome the loss of RB Jacquizz Rodgers last season, as the Beavers ended up finishing 118th in the country rushing offense in 2011. 

The good news is, the team's top-three running backs—Malcolm Agnew, Jovan Stevenson and Terron Ward—will all be back for next season. The bad news is, the three of them only combined to run for 863 yards last season. 

If Oregon State wants to get back to the postseason in 2012, the Beavers are going to need a much better effort out of all three backs next season. 

Penn State: Focusing on Football

2012 is surely going to be an odd season for Penn State, as it will mark the first time since 1965 that the Nittany Lions will be led by a coach not named Joe Paterno. 

Paterno's death has left everyone around Happy Valley stunned and saddened, and it's not going to be something that his former players will easily recover from. 

New coach Bill O'Brien will be given the tough task of trying to keep the Nittany Lions focused on the field, but that won't be easy, especially with the lingering Jerry Sandusky scandal still hanging over the school and the program. 

Penn State returns some key veteran players for 2012 such as RB Silas Redd, DT Jordan Hill and LB's Gerald Hodges and Michael Mauti, but it will be interesting to see if they can keep the team's collective focus on football this offseason.

Pittsburgh: Will Paul Chryst Click with Tino Sunseri?

New coach Paul Chryst did some impressive work as the offensive coordinator at Wisconsin last season, as the Badgers ended up ranking first in the Big Ten in both scoring offense and total offense in 2011. 

Now we'll have to see what he can do when he guides Pittsburgh next season.

While Chryst will benefit from having a premier back like Ray Graham to try to replicate what Montee Ball did last season, there's not anyone on Pitt's roster that even comes close to resembling a quarterback like Russell Wilson. 

Returning starter Tino Sunseri had his fair share of struggles under former coach Todd Graham last season, but the Pittsburgh native did show at times that he does have the potential to be an effective passer. 

It will be interesting to see how Chryst clicks with Sunseri this offseason, as it never seemed like Sunseri and Graham ever fully got on the same page last season, and that could've been a reason for his mediocre campaign. 

Purdue: A Trio of Quarterback Candidates

Purdue coach Danny Hope will have three quarterbacks to choose from to be his starter for the 2012 season. Caleb TerBush and Robert Marve worked as a tandem last year, while the injured Rob Henry sat on the bench, but now all three of them will be competing for snaps this offseason. TerBush is the most proven of the bunch, as he completed 61 percent of his passes for over 1,900 yards and hit 13 touchdown strikes in 2011. 

Henry and Marve will have their say in the matter, though, and it will be interesting to see how Hope decides to utilize all three of his signal-callers in 2012. 

Rutgers: Flood Watch

Former head coach Greg Schiano always seemed like he had Rutgers on the brink of a breakout season, but with the exception of an 11-2 campaign in 2006, Schiano could just never get the Scarlet Knights over the hump. 

Still, Schiano did build a strong foundation in Piscataway, and now new coach Kyle Flood will have the chance to build on it. 

Flood takes over a team that was young and inexperienced in some key areas last season. But Rutgers definitely has talent, and if this team can find a consistent starting quarterback, and figure out how to utilize its talented running backs properly, the Knights should be right in the hunt to win a Big East championship in 2012. 

South Carolina: Are the Gamecocks a Top 10 Team?

South Carolina may not have made it back to the SEC championship in 2011 as many were expecting, but the Gamecocks still managed to go 11-2 last season. They also accomplished that feat after losing their starting quarterback and star running back in the middle of the season. 

For everyone that's touting Georgia as the early SEC East favorite, remember that the Gamecocks did go into Athens in what seemed like a must-win game for the Bulldogs, and come away victorious last season. 

With RB Marcus Lattimore set to return from a knee injury, and with a defense that is shaping up to be one of the most dominant units in the country next season, South Carolina has the makings of a borderline national title contender. 

A lot will depend on Lattimore's knee, the progress of QB Connor Shaw, and the emergence of a new go-to receiver, but this team seems stacked, there's no doubt about it. 

South Carolina may not be mentioned in the same sentence as Top 5 teams like LSU and Alabama at this point, but the Gamecocks are a team that no one better take lightly in 2012.

South Florida: Learning How to Finish

It might be a good idea if Skip Holtz has South Florida practice a few late-game situations this spring, as the Bulls ended up losing five games by less than seven points in 2011. Just like last year, South Florida has the talent to compete for a Big East championship, but the Bulls simply need to learn how to close out games in the fourth quarter.

That's something they couldn't do during the second half of last season. 

On paper, there's not another team in the Big East that has the type of speed and athleticism that South Florida can boast, not even conference favorite Louisville. 

That speed won't do a team much good, though, if it folds under pressure and fails to get the job done late in games. 

Stanford: Running out of Luck

So how do you replace one of the greatest quarterbacks in college football history? Well, the simple answer is, you don't. However, just because Stanford has lost star signal-caller Andrew Luck, that doesn't mean that the Cardinal should simply just give up. 

Jim Harbaugh did some great things with the Stanford program during his tenure, and David Shaw has continued with those efforts over the last year. 

Stanford's got some talented players returning on both sides of the ball such as RB Stepfan Taylor, TE's Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo and LB's Chase Thomas and Shayne Skov.

While a drop off is to be expected without Luck leading the way, the Cardinal may not fall as far as some people expect as long as either Brett Nottingham or Josh Nunes can step in and do an adequate job at quarterback in 2012. 

Syracuse: The Defense Deparment

Last year, Syracuse ranked last in the Big East in both scoring defense and total defense, as the Orange gave up an average of 28 points and 386 yards per game in 2011. 

When your defense plays like that, it severely limits your chances of wining games, which is why Syracuse finished with just five victories last season. 

It certainly doesn't help that the team has lost two of its top defenders—DE Chandler Jones and S Phillip Thomas—a year early to the NFL. 

Still, there are some talented defenders on Syracuse such as LB's Marquis Spruill and Dyshawn Davis and S Shamarko Thomas. 

If Spruill, Davis and Thomas all step up and become key defensive leaders this offseason, the Orange should put a more stout defense onto the field in 2012. 

TCU: Dealing with Scandal

TCU coach Gary Patterson already had a lot on his plate this offseason, as he was preparing to guide his team from the Mountain West into the dangerous waters of the Big 12, so it wasn't exactly as if he was just sitting around, fully prepared to deal with a scandal.

But that's what Patterson and his program are now facing after four players—Tanner Brock, D.J. Yendrey, Tyler Horn and Devin Johnson—were arrested in a drug raid a few weeks ago.

This marks the first notable college football scandal of 2012, so it's drawn some increased scrutiny. 

If there's any coach out there who's fully equipped to handle it and deal with it, though, it's Patterson. 

If you polled fans from some of the notable Big 12 powerhouses, they would probably tell you that they aren't expecting much out of the Horned Frogs in 2012, but make no mistake about it, this team has the talent and the athletes to compete with any school in the country. 

If they avoid the distractions and negative attention that a scandal like this always attracts to a program, TCU has the chance to really open some eyes in their new conference next season. 

Tennessee: Hit the Ground Running

Last season, Tennessee had the weakest rushing attack in the SEC and one of the weakest attacks in the entire country, as the Vols only averaged 90 yards on the ground per game. 

It certainly won't help that the team's top running back, Tauren Poole, who only averaged 3.7 yards per carry in 2011, will have to be replaced this offseason. Freshman Marlin Lane Jr. will be the one who is likely going to be asked to fill Poole's shoes.

While Lane showed some glimpses of his burst and power last season, he's still got a lot to prove. 

Texas: The Anointing of David

Texas couldn't seem to get any type of consistency out of the quarterback position during the 2011 season, as the Longhorns tried three different quarterbacks—Garrett Gilbert, David Ash and Case McCoy, but none of them seemed to step up.

That is until Ash finally had a strong showing in a victory over Cal in the Holiday Bowl. 

That performance will likely help earn Ash the starting nod over McCoy for the 2012 season. 

Ash may not possess Vince Young's rare athleticism, or Colt McCoy's intangibles, but he has the potential to turn into the type of solid signal-caller that the Longhorns are going to need if they want to get back into the Big 12 championship race next season. 

Texas A&M: A Chance of Showers?

New Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin just got done coaching a quarterback in Case Keenum, who broke most of college football's major passing records last season. Obviously, Sumlin is going to have to lower his expectations when he takes over the Aggies this season and works with a quarterback crew that has no career starts among them.

Texas A&M's starting quarterback battle may turn out to be one of the most interesting races of the offseason, as Jameill Showers, Matt Joeckel, Johnny Manziel and incoming 4-star recruit Matt Davis all have their hopes set on wining the job.

Showers, who was Ryan Tannehill's rarely used backup in 2011, seems like he'll be the favorite, but Joeckel, Manziel and Davis are all capable of impressing the coaching staff this spring. 

Texas Tech: Tommy Tuberville’s Troubles

After a disappointing 5-7 season in 2011, Tommy Tuberville was already under a microscope in Lubbock, as he prepared to enter his third season with Texas Tech. But now he seems to have found himself in some real hot water off the field. Tuberville is reportedly being sued because he's been accused of defrauding investors in Alabama out of more than $1.7 million dollars a few years ago. 

Those are some serious allegations, and ones that will hang a dark cloud over Texas Tech's spring practices. 

Tuberville seemed like he was already going to be fighting for his job at Texas Tech in 2012 before this story broke, and now, there's no telling what the future could hold. 

UCLA: Passing Game 101

After bringing in a surprisingly strong recruiting class after just a few weeks to prepare, new UCLA coach Jim Mora is already starting to win over some of the Bruins fans that initially doubted him. Now, though, Mora is going to have to show that he can mold the current roster into a team that can play much more consistent football than the one that finished just 6-8 last year. 

Finding a starting quarterback among a group that includes Richard Brehaut, Kevin Prince, Brett Hundley and highly touted incoming recruit Devin Fuller will be one of Mora's biggest offseason priorities. 

The race will likely come down to Brehaut and Prince, but whoever ends up winning it is going to have to step their game up, as the Bruins ranked 11th in the Pac-12 in passing last season. 

The offense is going to need more diversity than that if Mora intends to have a successful first coaching campaign in 2012. 

USC: Handling Expectations

The focus of the college football world has once again shifted back to Southern California, as USC has again become one of the most talked about teams in the sport. After a 10-2 campaign in 2011, all it took was QB Matt Barkley announcing that he was returning for his senior season to cause a frenzy to erupt around the Trojans. 

Now, folks in Los Angeles are once again dreaming about a national championship.

With Barkley back, along with star WR Robert Woods and a host of other future NFL players on both sides of the ball, the Trojans certainly have what it takes to make it to Miami. 

The only question is, can coach Lane Kiffin keep his team grounded and focused on the task at hand?

You couldn't find a better team leader than Barkley, but it remains to be seen how the Trojans will handle their hype in 2012. 

Utah: Can the Utes Get Back to Their Wynning Ways?:

Utah struggled during its transition to the Pac-12 last season, as the Utes only went 8-5 in 2011, with all five losses coming in conference play. 

The struggles had a lot to do with the step up in competition, but it also had to do with starting quarterback Jordan Wynn going down for the year after just four games. 

With Wynn returning, along with the Pac-12's leading returning rusher John White, Utah should have one of the strongest backfields in the conference in 2012.

Don't be surprised if Utah ends up giving USC something to think about in the South division next season.

Vanderbilt: Filling Defensive Holes

Vanderbilt will have to replace its four best defenders, CB Casey Hayward, LB Chris Marve, DE Tim Fugger and S Sean Richardson, but the Commodores will welcome back some key players like DT Rob Lohr, LB Archibald Barnes and S Kenny Ladler.

We know that Vanderbilt's offense should be up to par, as key skill-position players like QB Jordan Rodgers, RB's Zac Stacy and Warren Norman and WR's Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd all return. But the defense will have to gel in a hurry next season if the Commodores want to build off their six-win campaign from 2011. 

Virginia: Which Receivers Will Step Up?

Virginia took the ACC by surprise last year when the Cavs won eight games in the regular season. If the team wants to build on that success in 2012, the offense is going to need some new go-to receivers to emerge, as last year's top pass-catcher Kris Burd is now gone. Tim Smith is the leading returning receiver, but Smith only hauled in 33 passes last season. 

The only other returning receiver who caught more than 10 passes in 2011 is highly touted freshman Darius Jennings. 

Smith and Jennings should make an effective receiver pair, but more help is needed if Virginia wants to have a truly potent passing attack in 2012. 

Virginia: The Quest to Find the Next Great Back

Virginia Tech has produced some terrific running backs in recent years, with the latest examples being David Wilson and Ryan Williams. 

Wilson stepped in for Williams last year and flourished, as he led the ACC with 1,709 rushing yards, the fourth highest total in the nation in 2011. 

Finding a replacement for the super speedster, who bolted for the NFL in January, will be a difficult task, as the team's top two returning rushers from last season, Tony Gregory and Daniel Dyer, only combined to carry the ball 22 times last season. 

Freshmen Michael Holmes, Dominique Patterson and Maurice Taylor will all be looking for carries as well, but Gregory looks like he's got the potential to step in and be the starter in 2012.

It remains to be seen, though, how well the 6'0'', 190-pound sophomore will be able to replicate the type of tremendous success Wilson had on the ground last year.

Wake Forest: It Starts Up Front

Wake Forest will likely be one of the most overlooked teams in the ACC this offseason, as always seems to be the case. but the Demon Deacons do happen to have one of the more intriguing quarterbacks in the conference in Tanner Price. 

Last year, Price completed 60 percent of his passes and threw for over 3,000 yards, and he did so behind an offensive line that didn't give him much help, as the Demon Deacons finished second to last in the ACC with 35 sacks allowed. 

The scary part is, though, just imagine how many sacks Wake Forest is going to give up in 2012 when the Demon Deacons have to replace four starting offensive linemen—Joe Looney, Andrew Parker, Dennis Godfrey and Michael Hoag. 

Price better learn to keep his head on a swivel this spring. 

Washington: Can the Huskies Form a Cohesive Defense?

Even though Washington loses consistently productive running back Chris Polk, along with its two top receivers, Jermaine Kearse and Devin Aguilar, the Huskies should be able to put enough talent around budding star quarterback Keith Price to have a strong offensive attack next season. 

The big question marks will be on the defensive side of the ball, where Washington ranked 11th in the Pac-12 in both scoring defense and total defense in 2011. 

After watching his defense get torn apart by Robert Griffin III and the Baylor offense in the Alamo Bowl, a game in which Washington gave up 67 points and 777 total yards, coach Steve Sarkisian decided to let coordinator Nick Holt go. 

Justin Wilcox has been hired to take over the defense, which actually has some talent, but just could never put it all together and play like a unit in 2011. 

The Huskies have a few potential All-Conference caliber defenders in guys like DE Josh Shirley, CB Desmond Trufant and S Sean Parker, but it will be up to Wilcox to get all 11 players to play like a strong unit in 2012.

Washington: The Pirate Has Landed

After a controversial exit from Texas Tech following the 2009 season, Mike Leach, who is without a doubt one of the most colorful personalities in coaching, took two years to hang out at his house in Key West and talk college football with Jack Arute for Sirius XM.

After getting refreshed and refocused, Leach is now headed back to the sideline, this time up in Pullman, Washington as the new coach of Washington State. 

The Cougars haven't been to a bowl game since 2003, but they do have some intriguing returning talent for 2012, including a bona fide star in WR Marquess Wilson. 

Leach will surely be looking to exploit Wilson as much as he can next season, but there's still some glaring holes on both sides of the ball that he'll have to plug this offseason if he wants to end the school's bowl drought in 2012. 

West Virginia: Big 12 Prep Work

It's official.

After months of speculation, and a messy lawsuit between the school and the Big East, West Virginia will indeed be playing in the Big 12 next season.

The question is, will the Mountaineers be able to compete for a conference championship in 2012?

With QB Geno Smith, RB's Dustin Garrison and Shawne Alston and WR's Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey all returning, it certainly seems like they'll have all the offensive firepower needed. 

The real key will be the defense, especially up front, as the Mountaineers will have to find some new pieces for their front-seven, which isn't something you want to do right as you begin facing offenses that are bigger, stronger and more athletic than the ones you've been used to seeing. 

West Virginia should be able to score enough points to make a serious run in the Big 12 next season, but it remains to be seen whether the defense will be able to hold up its end of the bargain in 2012. 

Wisconsin: At Least Give the Coaches Some Name Tags

This spring, it seems like the Wisconsin coaches will have more learning to do than the players, as the Badgers have brought in six new assistant coaches for the 2012 season. The most devastating loss was losing offensive coordinator Paul Chryst to Pittsburgh, as Chryst decided to bring a few key Wisconsin assistants along with him. 

It will be interesting to see what new offensive coordinator Matt Canada can do with the dynamic backfield duo of Montee Ball and James White, but one of Canada's biggest priorities this offseason has to be finding a replacement for star quarterback Russell Wilson, which is something that will be easier said than done.