Ranking the 25 Must-Watch College Football Spring Games of 2015
Spring football is in full swing, meaning we're creeping ever so slowly toward the start of the 2015 college football season.
The handful of practices that schools are allowed to have during the offseason are divvied up differently depending on the program, but nearly all of them wrap things up with a scrimmage of sorts that's commonly called the spring game. These are usually open to the public and allow fans an early glimpse at the product that will be on the field in the fall.
Several schools have already held their spring games, including power-conference programs Baylor, Colorado and Duke, while others like Kentucky, North Carolina and Texas A&M don't plan to hold official spring scrimmages. For those that have yet to hold theirs, we've identified the ones that are most worth catching a glimpse of.
In ranking these games, we took into account the intrigue surrounding each team as far as position battles or new offensive or defensive systems being implemented as well as the excitement surrounding new coaches and coordinators.
25. UNLV
1 of 25
When: April 18, 3 p.m. ET
TV: None
What to watch for
New coach Tony Sanchez makes the jump from high school to the college ranks after leading one of the best prep programs in the country. ESPN chronicled some of what Sanchez did last season at Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman for the Snoop & Son reality series about 2015 recruit (and eventual UCLA signee) Cordell Broadus. But now we get to see what Sanchez can do with lower-end college athletes after managing top-tier high school stars.
"There is nobody that walks in on Monday that has a job," Sanchez told Taylor Bern of the Las Vegas Sun prior to the start of spring practice.
UNLV is coming off a 2-11 season, which followed the program's first winning season since 2003.
24. Western Michigan
2 of 25
When: April 18, 1 p.m. ET
TV: None
What to watch for
Western Michigan had one of the biggest turnarounds in recent memory last season, going from 1-11 in to 2013 to 8-5 with a bowl appearance. Under the guidance of rising young coach P.J. Fleck, the Broncos might be the first team to provide a legitimate challenge to Northern Illinois' dominance in the Mid-American conference.
The Broncos were one of the youngest teams in the country in 2014, led by standout freshman running back Jarvion Franklin, and now those players have a year under their belts to grow and develop.
Their spring game should be a spirited outing that will mimic Fleck's enthusiasm and flair, and it should help get Western Michigan prepared for a very tough schedule that includes non-league games against Michigan State, Ohio State and Georgia Southern.
23. SMU
3 of 25
When: April 18, 2 p.m. ET
TV: None
What to watch for
While Chad Morris' hire at SMU isn't the most anticipated among first-year coaches in FBS, what he plans to do to rebuild the Mustangs is quite intriguing. Early reports out of spring practice in Dallas are that the former Clemson offensive coordinator has been using some unorthodox tactics to get his players prepared for how he wants to play this fall.
"Drones were buzzing over the heads of the SMU quarterbacks," wrote Doug Samuels of FootballScoop.com.
Per Samuels, other tactics Morris has been using have involved tennis balls and blank walls, anything to help boost an offense that was second-worst in the country in yardage at 269 per game last season.
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22. Miami (Florida)
4 of 25
When: March 28, noon ET
TV: None
What to watch for
Since basketball in south Florida failed to do much this season—unless you consider the NIT quarterfinals a big deal—at least there's the comfort in knowing that Miami's spring game is on the docket for this weekend. And considering that coach Al Golden is high on many people's lists when it comes to hot-seat occupants, the spring game should be one that is both spirited and intense.
The Hurricanes have to find replacements at skill positions like running back, tight end and receiver as well as on the offensive line, while also filling a major on defense left by standout linebacker Denzel Perryman.
One place where Miami looks set is at quarterback, with Brad Kaaya coming off a strong true freshman year but still in need of some further development to take the next step.
21. Louisville
5 of 25
When: April 17, 7 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN3
What to watch for
Bobby Petrino didn't get left with a bare cupboard when he returned to Louisville last season, and he made the most of that group despite it not being the kind of team he'd previously had at the school or at other jobs. But with the vast majority of the starters from last year's Cardinals team gone, it's going to be back to the drawing board for Petrino in Year 2.
"I've never used the term rebuilding," Petrino told Jonathan Lintner and Steve Jones of the Louisville Courier-Journal. "I think what it is, is a chance for a lot of guys to step up and go out and play. I think it's fun, because there's literally going to be a lot of competition."
It's also going to be a young and inexperienced team, as noted researcher Phil Steele lists Louisville as having only nine projected starters coming back. The ties for fourth-fewest in FBS.
20. Michigan State
6 of 25
When: April 25, 2 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
What to watch for
Head coach Mark Dantonio has worked wonders at Michigan State, elevating it to the state's top program and a regular Big Ten title contender. With rival Michigan making a splashy hire in the offseason, while the Spartans saw standout defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi land a head coaching gig, the program is at somewhat of a crossroads.
But the return of seniors Connor Cook at quarterback and defensive end Shilique Calhoun help keep expectations high, and those veterans will almost serve as unofficial coaches for the team this season.
How they play in the spring game won't matter as much as how younger players do, though, Cook must show he can gel with a revamped receiving corps and an inexperienced group of running backs.
19. Wisconsin
7 of 25
When: April 25, 4 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
What to watch for
Paul Chryst got to coach Russell Wilson during his previous stint with Wisconsin as its offensive coordinator. He returns to the Badgers after two seasons running Pittsburgh's program hoping he can find someone at least half as good as Wilson to be his quarterback.
That position was one of Wisconsin's weakest spots last year, with neither Tanner McEvoy or Joel Stave handling the job very well. This will be a closely watched competition, with those returners battling it out against a slew of newcomers and redshirts looking to get on the field.
The loss of 2,500-yard rusher Melvin Gordon is huge, but Corey Clement was nearly a 1,000-yard rusher as a backup. How he looks as the lead back will be among the many reasons to check out the spring game on TV next month.
18. Penn State
8 of 25When: April 18, 4 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
What to watch for
If spring practice is meant to fix problems from the previous season, then expect a whole lot of time to be devoted to shoring up Penn State's porous offensive line and listless rushing game from 2014. The Nittany Lions were horrible at running the ball and protecting the quarterback last year yet still managed to win seven games and claim the Pinstripe Bowl trophy.
James Franklin's second year at the helm should more closely resemble what he did at Vanderbilt in terms of personnel and approach, though, the glue that holds it all together will be quarterback Christian Hackenberg. He had a sophomore slump last fall, partly due to a lack of protection but also because of his own failings.
Having more depth up front will help, as Bleacher Report's Ben Axelrod noted.
"The removal of Penn State's scholarship reductions should benefit its offensive line the most," Axelrod wrote.
17. Pittsburgh
9 of 25
When: April 18, 1 p.m. ET
TV: None
What to watch for
Pat Narduzzi worked wonders with Michigan State as its defensive coordinator, and now he gets his shot to run an entire program. He's landed one that's pretty stocked with talent, too, as the Panthers bring back a record-setting running back in James Conner and a superstar wide receiver in Tyler Boyd.
How Pitt ultimately gels with Narduzzi's hard-nosed approach will dictate whether this program can move past its recent run of coaching turnover and just-above-or-below-.500 seasons, and the spring game will be the debut of this new look.
According to Jerry DiPaola of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Narduzzi's practices have been far more physical than under previous coaches. This was his approach working at Michigan State, and it's not surprising it has transferred over to his new job.
16. UCLA
10 of 25
When: April 25, 1 p.m. ET
TV: Pac-12 Network
What to watch for
UCLA doesn't begin spring practice until March 31, and its spring game will come just four weeks later as the Bruins won't have to work around spring break to get their workouts in. That's going to make for a jam-packed set of practices, and the end-of-session scrimmage should be among the best in the country with that accelerated time line.
This will give true freshman quarterback Josh Rosen, who is expected to battle with junior Jerry Neuheisel and redshirt redshirt Asiantii Woulard for the starting job, a crash course in the college experience.
"The bright lights of Westwood will not be too much for this passing prodigy," wrote Sporting News' TJ Gaynor, noting that Rosen is already a "seasoned veteran of nationally televised games, passing contests, combine workouts and championship games."
15. Nebraska
11 of 25
When: April 11, 2 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
What to watch for
Fewer coaching changes can be looked at as providing more of a drastic sea change than what has occurred at Nebraska, where after seven seasons of the fiery (yet successful) Bo Pelini, the Cornhuskers are now under the leadership of former Oregon State coach Mike Riley.
Considered one of the nicest guys in the game, and one who made the most of a tough job with the Beavers, his arrival in Lincoln has been met with both praise and skepticism.
Riley inherits a Cornhuskers team that has some big questions to be answered, such as who will replace the production lost by graduated running back Ameer Abdullah and who will handle the defensive pressure that Randy Gregory provided. He also has to figure out whether his pro-style offense, different from Nebraska's spread attack under Pelini, will work better with Tommy Armstrong Jr. or someone else at quarterback.
"We actually have to pull back a little bit and focus in on stuff to finish with," Riley told Eric Olson of the Associated Press (h/t Yahoo Sports). "So we head into fall camp being pretty good at a few things and not average at a whole bunch of stuff. That's my biggest concern."
14. USC
12 of 25
When: April 11, 6 p.m. ET
TV: Pac-12 Network
What to watch for
Head coach Steve Sarkisian's second year at USC will be the first without any semblance of scholarship restrictions. That ability to build depth should present itself during spring practice and the scrimmage as he looks to give players ample opportunities to contribute.
This could mean having more than just Adoree Jackson playing in multiple positions, though, Jackson's further development as an offensive weapon takes precedence.
The Trojans have to replace their top rusher (Javorius Allen) and receiver (Nelson Agholor), as well as their best pass-rusher (Leonard Williams) and top linebacker (Hayes Pullard). All of those openings will make for great battles that should manifest during the spring game.
This will also be the last go-around for quarterback Cody Kessler, set to be USC's starter for the third season. Though entrenched in that position, he'll be looked at to make further strides during spring ball while also serving as a mentor for true freshman Ricky Town.
13. LSU
13 of 25When: April 18, 2 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
What to watch for
Brandon Harris or Anthony Jennings? Which will emerge from the offseason to become LSU's quarterback, and more importantly, will either make the Tigers offense any good?
It's the biggest question that LSU has to answer before the 2015 season. While it's likely that coach Les Miles will use all possible practice time (including the August workouts) to make his choice, the spring game will give us an idea of who is the leader going into the summer clubhouse.
It's been a back-and-forth battle between Harris, a sophomore, and Jennings, a junior. Harris was in the lead before Jennings had a better scrimmage last weekend, per Jim Kleinpeter of NOLA.com.
While the quarterback competition will draw the most attention, LSU's spring game will also be worth seeing to catch a glimpse of a true freshman who could slide right into the starting lineup. The Tigers have an opening for a cornerback, and Kevin Toliver II, who is rated as a 5-star prospect by 247Sports, enrolled early just for that reason.
12. Florida
14 of 25When: April 11, 12:30 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
What to watch for
You can't win a spring football game, per se, but a team can certainly lose it in the eyes of its fans. Those watching Florida's scrimmage will be hoping that isn't the case, wanting nothing more than new coach Jim McElwain to show he's got a plan to fix the Gators' woeful offense while not letting their strong defense slide much.
This won't be an easy task, no matter how skilled McElwain is and how great a staff he's assembled. Florida lost its entire starting offensive line, its best defensive player (end Dante Fowler) and won't be getting much in terms of recruiting reinforcements until the summer. That makes the likelihood that the spring game will answer many questions quite low.
The place where fans could see the biggest development will be at quarterback, where sophomore Treon Harris and redshirt freshman Will Grier will be battling for the job.
11. TCU
15 of 25
When: April 10, time TBD
TV: None
What to watch for
The disappointment of being left out of the college football playoff still lingers with TCU. While nothing can really be done about that until the next season comes along, we should see how that snub is motivating the Horned Frogs this spring.
What we won't see is quarterback Trevone Boykin, at least not during the spring game, as the senior is planning to have wrist surgery during the first week of April that will keep him out of that scrimmage.
More attention will be paid on how TCU's defense looks under new leadership. Similar to how coach Gary Patterson went with co-coordinators to ramp up his offense in 2014, the retirement of longtime defensive coordinator Dick Bumpas has led to Patterson promoting assistants Demontie Cross and Chad Glasgow.
10. Alabama
16 of 25
When: April 18, 3 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
What to watch for
For a team that keeps winning as much as Alabama, few go into each offseason with as much uncertainty as the Crimson Tide do. There's endless talent all over the place, but which of those stars will step up to be the true leaders remains unknown at this point. The spring game will help somewhat with that determination, but not completely.
That won't matter to the fans who will pack into Bryant-Denny Stadium for the contest, which last year drew more than 73,000 fans. A similarly large crowd is expected this year, many of whom want to see whether senior Jake Coker or one of Alabama's younger quarterbacks gets the leg up on replacing Blake Sims.
They'll also want to see how progress is being made finding a replacement—if that's possible—for record-breaking receiver Amari Cooper as well as for key defensive stars like cornerback Landon Collins.
9. Texas
17 of 25
When: April 18, 2 p.m. ET
TV: Longhorn Network
What to watch for
The first full Charlie Strong-led offseason for Texas should be highlighted by a spring game that will be more intense than most scrimmages, following along the lines of how Strong does everything more intense than others.
"Competition will be the supreme goal for a young team striving to rebuild and find new leaders," wrote ESPN's Max Olson.
There are many officially open positions, but those that have returning starters aren't locked in, either. The 2014 season was somewhat of a transition from the Mack Brown era to what Strong has in mind, while this fall figures to show what the Longhorns are really made of. That should show up through an intense spring filled with hard-fought competition.
8. Clemson
18 of 25
When: April 11, 2:30 p.m. ET
TV: None
What to watch for
The last time we saw Deshaun Watson play, he was wowing us with moves that he shouldn't have been able to make. That's because Watson was operating on a torn ACL during Clemson's win over rival South Carolina in November, and he had surgery shortly thereafter that caused him to miss the Russell Athletic Bowl.
The sophomore quarterback has made a swift recovery, but his participating in spring practice has been very limited, according to News 19 WLTX. He's unlikely to see any action in the spring game.
Even without Watson available, Clemson's scrimmage is a must-watch in order to see what the Tigers are going to do on offense now that Chad Morris has moved on to SMU and as their defense deals with the loss of the majority of their starters including the entire front line.
7. Oregon
19 of 25
When: May 2, 2 p.m. ET
TV: Pac-12 Network
What to watch for
There are some very big shoes to fill at quarterback for Oregon, with Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota off to the NFL following one of the best seasons in college football history. Who will ultimately replace Mariota isn't likely to get settled during the spring, as prime candidate Vernon Adams doesn't transfer in from FCS Eastern Washington until June.
That won't take away from the intrigue of the Ducks' spring game, though, or what it will signify. It's the only power-conference team that holds its scrimmage in May (as does Hawaii), and when it's over with ,that marks the official start of the home stretch toward the 2015 season. Once the Ducks are done, we'll have only four months and one day until the regular season begins on Sept. 3.
As far as what happens within Oregon's game, there's plenty to check out. Beyond the Ducks likely wearing new threads—because you can't play in an old style, apparently—we'll also see how several players injured before or during last season are doing, most notably receiver Bralon Addison.
6. Notre Dame
20 of 25
When: April 18, time TBD
TV: None
What to watch for
While many schools will be using spring ball to break in new starters or hold spirited competitions for playing time, Notre Dame has the luxury of getting to spend the time getting a massive number of returners back in shape. It's the coaching staff that will need to get up to speed, as Brian Kelly has several new assistants on staff.
That new blood will have plenty of veteran talent to work with, as the Fighting Irish return nearly their entire starting lineup and have key reserves back across the board.
A significant position battle has drawn plenty of interest, though, as both senior Everett Golson and sophomore Malik Zaire are trying to become the starting quarterback. Bleacher Report's Keith Arnold wrote that the competition is expected to last until the fall and that it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to see the passers split time.
"There's a blueprint for the Irish winning with both quarterbacks playing a key role," Arnold wrote. "Urban Meyer, when coaching the Florida Gators, utilized a similar plan with veteran Chris Leak and sledgehammer Tim Tebow. Kelly basically did the same with Tony Pike and Zach Collaros at Cincinnati."
5. Michigan
21 of 25When: April 4, noon ET
TV: Big Ten Network
What to watch for
The Jim Harbaugh era at Michigan has re-energized the Maize and Blue fanbase, which has watched the Wolverines slump into mediocrity under previous coaches Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke. How this year's team will fare is still uncertain, but the spring game will provide an opportunity to see what Harbaugh has in store.
There are open positions throughout Michigan's lineup, and not many competitions are expected to be wrapped up in the spring. This will make for a spirited spring competition, with newcomers and veterans looking to impress the staff in hopes of being part of the 2015 starting lineup.
Adding to the drama will be the use of a draft to determine the rosters for the spring game, similar to what Harbaugh did during his time coaching Stanford prior to his NFL gig.
4. Oklahoma
22 of 25
When: April 11, 3 p.m. ET
TV: Fox Sports Southwest
What to watch for
Few teams will be undergoing as much of a system change on offense this spring as Oklahoma, where new coordinator Lincoln Riley has been brought in to return the Sooners to the Air Raid system that was so successful for them in the past. And who will lead that attack is a big question that needs to get answered.
Riley has the options of junior Trevor Knight and sophomores Cody Thomas and Baker Mayfield, the last of whom sat out last season following his transfer from Texas Tech. Mayfield started eight games for Tech in 2013 as a true freshman, running a very similar sling-it-all-over offense.
Oklahoma has new coaches working at nearly every position, aside from head coach, as Bob Stoops overhauled his staff following a disappointing 8-5 season. That should make for intriguing developments and potential changes in who starts at some positions.
3. Florida State
23 of 25
When: April 11, 2 p.m. ET
TV: None
What to watch for
After a year under a constant spotlight, both because of being defending champions and having media magnet Jameis Winston around, Florida State gets to take a small step back in terms of overwhelming attention for this spring. But it will still be a much-followed session of practices, leading up to the scrimmage where we see what coach Jimbo Fisher has to work with at some key positions that need to be filled.
First and foremost, we get the first look at how the competition to replace Winston at quarterback is going.
It won't be a full-fledged battle, as junior Sean Maguire won't have all of his challengers in camp. Sophomore John Franklin and redshirt freshman J.J. Cosentino are around, as is true freshman (and early enrollee) De'Andre Johnson. But fellow freshman recruit Deondre Francois doesn't arrive until the summer.
Also worth watching is how the Seminoles defense looks, as five key starers—including both cornerbacks—need to be replaced.
2. Auburn
24 of 25
When: April 18, 2 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
What to watch for
All eyes will be on what new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has been able to do with Auburn's defense when the Tigers hold their spring game. It will be the first chance to see what progress the former Florida head coach has made with a unit that underachieved mightily last season but has the talent to be one of the best units in the SEC, if not the country.
Then again, all Auburn needs from its defense is to not be a liability, according to Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee.
"It's not like Muschamp has to be a miracle worker and get the Auburn defense to a point where it's holding teams under 300 yards per game on a consistent basis," Sallee wrote.
That's because Auburn figures to again be lights out on offense, though, with a tweak toward the air thanks to Jeremy Johnson replacing Nick Marshall at quarterback. The spring game will be the first chance to see what he's able to do with the weapons at his disposal.
1. Ohio State
25 of 25When: April 18, 1:30 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
What to watch for
As the defending national champions, Ohio State gets the wall-to-wall coverage treatment for every segment of their offseason. This isn't much different from the norm in Columbus, though, the national media presence is heavier than normal for the Buckeyes.
Though the biggest question mark related to OSU—how to handle its overflowing crop of star quarterbacks—won't get answered in the spring, thanks to injuries to senior Braxton Miller and sophomore J.T. Barrett. We'll still be looking for some clarity at the position as far as whether junior Cardale Jones can use the spring game to give himself a lead in the competition.
The Buckeyes also need to get some clarity at the wide receiver position, with the graduations of Evan Spencer and Devin Smith creating some job openings.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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