Biggest Questions Facing Each Top-25 Team Heading into Week 1
Major college football is back. It's really, really back.
The action kicks off Thursday night at 6 p.m. ET, when North Carolina and South Carolina take center stage on ESPN in Charlotte, North Carolina. Until then, let's get you prepped with the biggest storyline facing each Associated Press top 25 team heading into Week 1.
Which storylines are we focusing on? With so many cupcake games, it usually revolves around key position players (i.e. quarterbacks) who will be taking the field for the first time.
If there's a key question mark heading into the season, can it be answered (or close to answered) right off the bat? For bigger games, the focus usually lies on key matchups that could decide the game.
With that, let's get to it. The top storyline for each top-25 team heading into Week 1 can be found in the following slides.
25. Can the Vols Simply Not Stumble Out of the Gate?
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Playing Bowling Green in Week 1 isn't necessarily the toughest of all tests, but the Falcons aren't exactly pushovers, either. At the very least, Bowling Green can score and returns its quarterback, running back and top wide receiver. The defense might be poor, but there's no doubting the firepower.
There's just so much hype on the Vols entering the season. And there's so much attention on the Week 2 game against Oklahoma. Additionally, some key players like receiver Pig Howard (suspension), safety LaDarrell McNeil and cornerback Rashaan Gaulden will be sidelined.
Just be careful, Tennessee. That's all we're saying.
If Tennessee takes care of Bowling Green, then it's no harm done. If the Vols so much as struggle against the Falcons, though, some brake-tapping might commence in earnest heading into the big showdown against the Sooners.
24. How Will Missouri's Defensive Line Perform?
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Southeast Missouri State shouldn't cause too many problems for Missouri, so the concentration for the opener lies in the Tigers' biggest area of concern: defensive line.
For the past two years, Mizzou has put together some excellent D-lines with players like Shane Ray, Markus Golden, Michael Sam and Kony Ealy. If the Tigers are going to field another stout defense up front, some new names will have to emerge, and quickly.
According to the most recent depth chart, the starting four are Marcell Frazier, Josh Augusta, Ricky Hatley and Charles Harris. However, freshmen Terry Beckner, Jr. and Nate Howard should see playing time as well.
23. Can Boise State Ruin Chris Petersen's Homecoming?
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Yes, it'll be a touch awkward when Washington head coach Chris Petersen returns to his old stomping grounds in Boise for the season opener. Well, at least that'll be the storyline. The truth is that Petersen is probably so focused on the game that he has little time to think about anything else.
Still, Petersen won 92 games with the Broncos and a pair of Fiesta Bowls. His return is a big deal. Can Boise State spoil the homecoming? B
roncos head coach Bryan Harsin has a team projected to win its division and looking to crash the playoff picture, but that only begins to come to fruition with an undefeated record.
That means Boise has to beat the coach who took the program to such great heights.
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22. Will RB Nick Wilson Get Any Support?
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Arizona shouldn't have any problem with UT-San Antonio, but there has been some chatter about the Wildcats' running back situation, namely whether head coach Rich Rodriguez will spell Nick Wilson with Jared Baker, Orlando Bradford and Zach Green.
According to the latest depth chart (via Arizona Desert Swarm), Wilson and Baker are named co-starters. Compare that to last year, when Wilson led the team with 236 carries for 1,375 yards. No one came remotely close to matching those numbers.
So in an effort to take some of the mileage off Wilson, RichRod could spread the wealth against the Road Runners. After all, if Rodriguez plans on using Wilson heavily again this year, he might not want to use Wilson too much right away.
21. Can Stanford QB Kevin Hogan Pick Up Where He Left Off?
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As up-and-down as the 2014 season was for Kevin Hogan, he did end the year on a nice three-game run. Against Cal, UCLA and Maryland, Hogan threw for 637 yards, averaging about 10.8 yards per attempt and four touchdowns to just one interception.
Now in his final year with the Cardinal, can Hogan pick up where he left off in the season opener against Northwestern? Hogan has already been named one of the team's captains, a positive sign as to what the team thinks of him heading into the season.
Much will be made about another Pac-12 North quarterback—Oregon's Vernon Adams Jr.—but Hogan can still state his case to be one of the conference's best this year. He can help that case by getting off to a good start against the Wildcats.
No. 20: Will RB Corey Clement Top 100 Yards vs. Alabama's Defense?
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No Melvin Gordon, no problem for Wisconsin...right? Well, maybe. Or not.
Badgers running back Corey Clement rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last year as a backup to Gordon, but faces a tough task in week one against Alabama. The Tide have supposedly one of the toughest defensive front sevens in all of college football. A'Shawn Robinson, Jarran Reed, Reggie Ragland and Co. are legit stars who could keep opponents to about three yards per rush.
On top of that, the Badgers are breaking in some new starters along the offensive line, and there have been injury and youth concerns up front all offseason. Clement may still be primed for a breakout year, but this is an unfavorable match-up for Wisconsin's run-first offense.
19. How Will New Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield Play?
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One of the most talked-about quarterback competitions of the offseason was settled earlier this month when former Texas Tech transfer Baker Mayfield assumed the starting job with Oklahoma. Mayfield gives the Sooners offense an extra boost of confidence and bravado that no one else in his position can.
But, to put it simply, does that confidence translate on the field?
It may "just" be Akron, but it would be a bad sign if Mayfield struggled right out of the gate. After all, the Sooners head to Tennessee the following week. Going into Knoxville with more question marks at quarterback wouldn't exactly be ideal.
How's the chemistry with the new-look wide receiver unit? Can Mayfield deliver as a playmaker with his arms and legs? How's his ball security and decision-making? These will all be questions head coach Bob Stoops must answer right away.
18. Can Arkansas' Defense Start Aggressively?
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Even with the season-ending injury to running back Jonathan Williams, Arkansas' ground game is in good hands. There really isn't much of a question there. Rather, the big question for the Hogs throughout this season will be the defense.
It starts up front. DeMarcus Hodge and Taiwan Johnson are staples, but how will newcomer Hjalte Froholdt look? Head coach Bret Bielema and the team have raved about the freshman from Denmark all offseason. Additionally, Eric Bolin of ArkansasNews.com has Froholdt as one of the team's impact freshmen this year.
UTEP should be an easy game for the Hogs, but an encouraging sign would be to see Froholdt succeed on some meaningful snaps while the D-line controls the line of scrimmage.
17. Is Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell Back to Normal?
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The gruesome, season-ending leg injury sustained by Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell still paints a vivid image. It was awful. But the body's ability to heal itself, coupled with modern science, is a miraculous thing. Because of that, Treadwell will take the field Saturday against Tennessee-Martin.
"In a strange kind of way, I'm looking forward to seeing him get tackled," head coach Hugh Freeze said via the Associated Press.
That way, Treadwell and Ole Miss can see how his leg is doing. When he was healthy, Treadwell was one of the more dominant receivers in all of college football. If the game gets out of hand early, expect Treadwell to rest up for Fresno State (and then Alabama) in the following weeks. But it would be good to see how he fares in live action.
16. Can Georgia Tech's Rebuilt Offense Hit the Ground Running?
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So to speak, that is.
Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas is a star, but the Yellow Jackets have to replace pretty much every running back and wide receiver around him. There's no lack of youth at running back, as Patrick Skov, Broderick Snoddy and Isiah Willis will get the nods there. But other than Snoddy, there's not a lot of playing experience carrying over from last year.
Whatever kinks Georgia Tech still needs to work out in the option game can be done against Alcorn State. There's going to come a time, namely against Notre Dame in Week 3, when that won't be the case.
15. Will Arizona State Become the Trendy Week 1 Playoff Possibility?
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Perhaps the most intriguing game in Week 1 is Arizona State's meeting with Texas A&M in Houston. It's indoors on a fast track with two potent offenses, so expect a lot of points (for what it's worth, we're split on which team will actually win).
In a way, Arizona State and Texas A&M are in similar positions. They're not projected to win their respective divisions but have enough offensive firepower to make some noise. If nothing else, they'll be exciting teams to watch.
But if the Sun Devils have a good showing against the Aggies, they could become a trendy dark-horse playoff selection by football pundits everywhere. With quarterback Mike Bercovici and do-it-all weapon D.J. Foster, Arizona State has the potential to make a Pac-12 South run. And if A&M goes on to have a great year, a season-opening win would look even better.
14. Will LSU QB Brandon Harris Cement Himself as 'The Guy'?
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Brandon Harris was officially named the starting quarterback by LSU head coach Les Miles earlier this week. It's been a long time coming, as Harris had been taking first-team offensive snaps in preseason camp. The yearlong competition with Anthony Jennings for starting status is finally over.
But, the next question is: Can Harris keep the job? As a freshman in 2014, Harris did have one start against Auburn and was immediately benched in favor of Jennings.
McNeese State should provide a nice, safe start for Harris, who could rack up some nice stats and gain some confidence going into a road game at Mississippi State in Week 2.
13. How Will UCLA QB Josh Rosen Play in His First Start?
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There's not a true freshman starting quarterback in college football this year who's getting more attention than UCLA's Josh Rosen.
There's reason for it. Rosen arrived as a 5-star early enrollee, according to 247Sports, and immediately wowed coaches in spring practice.
Sure enough, Rosen was named the starter last month. When the Bruins take on Virginia this weekend, how will the true freshman perform?
Rosen has a lot of experience around him. Paul Perkins is the returning leading rusher in the Pac-12, so that should take a lot of pressure off the true freshman. But can he move the chains, make good decisions and not be overwhelmed by the moment?
12. How Will Clemson's Rebuilt Defense Look?
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If you're a Clemson fan, you definitely know the narrative by now. The Tigers are rebuilding most of their defense from last year, including its entire star-studded defensive line. There's little concern about quarterback Deshaun Watson (outside of his health) or the offense.
And there won't be much concern against Wofford for the season opener, either. Still, Clemson folks would like to see a fast start from the defense. Can the D-line constantly pressure in the backfield? Is the run defense as potent as it was last year (or at least close to it)? Can cornerback Mackensie Alexander live up to his own expectations?
We'll probably find out more about these questions later on in the year, but it's never too early to start asking.
11. How Will Notre Dame QB Malik Zaire Look as a Passer?
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Notre Dame's offense should lean more toward the run with quarterback Malik Zaire taking snaps under center this year. Zaire rushed for nearly 100 yards in last year's Music City Bowl against LSU, and there's no denying his athleticism.
However, if the Irish want to show they can have a balanced offense, Zaire needs to be more efficient passing the ball. We'll find out if he's made any progress in Week 1 against Texas.
Head coach Brian Kelly has praised Zaire's development in that part of his game, however. Via Mike Vorel of Irish Insider, Kelly said Zaire has improved in touch passes and ball placement.
If Zaire can move the chains consistently with his arm and his legs, Notre Dame could very well realize its playoff hopes.
10. How Will Florida State's Passing Offense Look?
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Yes, a lot of focus for Florida State's opener against Texas State will be on grad-transfer quarterback Everett Golson. And there's good reason for that. Golson transferred to the Seminoles from Notre Dame, where he was a prolific passer but was plagued by turnovers in 2014.
But Golson isn't the only question. The wide receiver group has been inconsistent all offseason, much to the disappointment of head coach Jimbo Fisher.
"They’ve got to grow up and be more consistent,” Fisher said last month via Brendan Sonnone of the Orlando Sentinel. “They’ve had some good (practices), but right now, today, they stunk today."
It can be easy to take for granted what Jameis Winston did with Rashad Greene and Nick O'Leary in the passing game in 2014. Will it take a step back this year? Who knows, but Golson and his receivers can give fans reason for optimism or concern right away.
9. Can Georgia QB Greyson Lambert Manage the Offense?
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When a quarterback has Nick Chubb as his running back, it instantly makes his job easier. That said, it'll be interesting to see what Georgia quarterback and Virginia transfer Greyson Lambert can do in his first game against Louisiana-Monroe.
Head coach Mark Richt just named Lambert the starter earlier this week over Brice Ramsey, the No. 2 guy behind Hutson Mason a year ago.
We probably won't get to see Lambert (or Georgia) truly tested until Week 3 against South Carolina. In the meantime, can Lambert show a mastery of the playbook and an ability to move the chains after a limited offseason with the Bulldogs?
8. Can USC Rediscover Its Pass Rush?
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We know that USC's offense should be fine in 2015. If anything, the Trojans should have one of the more potent passing attacks anywhere in college football.
Its pass rush, on the other hand, could be an issue.
The departure of Leonard Williams could be huge, and injuries along the D-line in the offseason really hurt the unit's ability to come along on time. But with freshman linebacker Porter Gustin emerging in preseason camp, the future looks bright.
What kind of impact can Gustin, Greg Townsend Jr. and Co. make against Arkansas State? With so little else to watch, keep an eye on that.
7. How Will Oregon QB Vernon Adams Jr. Perform vs. His Old Team?
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In just a couple of weeks' time, Eastern Washington transfer quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. arrived on Oregon's campus as a grad transfer and won the starting job. This is no small feat. To come into a new environment and thrive right away takes skill and a whole lot of trust from others.
Now, Adams will face off against his former team in Week 1. Eastern Washington may have plenty of insight on Adams, but that doesn't mean he'll be suddenly easier to stop. He's a human highlight reel, and with the Ducks skill players could put up huge numbers right away.
On top of that, Adams could give Oregon new hope in the playoff race down the road, even without Marcus Mariota. But for now, all eyes will be on Adams when he makes his debut in Eugene.
6. What Kind of Impact Can Will Muschamp Have for Auburn Right Away?
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First-year defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has some talent to work with at Auburn, but a big task ahead as well. The Tigers ranked in the lower tier of the SEC in all major categories.
What kind of impact can Muschamp have in the season opener against Auburn? That's our biggest question for the Tigers in Week 1.
The silver lining is that stud defensive end Carl Lawson returns from injury, which should help Auburn's pass rush. Louisville's starting quarterback could very likely be Reggie Bonnafon, a dual threat who should keep Auburn on its toes.
We know the Tigers should be able to score points, but can they stop Louisville's offense on a fast track indoors?
5. Can Michigan State Plug-and-Play on Defense?
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Michigan State opens the season with a possibly intriguing Friday night game at Western Michigan. In 2014, the Broncos had one of the top offenses in the Mid-American Conference. As it happens, Sparty is doing some rebuilding on the defensive side of the ball.
First of all, defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi left to take the head coaching job at Pitt. Furthermore, the defense lost some players to the NFL and others to injury (see: linebacker Ed Davis). Can Michigan State reload on that side of the ball?
Redshirt freshman Vayante Copeland has been tabbed as the starting corner opposite Demetrious Cox, according to Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press. There is also an outside linebacker spot up for grabs between sophomores Jon Reschke and Chris Frey.
Can Michigan State plug in players against a solid offense and avoid an upset on the road?
4. Is Baylor's Pass Defense Still a Liability?
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There aren't many weaknesses on paper for Baylor heading into the 2015 season. However, if there's one area that desperately needs improving, it's pass defense. In '14, the Bears gave up 7.5 yards per pass attempt. That ranked 96th in the country. The 24 passing touchdowns conceded ranked 102nd.
Yeah, that's not great, and it's certainly not going to fly in the Big 12, which breeds big-time offenses and quarterback play.
Now, the good news for Baylor is that SMU had literally the worst passing offense in college football last year. Then again, SMU was historically awful in many ways. That's why the program hired Chad Morris to turn things around. If the Mustangs come out with new life and put a scare into Baylor's pass D, that could be a bad sign moving forward.
"New scheme, new team, new era," head coach Art Briles said about SMU, via Colt Barber, 247Sports. "You don’t ever like opening up on the road. You certainly don’t like going into a new scheme, so we’re kinda just gonna have to get into the game and see what’s happening and try to adjust as we go along.”
3. Who Will Start at Quarterback for Alabama?
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Who knows: By the time Thursday evening rolls around, Alabama head coach Nick Saban may feel confident enough (or bold enough, or feisty enough) to publicly name a starting quarterback for the season opener against Wisconsin.
Or maybe he'll keep this thing close to the chest all the way until the first snap in Arlington. B/R colleague Christopher Walsh, who has been monitoring this story with bated breath, provided the latest updates on the timeline of things.
Technically, it's still a five-way battle with senior Jake Coker, sophomore Cooper Bateman, junior Alec Morris, and freshmen Blake Barnett and David Cornwell. But if there are any context clues to be had, Coker, Bateman and Morris seem to have created some separation, however small it may be.
Realistically, Alabama's quarterback probably won't be called upon to beat Wisconsin single-handedly. But that won't stop people from wanting to know who it is.
2. How Will TCU's Rebuilt Secondary Look?
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Chances are that there won't be many concerns about TCU's offense against Minnesota. The Horned Frogs return just about everybody on that side of the ball, including preseason Heisman hopeful quarterback Trevone Boykin.
The defense, meanwhile, is a more legitimate question mark. Gone are cornerback Kevin White and safeties Chris Hackett and Sam Carter. The linebacker unit loses Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Paul Dawson and Marcus Mallet. Defensive tackle Chucky Hunter has moved on as well.
Making matters worse is that head coach Gary Patterson confirmed that two defensive starters will miss the game but declined to specify who, according to Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News.
Can TCU overcome all that?
The good news for TCU is that Minnesota lacks firepower with the loss of tight end Maxx Williams. As long as the Frogs can get off to a fast start offensively, they should be in the clear. But if Minnesota somehow hangs around, there could be some anxious fans in Fort Worth.
1. Who Will Start at QB for Ohio State?
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Surprise, right?
Here's what we know about Ohio State's closely watched quarterback battle between J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones: According to head coach Urban Meyer, it's likely that both will play at some point this year. "I would anticipate that throughout the course of year we'll play both quarterbacks," he told reporters this week.
But which one will actually take the field first against Virginia Tech? How long will he play? Is it clear he'll be the starter, while the other is the backup? Or is it more interchangeable?
Both players have shown the ability to win big games. This is a competition unlike anything else we're seeing in college football. And, as B/R colleague Ben Axelrod reported, it's bringing the two closer together, not tearing them apart.
However it works out, the Buckeyes will be in good hands.
Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand. All stats courtesy of CFBStats.com.
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