2016 Spring Game Previews for College Football's Projected Top 25 Teams
This is not an April Fools' joke: There will be college football on television this month.
Sure, spring football doesn't count for anything, but for action-starved college football fans, it's like finding a 12-pack of Fiji water in an ice-filled cooler after wandering 10 miles through the desert. The last official game was in mid-January, then the senior all-star games were played, and then…nothing.
But now we're in the midst of a monthlong exhibition—literally—of scrimmages, pseudo-games and souped-up practices that are meant to provide insight into how teams are adjusting to the loss of departed stars as well as integrating new talent.
We've got the information you need to know about the spring competition for each team included in our most recent preseason top 25. For teams that have already wrapped up spring ball, we instead provide a recap of how spring practice panned out.
No. 25 San Diego State
1 of 25
San Diego State finished spring ball with a scrimmage on March 19. Much as it was last season when the Aztecs rolled through the Mountain West Conference, it was their defense that dominated.
The Aztecs defense posted 13 sacks and allowed just 10 points, according to the school's website, though the offense was missing its best weapon, as senior running back Donnel Pumphrey did not participate in the spring game. Instead, redshirt freshman Juwan Washington ran for 111 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.
SDSU takes a 10-game winning streak into the 2016 season, having won all nine of its MWC games (including the conference final) by at least 14 points.
No. 24 Texas
2 of 25
When: Saturday, April 16; 2 p.m. ET
TV: Longhorn Network
Charlie Strong is entering the third year of his quest to return Texas to the top of the Big 12 and back into the national championship conversation. His first two seasons have shown improvement from a philosophical standpoint but not much in the results department. This makes 2016 a very critical year, and to that end, showing some noticeable progress during the spring game can't hurt.
The defensive side of the ball is coming along splendidly, with linebacker Malik Jefferson ushering in a new era of stars as a freshman last year. We'll see more of those young standouts arrive later in the summer, so the spring has been much more focused on offensive development as well as learning another new system installed by coordinator Sterlin Gilbert.
"Gilbert is installing the run-pass option offense that is all the rage in the Lone Star State, and nailing down the starting signal-caller will be a major focus in the spring game," Bleacher Report's Justin Ferguson wrote. That could be senior Tyrone Swoopes, sophomore Jerrod Heard or true freshman Shane Buechele, all of whom figure to get meaningful snaps in the spring game.
No. 23 Miami (Florida)
3 of 25
When: Saturday, April 16; 2 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN3
Mark Richt's long run of sustained success was no longer welcome at Georgia, but Miami had no problem bringing in a coach who only averaged 9.7 wins per season and won at least a share of six SEC division titles in 15 years. Whether the former Hurricanes quarterback can be just as successful in the ACC remains to be seen, but his first spring game isn't when such an evaluation will be made.
Instead, fans will get a chance to see how Richt and his staff handle Miami's solid talent pool differently from how the Al Golden regime did. Will that enable well-established starting quarterback Brad Kaaya to raise his game to another level while also finding a consistent running option to mirror some of the dominant backs Richt had at his last job? What will look different with the defense, which has to replace five starters?
And maybe the following is the question that has the best chance to be answered this spring: Will the fans show up? Pictures of poor crowd turnout for Miami home games are a staple of social media on Saturdays in the fall, and last year, a mere 3,500 attended the team's scrimmage (per SB Nation).
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No. 22 Oregon
4 of 25
When: Saturday, April 30; 2 p.m. ET
TV: Pac-12 Network
With its spring game still four weeks away, a lot can happen between now and then for Oregon. The Ducks just began practice on Tuesday, which means new coordinator Brady Hoke is just getting started switching the defense from a 3-4 to a 4-3.
It also means Oregon's latest graduate transfer quarterback from the FCS ranks, Dakota Prukop, is only a few official workouts into his tenure with the program. That still puts him far ahead of Vernon Adams, who wasn't able to join the team until August last year.
"I came here because this is a team that expects to win the national championship," Prukop told Ryan Thornburn of the Eugene Register-Guard. "Without that expectation, you can’t be No. 1. You can’t reach a goal you don’t set for yourself."
Prukop will have no shortage of skill players to work with, including one who hasn't played since November 2014: tight end Pharaoh Brown, who is back at practice after missing the 2015 season following several surgeries to repair a leg injury.
No. 21 TCU
5 of 25
When: Friday, April 1; 8 p.m. ET
TV: None
Unless you live in the Fort Worth area, it's probably not possible to make it out to TCU's spring scrimmage on April 1. And since it's not on TV or being shown online, maybe the best alternative is to pop in a tape of the Horned Frogs' epic comeback to beat Oregon in the Alamo Bowl in January.
TCU is set to return 18 starters from last year's 11-win team, though that includes at least six guys who suffered season-ending injuries during the course of 2015. The Frogs had players dropping like the flies their namesake enjoys eating, though that meant that extra depth was established for this year thanks to the experience gained.
However, the most noteworthy player this spring has been quarterback Kenny Hill, the Texas A&M transfer who sat out 2015 and basically dropped off the map after a hot first half in 2014. If you don't remember “Kenny Trill,” the guy who threw for 511 yards and three touchdowns in A&M's 2014 season-opening win against South Carolina, you will soon enough.
No. 20 Iowa
6 of 25
When: Saturday, April 23; 2 p.m. ET
TV: TBD
Iowa is looking to build off a perfect regular season (and move past a winless postseason), and the foundation for such goals gets started during the spring. Though it's still quite chilly in the upper Midwest, the Hawkeyes are underway in their quest to show 2015 wasn't an anomaly.
"The objectives for spring ball remain pretty much the same as they always are," said coach Kirk Ferentz, heading into his 18th season in charge of the program, per the team's website. "First and foremost, it's a chance to install our system offensively, defensively and special teams-wise. See how the guys do learning skill and technique development is a critical part and something that's ongoing."
The Hawkeyes return 12 starters, including senior quarterback C.J. Beathard, but there are plenty of position battles that will take center stage during the spring game.
No. 19 Washington
7 of 25
When: Saturday, April 23; 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: Pac-12 Network
Washington put its offense in the hands of a pair of true freshmen last year, and after some initial sluggishness, that unit took off down the stretch. As a result, the Huskies won their final three games and have become a trendy dark-horse pick for 2016.
As good as those freshmen looked a season ago, the best thing about them is they become sophomores. The Huskies' spring game will showcase how they've improved since December, and it will also put on center stage an underrated defense that remains the backbone of Chris Petersen's team.
Seven defensive starters return, though Washington does need to find a new playmaker in the middle after linebacker Travis Feeney graduated. A strong candidate (as well as a top name-of-the-year contender) is senior Psalm Wooching.
No. 18 North Carolina
8 of 25
When: Saturday, April 16; 3 p.m. ET
TV: TBD
North Carolina won 10 straight games at one point in 2015, leading it to the ACC Coastal Division title and its first-ever appearance in the conference championship. The Tar Heels lost that game, however, as well as their bowl game, heading into the offseason on a down note.
But hope springs eternal this time of year, and UNC fans will be anxious to see what the future holds for Larry Fedora's program. It got over the hump last fall, but in order for that to continue, it means having veteran quarterback Mitch Trubisky look as good a starter as he was backing up Marquise Williams.
Also worth keeping an eye on: how the defense, which showed major improvement in 2015 but wore down as the season went on, looks in its second year working under coordinator Gene Chizik.
No. 17 USC
9 of 25
When: Saturday, April 16; 6 p.m. ET
TV: Pac-12 Network
In a quirk that only a soap opera-like program such as USC can get away with, Clay Helton will bring 10 games of real-game experience with him into his first spring game in charge of the Trojans. Helton has served as interim coach twice, for the 2013 Las Vegas Bowl and for the final seven games of the regular season last fall before getting named the permanent coach in late November.
He then went on to lose his first two official games as head coach, to Stanford in the Pac-12 title game and to Wisconsin in the Holiday Bowl.
Despite his unusual resume of prior experience, Helton is looking at this spring as a fresh start. He can't help but do so, since USC will have a new quarterback after three seasons guided by Cody Kessler. Longtime backup Max Browne has the inside track on that job, though Sam Darnold figures to see time in the scrimmage as well.
The spring game will also display how defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast (in his second stint at USC) aligns a defense that graduated every starter from the defensive line and just recently lost its most experienced returner—junior tackle Kenny Bigelow—to a torn ACL.
No. 16 Michigan State
10 of 25
When: Saturday, April 23; 3 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
Michigan State is in only its second week of spring ball, but the early results have been promising. Both Damion Terry and Tyler O'Connor have looked good in their quest to replace longtime starting quarterback Connor Cook, and each figures to get his shot at putting up big numbers in the spring game.
The Spartans have also welcomed back several players who suffered season-ending injuries in 2015, most notably safety Jalen Watts-Jackson. He was a relative unknown as a redshirt freshman until he happened to score one of the biggest touchdowns in program history, on the muffed punt at the end of MSU's shocking last-second win at Michigan.
Watts-Jackson suffered a fractured hip in the post-TD celebration, but now healthy again, he can help restock a secondary that graduated two starters.
No. 15 Georgia
11 of 25
When: Saturday, April 16; 4 p.m. ET
TV: ESPNU
Georgia fans expect big things out of new coach Kirby Smart, who they last saw as defensive coordinator of the Alabama team that stifled the Bulldogs last October en route to another national title. And the school is planning on having a huge turnout for Smart's first spring game, with Smart going so far as to demand one.
According to Chip Towers of Dawg Nation, Smart challenged the fanbase during a recent basketball game to reach 93,000 for the G-Day Game. Just under 47,000 attended last year's game at Sanford Stadium, per SB Nation.
"The easiest thing in recruiting is when your fanbase is united and everybody pulling in the same direction," Smart said, per Towers. "That’s what we need, that’s what we want, that’s what we expect to get that done."
As for the on-field product, G-Day will be the first chance to see what true freshman (and presumptive starting quarterback) Jacob Eason looks like. However, don't expect running back Nick Chubb to do much, if anything, as he continues to return from a torn ACL suffered last fall.
No. 14 Stanford
12 of 25
When: Saturday, April 9; 4 p.m. ET
TV: Pac-12 Network
Stanford is one of the finest academic institutions in the world, and its football team often reflects this level of greatness. But that doesn't mean there can't be fun, too, especially during the offseason.
Hence, Stanford's spring game has been moved from the football complex to Cagan Stadium, home of the school's soccer teams, and is part of a festival-like event officially known as "Cardinalpalooza." That also includes competitions by the men's tennis, women's water polo and beach volleyball teams. Such a name might make the normally staunch and reserved David Shaw actually crack a smile, though that probably depends on how the team looks during the scrimmage.
Shaw will be most interested in seeing how his two quarterback candidates fare. Keller Chryst and Ryan Burns are gunning for the job held seemingly forever by Kevin Hogan, the all-time winningest Stanford quarterback, and whoever gets the gig knows he has FBS all-purpose yardage record holder Christian McCaffrey to work with this fall.
No. 13 Louisville
13 of 25
When: Saturday, April 16; 1 p.m. ET
TV: TBD
By the time Louisville's spring workouts wrap up with the end-of-session scrimmage, any diehard fan who lives near the school will have gotten to see plenty of the 2016 version of the Cardinals. The spring game will be the sixth of 15 sessions that coach Bobby Petrino made open to the public.
There are no secrets when it comes to Louisville's makeup this year: There will be a lot of quarterback Lamar Jackson on offense and plenty of an experienced defense that coordinator Todd Grantham has developed into a well-oiled machine the previous two seasons. That unit returns eight starters, including a handful of seniors who decided not to improve their draft stock rather than leave early.
Jackson, one of 10 returning offensive starters, was equal parts electrifying and exasperating last year as a true freshman. When on, he was really good, but he still made plenty of youthful mistakes. In the spring game, he can show just how far he's come.
No. 12 Notre Dame
14 of 25
When: Saturday, April 16; 12:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBC Sports Network
Kizer or Zaire? Zaire or Kizer? One, or both?
Quarterback competitions exist all across college football this spring, but none are as high-profile as the one in South Bend. DeShone Kizer was a redshirt freshman forced into action last September after Malik Zaire broke his ankle, and he performed admirably. But Zaire, who beat out Everett Golson (prompting him to transfer to Florida State) the previous spring, is determined to win back his job.
"You just really wonder what it's going to take to finally convince people enough that I'm able to do the job," Zaire said to the Associated Press. "I don't make the decision. I'm going to keep balling and do what I need to do."
That kind of passion should result in a spirited effort by Zaire during the spring game, and we'll see how Kizer responds. We can also see what progress has been made on retooled offensive and defensive lines, as well as with the Fighting Irish's skill positions, as each lost notable standouts from 2015.
No. 11 Ohio State
15 of 25
When: Saturday, April 16: 1:30 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
The only drama associated with last year's Ohio State spring game was just how many people were going to end up forking over $5 to watch a glorified practice (and a men's lacrosse game!) featuring a scattered selection of players from the reigning national champions. This time around, there's far more intrigue for a Buckeyes team that has to replace 16 starters but is also dealing with plenty of injuries, which has made the spring a tough time to do any meaningful evaluation.
But OSU will probably still challenge its own national record for spring game attendance, set last year when 99,391 people crammed into Ohio Stadium.
J.T. Barrett wasn't able to participate in last year's spring game, as he was still recovering from a broken ankle, though he doesn't need to do much to confirm his place as the team's offensive leader. Who he's handing off to and throwing to, on the other hand, will be far more noteworthy.
Same goes for who Urban Meyer and his staff line up together on defense, as that side of the ball was particularly ravaged by the NFL's siren song.
No. 10 Houston
16 of 25
When: Saturday, April 16; 3 p.m. ET
TV: College Sports Live (online)
Tom Herman only needed one season to bring Houston into the national spotlight, winning 13 games, including the Peach Bowl, in his first year in charge. But despite his penchant for innovation and forward thinking, Herman isn't looking to push aside the Cougars' storied past.
"The connection between our lettermen and our current program is vital to the success of the Houston Cougar Football Program," Herman said, per the school's website. "They built the foundation of our program, and without them, we would not have had the success we had last season."
With that in mind, expect plenty of former Houston players to be in attendance at the spring game, which will be held the day after the program holds its “The Return: Lettermen Under the Lights” event for football alumni.
Fans who check out both events will see the stars of the past one night and then follow that up with the current impressive lineup led by senior quarterback Greg Ward Jr. and a ball-hawking defense that brings six starters back from a group that led FBS with 35 takeaways in 2015.
No. 9 Ole Miss
17 of 25
Ole Miss will continue to hold practice through April 9, but construction on Vaught-Hemingway Stadium eliminated the ability to present a formal spring game. The Rebels are trying to keep a low profile this offseason, despite coming off their first 10-win season since 2003, as they look to replace some notable stars.
The main goal this spring is to shore up the offensive line, which graduated four starters and then had the fifth (and best, left tackle Laremy Tunsil) turn pro after his junior season. Star freshman Greg Little is expected to take over Tunsil's spot, but he isn't one of the eight early enrollees who have been able to participate in spring ball.
That revamped line will be asked to protect senior quarterback Chad Kelly, who rewrote Ole Miss' record book in 2015 with 4,042 passing yards and 41 total touchdowns.
No. 8 Tennessee
18 of 25
When: Saturday, April 16; 2 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
It's been all about maintaining the status quo on Rocky Top this spring. Tennessee knows what works and what doesn't, and with most of its starters back from a 9-4 team (that won its last six games), there's not much need to do a lot of tinkering.
With that in mind, the spring game isn't likely to feature too many wrinkles other than how the defense operates under new coordinator Bob Shoop. Since so many of his charges are veterans, though, he's just as likely to assimilate to their skills as he is to implement new techniques.
"Coach Shoop has brought some different things, some different elements," head coach Butch Jones told 247Sports' Ryan Callahan. "I think also a mentality. The players are constantly in his office. He meets with just about every position group on his own, so he's really built those one-on-one relationships, and the players have a lot of confidence and confidence in him."
One returning starter you won't see in the spring game is senior linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who suffered a shoulder injury early in spring ball.
No. 7 Baylor
19 of 25
When: Saturday, April 2; 1 p.m. ET
TV: None
Baylor has opted to forgo the traditional spring game and instead will let fans check out one of its final practices on Saturday. But at least you can get your picture taken with the Russell Athletic Bowl trophy, which the Bears earned via a bowl-record 645 rushing yards in December's win over North Carolina.
The Baylor team we last saw was one that had to be put together on the fly, the result of injuries to quarterbacks Seth Russell and Jarrett Stidham. Both have participated this spring, though in a limited fashion, with Russell showing no ill effects from a broken neck vertebrae that required surgery, while Stidham looks fully recovered from a broken ankle bone.
With each passer still coming along slowly, the focus this spring has been on developing areas where Baylor was hit by graduation or the NFL draft lure. Only one starter returns on the offensive line, while the defensive front will be all new. Additionally, the Bears are looking for new go-to receivers with the departure of Corey Coleman and Jay Lee.
No. 6 Oklahoma
20 of 25
When: Saturday, April 9; 3 p.m. ET
TV: Fox Sports Oklahoma
It probably won't matter what kind of quirky springtime scoring system Oklahoma uses for its scrimmage, as the offense figures to win going away. That's because the Sooners are loaded on that side of the ball, bringing back quarterback Baker Mayfield and the dangerous rushing duo of Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine, as well as numerous receiving targets, while the defense is in rebuilding mode.
The holes are all over on defense, from the front line (defensive ends Eric Strikers and Charles Tapper graduated) to the linebacker corps and secondary (Dominique Alexander and Zack Sanchez both passed up their senior years for the NFL draft).
In addition to seeing how Oklahoma's new defenders look in a game situation, the spring game will also provide the first glimpse of what potential 2017 starting QB Kyler Murray looks like. The Texas A&M transfer isn't eligible this year, but much like Mayfield in 2014, he has the chance to be the darling of the camp depending on how much work he gets.
No. 5 LSU
21 of 25
When: Saturday, April 16; 4 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
LSU doesn't have a quarterback “competition” this spring as much as it does an assessment. The Tigers want to see continued improvement from junior Brandon Harris but also get the assurance that, if Harris struggles this fall, it can turn to backup Danny Etling without a second thought.
Etling, who sat out 2015 after transferring from Purdue, gives LSU a viable second option that it didn't feel it had last year. Harris took almost every snap, even when he was struggling, with former starter Anthony Jennings rarely seeing the field. Jennings has since announced his transfer from the program.
Expect Harris and Etling to split carries in the spring game, while the touches for the rest of the skills players should also be spread out. Star rusher Leonard Fournette figures not to be used too much, since he's a known quantity, but the returning starters on defense will probably see a fair amount of action as they continue to get comfortable with new coordinator Dave Aranda's approach.
No. 4 Florida State
22 of 25
When: Saturday, April 9; 3 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN3 (online)
Florida State will open the 2016 season against Ole Miss on Labor Day, facing off at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Since its on-campus stadium is undergoing a facelift, the Seminoles figured it couldn't hurt to give themselves (and the fans) a preview of what it will be like to play in Orlando by holding the spring game there.
In an effort to make the game feel as much like one held at Doak Campbell Stadium, FSU is bringing "Osceola and Renegade, cheerleaders and the marching band to Orlando," according to Brendan Sonnone of the Orlando Sentinel. Per Sonnone, the school has sold more than 30,000 tickets to the game.
Those who make the journey from various corners of Florida will see a Seminoles team brimming with young talent. Many of those underclassmen saw action in 2015, but there are also notable newcomers, such as redshirt freshman Deondre Francois and true freshman Malik Henry. Each has benefitted from the absence of likely starting quarterback Sean Maguire, out all spring while recovering from an ankle injury suffered in the Peach Bowl.
No. 3 Michigan
23 of 25
When: Friday, April 1; 6 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
It's so meta of Michigan to hold its spring game on April Fool's Day, since its head coach is a wizard at clowning, spoofing and trolling in addition to being quite proficient at quickly building a contender. However, the game itself doesn't figure to be a laughing matter, since the Wolverines have a lot of questions to answer.
First and foremost, who is going to be the quarterback in 2016? The competition is among Shane Morris, John O'Korn and Wilton Speight, with O'Korn a transfer from Houston who sat out last season. If he wins out, he'd be the Wolverines' second straight transfer to start, following former Iowa passer Jake Rudock last year.
Also worth checking out is how sophomore Jabrill Peppers looks in his latest new position. New defensive coordinator Don Brown, who replaces current Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin, has been giving Peppers snaps at linebacker after he played safety in 2015 and cornerback during his injury-shortened first season.
No. 2 Clemson
24 of 25
When: Saturday, April 9; 2:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN3 (online)
In what should come as no surprise to anyone, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said this week he doesn't expect junior quarterback Deshaun Watson to be with the program beyond this season. Knowing the first passer in FBS history to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 is very likely to turn pro next winter, he's hoping that means Tigers fans will flock to the spring game to get a glimpse of his final out-of-season exhibition.
"I really want to challenge the crowd and fans to show up," Swinney told ESPN's David M. Hale. "It's going to be the last time to see Deshaun Watson, most likely, in a spring game."
Come for the Heisman contender, but stay to see what Clemson is doing to address its dearth of returning starters on defense. The spring game will also provide wide receiver Mike Williams, who missed almost all of last season with a neck injury, a chance to show he's on the path to returning to the form that saw him gain 1,030 receiving yards in 2014.
No. 1 Alabama
25 of 25
When: Saturday, April 16; 3 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
We can say with a strong certainty that the groupings of players that Alabama has on the field throughout its spring game won't closely resemble the starting lineups when the Crimson Tide begin defense of their national title in September. Despite a healthy number of returning players, Nick Saban doesn't consider any job won prior to preseason camp.
A-Day will be more about the newcomers to the program and those looking to rise from reserves to starters than about showing off established stars. It will feature a glimpse into Alabama's third quarterback competition in as many years, though as Bleacher Report's Christopher Walsh noted, "don’t expect Alabama to tip its hand on who that [starter] might be in the near future."
Neither Blake Sims (2014) nor Jake Coker (2015) won the job this far before the season, so the trio of Blake Barnett, Cooper Bateman and David Cornwell will need more than a strong scrimmage showing to become the Tide's next starting passer.
Defensively, there's plenty of interest in how a deep and fairly experienced unit will look under new guidance, with Jeremy Pruitt taking over coordinator duties from Kirby Smart.
Statistics courtesy of CFBStats.com or Sports-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted. Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports, unless otherwise noted.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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