Kevin Wilson got Indiana rolling, leading the perennial Big Ten doormat to back-to-back bowl games. New head coach Tom Allen plans to keep the Hoosiers rolling, preferably to their first winning season in a decade. He inherits a roster with enough veteran talent to remain on course in Bloomington in 2017.
It’s a critical year for Kevin Sumlin … again. And Texas A&M is trying to move beyond 8-5 … again. The Aggies, seemingly stuck in neutral since Johnny Manziel left College Station, spent a big part of spring practice breaking 10 new starters into the lineup, including at quarterback … yup, again.
With Mississippi State's spring practice in the books, here's what we know and what we learned about the Bulldogs.
Mental focus and discipline will be tantamount to a turnaround at Ole Miss this season. The Rebels are coming off a dismal 5-7 campaign, learning new systems on both sides of the ball and dealing with the protracted NCAA investigation. Oh, and any hope of returning to the postseason ended when the school self-imposed a one-year bowl ban on Feb. 22.
TCU travelled in reverse in 2016, going 6-7 after winning 23 combined games in the previous two seasons. The Horned Frogs are determined to return to Big 12 contention in 2017, which will require more consistency from the passing game and the defense. The long journey to the Sept. 2 opener with Jackson State continued with this spring’s 15 practice sessions.
Oklahoma will begin 2017 with the usual target slapped on its chest, favored to win a third straight Big 12 title and return to the playoffs after falling short a year ago. But there are holes to be filled on both sides of the line, common for programs that perennially send so many alums to the NFL. The Sooners spent spring ball taking the first steps toward fleshing out a retooled two-deep.
Iowa State is a very different team than it was at this time last year, Matt Campbell’s first in Ames. There’s more confidence, continuity and overall depth. But will it be enough to catapult from 3-9 in 2016 to the Cyclones’ first bowl game in five years? That’s the goal for a squad with the offensive upside to emerge as a Big 12 sleeper in 2017.
Hiring Jeff Brohm away from Western Kentucky was a winning move by Purdue. But how long will it take for the new coach to deliver the kind of improvements that predecessor Darrell Hazell couldn’t in three-plus seasons? Spring drills afforded the new staff a chance to assess its inherited personnel to determine the most immediate need areas entering 2017.
This is Pat Fitzgerald’s 12th team at Northwestern, proof that time does fly by. It could be one of his best. In fact, if the Wildcats can adequately plug holes at wide receiver and linebacker this offseason they’re talented enough to duke it out with the likes of Wisconsin and Iowa in the competitive Big Ten West Division.
With North Carolina's spring practice in the books, here's what we know and what we learned about the Tar Heels as we head into summer drills.
With Wake Forest’s spring practice in the books, here’s what we know and what we learned about the Demon Deacons as the offseason continues.
With Florida State’s spring practice in the books, here’s what we know and what we learned about the Seminoles as the offseason continues.
With Florida’s spring practice in the books, here’s what we know and what we learned about the Gators as the offseason continues.
With Clemson’s spring practice in the books, here’s what we know and what we learned about the Tigers as the offseason continues.
With BYU’s spring practice in the books, here’s what we know and what we learned about the Cougars as the offseason continues.