Last week, we touched on key players who did not enter the transfer portal from each Way-Too-Early Top 25 team. This week, we take a look at the biggest questions that loom for each team that made the list ahead of next season. Will the portal pick-ups for these teams pay off? How will big-name recruits play out in the spotlight? Will offseason changes hold back certain teams?
Here are our writers discuss the biggest spring questions for each team.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
Who will earn the starting quarterback position?
Quarterback Will Howard exceeded all expectations when he transferred from Kansas State for his final season. In the College Football Playoff, Howard posted a QBR of 97.2 while completing 75.2% of his passes, as Ohio State won its first national championship in a decade. Freshman Julian Sayin enters the spring as the favorite to replace Howard. Sayin, who transferred to Ohio State from Alabama after coach Nick Saban's retirement, was a top 10 overall recruit last year. He has the talent -- and star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith to throw to -- to keep the Ohio State offense rolling. But Sayin will have to fend off another talented passer, true freshman Tavien St. Clair, who was a top 10 overall recruit in this class, to ultimately win the job. -- Jake Trotter
2. Texas Longhorns
Will the new defensive tackles be able to fill the shoes of former players at the position?
For the past two years, Texas has had a luxury at defensive tackle, a rarity in the portal era. In the 2024 NFL draft, Byron Murphy II went No. 16 to the Seattle Seahawks and T'Vondre Sweat was picked No. 38 by the Tennessee Titans while Vernon Broughton (6-foot-4, 305 pounds) and Alfred Collins (6-5, 320 pounds) slid right into their places. But those two are gone, along with four other defensive linemen who departed via the portal. The Longhorns backfilled by adding 6-3, 333-pound Cole Brevard from Purdue, 6-5, 330-pound Travis Shaw from North Carolina and Ohio State transfer Hero Kanu, at 6-5, 305 pounds. They've also added one of the nation's best recruits in Justus Terry, the No. 2 defensive tackle in the 2025 ESPN 300 and No. 8 overall prospect. Texas has veteran edge rushers in breakout star Colin Simmons, Trey Moore and Ethan Burke, but the big D-tackles have made Texas one of the toughest teams to run against, and has allowed linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. to roam free as a playmaker. A restocked middle of the line will keep the Longhorns dangerous up front. -- Dave Wilson
3. Penn State Nittany Lions
How will new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles fare in his first season at Penn State?
Penn State's defense has had good coordinator transitions under coach James Franklin, most recently from Brent Pry to Manny Diaz to Tom Allen. The switch from Allen to Jim Knowles, whom Penn State swiped from Big Ten rival and reigning national champion Ohio State, is expected to be just as smooth but remains a notable question entering the spring. Knowles showed at Ohio State that he could not only craft strong schemes, but can maximize the talents of elite players. He must do the same for a Penn State defense losing Abdul Carter, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and other standouts such as safety Jaylen Reed. But Penn State returns Dani Dennis-Sutton, linebacker Dominic DeLuca, safety Zakee Wheatley and others. If Knowles can maintain or elevate the defense's trajectory, Penn State should be a legitimate national title contender. -- Adam Rittenberg
4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Who will start at quarterback for the Fighting Irish?
In each of the past two seasons, Notre Dame has gone into the portal for a veteran QB. So far, the Irish look more than happy to ride with the players they have returning, which makes for a particularly intriguing storyline this spring. Steve Angeli is the veteran, with 80 pass attempts and one start under his belt, but he's hardly the clear-cut favorite. In fact, the name getting the most buzz is redshirt freshman CJ Carr, who has a world of talent and is seen as the option with the most upside. Then there's third-year QB Kenny Minchey and true freshman Blake Hebert, who'll at least get a shot to make an impression. In the past decade, Notre Dame has had a handful of seasons in which multiple QBs had playing time (2015, 2018) but 2022 was the last true spring QB competition without an incumbent on the roster. Perhaps not coincidentally, it was also the only year since 2017 in which the Irish didn't win 10 games. -- David Hale
5. Georgia Bulldogs
Can the new Bulldogs' pass catchers solve their dropped passes issue?
From struggling to run the ball to games with multiple interceptions to failing on third-down conversions, Georgia's offense had myriad problems in 2024. But no issue received as much attention as dropped passes -- the Bulldogs had more than any other team in a Power 4 conference. It put Georgia behind the chains too many times and killed promising drives. The Bulldogs addressed the problem by adding two proven receivers from the transfer portal: USC's Zachariah Branch and Texas A&M's Noah Thomas. Thomas, 6-6 and 210 pounds, gives Georgia a red-zone target. Colbie Young, another big target, is expected to be available after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct on Jan. 29 to resolve a domestic violence case. The Bulldogs also need Dillon Bell to reach his full potential, and Nitro Tuggle and Sacovie White to continue to develop as reliable pass catchers. Freshman C.J. Wiley, a Georgia native, has also turned heads in his first couple of months on campus after enrolling in January. -- Mark Schlabach
6. Oregon Ducks
Can Dante Moore begin to live up to the success of the Ducks' previous two quarterbacks?
Under Dan Lanning, Oregon has found success in becoming a final stop for transfer quarterbacks and turning them into Heisman contenders. First, it was Bo Nix, then it was Dillon Gabriel; now it's hoping it can do the same with Moore. But his case is a little different. Moore is younger and has spent only one season at a different program (freshman year at UCLA) while also spending last year under the tutelage of Gabriel and offensive coordinator Will Stein. With Gabriel gone, it's now Moore's time to shine. With the Bruins, the former five-star recruit struggled but showed enough flashes to prove his talent could translate to the next level. A year spent watching Gabriel and learning the Ducks' offense should have done wonders for his development and Stein has been adamant that his offensive philosophy is malleable depending on the kind of quarterback he has. On paper, Moore should have a breakout season, but just how the Ducks utilize and build the unit around him to maximize success remains to be seen. -- Paolo Uggetti
7. Clemson Tigers
How does running back shape up?
Clemson might rank No. 1 in the country in returning offensive production with Cade Klubnik and all of his top receivers coming back, but running back is a key area that needs some answers this spring. Starter Phil Mafah and his 1,115 yards are gone to the NFL. His backup Jay Haynes remains out indefinitely after injuring his knee in the ACC championship game. That leaves Keith Adams Jr -- with 30 carries for 122 yards last season -- as the most productive running back returning. To address this, Clemson is trying out 6-2, 225-pound receiver Adam Randall at running back this spring after he contributed there in the College Football Playoff loss to Texas. Clemson also has true freshman Gideon Davidson, the player of the year in Virginia who enrolled early and is practicing, and will continue to take a look at Jarvis Green and David Eziomume. -- Andrea Adelson
8. LSU Tigers
What changes will be made to LSU's offensive line?
The Tigers are faced with replacing four of their five starters on the offensive line, including tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr., who won't have to wait long to hear their names called in the NFL draft next month. DJ Chester returns at center, but he's likely to end up shifting to another position up front, probably guard. In other words, the spring will be a time for LSU to look at a couple of different combinations in what will be a retooled offensive line in 2025. Tyree Adams earned some key experience in the bowl game after stepping in at left tackle when Campbell opted out, and an integral part of the Tigers' talented transfer portal class were the additions of Northwestern's Josh Thompson, who can play tackle or guard, and Virginia Tech's Braelin Moore, who can play guard or center. It's also a big spring for sophomore tackle Weston Davis, who was a five-star recruit a year ago but played only 20 snaps. He's probably the favorite to earn the starting right tackle spot. -- Chris Low
9. BYU Cougars
Where is the depth?
With several key players back from a team that went 11-2 in 2024, BYU finds itself in an enviable spot this spring. It has quarterback Jake Retzlaff coming back with one of the best defenses in the country and a solid group of skill players on offense. The Cougars will head into 2025 with some of their highest expectations in years. The key now is development. If they can elevate some roles or reserve players from last year to be key contributors, then there is every reason to believe this is a team that will compete for a playoff spot. -- Kyle Bonagura
10. South Carolina Gamecocks
Can LaNorris Sellers hit another level and lift the Gamecocks to true SEC and playoff contention?
Sellers earned the nickname "Superman" while he emerged as one of college football's breakout stars last fall, charging South Carolina to only its sixth nine-win season since 1984 and vaulting the Gamecocks within spitting distance of the 12-team CFP field. He closed his first season as a starter with 3,208 total yards and 25 touchdowns, and Sellers played his best football when the Gamecocks did in 2024, shining across a six-game win streak to close the regular season. South Carolina will look for Sellers to improve his downfield accuracy and cut down on turnovers as a second-year starter. And the next steps in his development might also hinge on the players around him, too, as the Gamecocks work to replace running back Rocket Sanders with a handful of new starters on the offensive line. But if Sellers returns as a more refined version of the player he was in 2024, South Carolina will enter the fall with a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender and a quarterback capable of potentially carrying the program to its first playoff appearance. -- Eli Lederman
11. Iowa State Cyclones
How can the Cyclones replace Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel?
We're talking about a pair of receivers that both had at least 80 catches and went for over 1,100 yards last season. They brought in Chase Sowell (East Carolina) and Xavier Townsend (UCF) to help shore up production, but it's probably unrealistic to expect receiver play to be at the level it was with Higgins and Noel paired up last season. Still, this is a team that has had a winning record in seven of coach Matt Campbell's eight seasons. He has shown he can turn over a roster and continue to win games. -- Bonagura
12. Alabama Crimson Tide
Who can step up at running back next season?
Alabama finished sixth in the SEC in rushing offense last season, but quarterback Jalen Milroe was easily the most dynamic component of the Crimson Tide's running game. With Milroe off to the NFL and Justice Haynes transferring to Michigan, one of the priorities will be figuring out the pecking order at running back and identifying at least two or three backs new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb can be comfortable with in returning the position to a more traditional role. Jam Miller is Alabama's leading returning rusher and perhaps this is his season to break out, but it was tough sledding for him down the stretch a year ago. He averaged just 3.5 yards per carry and didn't rush for any touchdowns in his final five games. Behind him, there is very little SEC experience. This will be Richard Young's third year on campus. He was hampered by injuries last season. Louisiana transfer Dre'lyn Washington is another player to watch, along with 6-foot, 205-pound freshman Akylin Dear, ranked by ESPN as the nation's No. 2 running back prospect in the 2025 class. -- Low
13. Illinois Fighting Illini
Who will be quarterback Luke Altmyer's primary passing targets this fall?
The exciting thing for Illinois is that its roster and coaching staff don't change dramatically after a season that resulted in 10 wins and a No. 16 AP poll finish. As coach Bret Bielema told me, "The best thing for us is our best players are back." But one position Illinois must replenish is wide receiver, as All-Big Ten standout Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin both depart after combining for 1,636 receiving yards and 109 receptions in 2024. Illinois returns Hank Beatty and Collin Dixon, who finished third and fourth on the team in receptions last fall, and also added transfers Hudson Clement (West Virginia) and Justin Bowick (Ball State). Illinois' overall offensive numbers last fall weren't eye-popping, but Altmyer's return under coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. could lead to a spike. -- Rittenberg
14. Arizona State Sun Devils
Without Cam Skattebo, where does the offensive production come from?
It's hard to overstate how important Skattebo was to the Sun Devils during their surprising run to the College Football Playoff. The guy did it all. He ran for over 1,700 yards with another 605 receiving. There isn't a like-for-like replacement who can make up for his loss. So, this spring, ASU will set out to make up for his departure. Quarterback Sam Leavitt's return gives ASU an established winner at quarterback and running back Kyson Brown showed flashes last season that he can be a dangerous player. -- Bonagura
15. SMU Mustangs
Who will be Kevin Jennings primary passing target next season?
Perhaps SMU fans would like a little reassurance on Jennings at quarterback after a disastrous playoff performance (and five turnovers in his final two games), but the Mustangs still have one of the best QBs in the conference, regardless of how 2024 ended. The bigger question is just who Jennings will be distributing the ball to in 2025. Gone are three of his top four wide receivers, his most productive tight end and star tailback Brashard Smith. But that doesn't mean there's a lack of talent. Tight end RJ Maryland returns from injury, along with blue-chip recruits Daylon Singleton and Jalen Cooper at receiver, and a handful of last year's backups -- former Texas A&M back LJ Johnson Jr., former Miami wide receiver Romello Brinson -- who'll have a chance to make a bigger impact. It took SMU a few games last season to really find its stride offensively, but identifying the foundation of the upcoming season's unit needs to be a priority coming out of spring. -- Hale
16. Kansas State Wildcats
How can the offensive line keep steady following a lot of change?
Kansas State's consistency is enviable in the topsy-turvy Big 12 and a big part of that has been because of its offensive line. Last season, the Wildcats lost four of their five starters and still gave up the 10th-fewest sacks nationally at one per game, while ranking 11th nationally in rushing offense at 215.5 yards per game. But the Wildcats lost offensive line coach Conor Riley to the Dallas Cowboys, and lost both tackles to graduation and the portal. They added one of the best tackles in the portal, Ohio State's George Fitzpatrick, along with Brandon Sneh of Wagner and guard Amos Talalele of USC. The Wildcats' offensive machine doesn't lack star power with Avery Johnson at QB and Dylan Edwards, who was last seen running for a school bowl record 196 yards and two TDs in a win against Rutgers, in his first game as the featured back. But it'll need the big guys up front to keep it humming. -- Wilson
17. Indiana Hoosiers
How can Indiana improve its line-of-scrimmage play?
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza's arrival from Cal to replace NFL-bound Kurtis Rourke will generate attention, but the performance change there doesn't figure to be dramatic one way or the other. Indiana's line-of-scrimmage play propelled the team to a 10-0 start and a historic 2024 season, but it also showed cracks in losses to Ohio State and Notre Dame. Both the offensive and defensive lines will be replacing key players such as Mike Katic and CJ West, but both groups also return key players, including All-Big Ten defensive lineman Mikail Kamara and left tackle Carter Smith. The offensive line also added notable transfers Pat Coogan, who started for Notre Dame during its CFP run, as well as Zen Michalski (Ohio State) and Kahlil Benson (Colorado). Indiana's staying power as a good to very good program under coach Curt Cignetti hinges on avoiding line drop-offs. The new-look offensive line, in particular, must come together this spring. -- Rittenberg
18. Florida Gators
Can Florida convert its late-season surge into contention among the upper half of the SEC in 2025?
The Gators reshaped the arch of Billy Napier's third season -- and his broader tenure in Gainesville -- with four consecutive victories to close 2024, including ranked wins over LSU and Ole Miss. The Gators' win streak coincided with the emergence of former five-star passer DJ Lagway, who returns in 2025 as one of the nation's most promising young quarterbacks. Lagway will operate this fall alongside 2024 breakout running back Jadan Baugh and behind an experienced offensive line, while Florida's talented and young defense is tasked with replacing leading tacklers Shemar James, Trikweze Bridges and Jack Pyburn under the new leadership of co-coordinators Ron Roberts and Vinnie Sunseri. The departures of top pass catchers Chimere Dike and Elijah Badger leave the Gators also searching for new production at wide receiver in 2025. Whether Florida can get similar output from Eugene Wilson III (returning from hip surgery) or freshmen Vernell Brown III, Dallas Wilson and Naeshuan Montgomery, stands as one of the central questions as the Gators attempt to build on last season's finish as it faces the nation's second-toughest schedule in 2025, per ESPN's Bill Connelly. -- Lederman
19. Tennessee Volunteers
What does Nico Iamaleava and the Vols' wide receivers need to work on ahead of the fall?
There will be a lot of eyes on Iamaleava at quarterback as he enters his third year on campus, in particular whether he can put up more impressive numbers in the passing game. In Tennessee's three losses last season, Iamaleava never threw for more than 170 yards and was held without a touchdown pass. In the final two losses of the season to Ohio State and Georgia, he didn't have a completion longer than 21 yards. But it's not all on Iamaleava. He's going to need more help in 2025 from his receivers, and four of his top five pass catchers from last season are gone. Former five-star signee Mike Matthews, after initially entering the transfer portal in the winter, is back and a popular choice to be one of college football's top breakout players next season. The Vols will need him to be after he caught only seven passes as a freshman. Chris Brazzell II, who transferred last year from Tulane, is the only returning wide receiver on the roster who had more than 100 receiving yards last season. Braylon Staley, now in his second year on campus, will get a big opportunity to move up the depth chart this spring along with Alabama transfer Amari Jefferson and incoming freshmen Radarius Jackson and Travis Smith Jr. -- Low
20. Louisville Cardinals
What's the status of the secondary?
Too often last year, Louisville's talented defensive backs got burned. This year, the unit will feature a plethora of new faces, with three-quarters of last year's starters out the door (along with top backups at corner). Louisville went heavy in the portal, identifying what the Cardinals hope are diamonds from lower levels, including Jacksonville State's Jabari Mack, Florida International's JoJo Evans, Louisiana's Justin Agu and Southern's Rodney Johnson Jr. Are those additions ready for the step up in class? A spring against an explosive offense led by Miller Moss, Caullin Lacy & Co. ought to be a good first test. -- Hale
21. Michigan Wolverines
Will Bryce Underwood be ready to start right away?
Underwood is the most hyped incoming freshman in the country following his high-profile (and high-dollar) commitment flip from LSU to Michigan. The No. 1 overall recruit of the 2024 class, Underwood gives the Wolverines a tantalizing talent at quarterback a year after Michigan cycled through three quarterbacks (Davis Warren, Alex Orji and Jack Tuttle), who posted a combined QBR (48.5) that ranked 15th in the Big Ten. Underwood will have every opportunity to win the starting job. But the Wolverines also added Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene, who has thrown for 8,245 yards and 65 touchdowns in his career, to bridge the gap if Underwood isn't ready yet. -- Trotter
22. Texas A&M Aggies
What exactly will Collin Klein's offense look like?
In his first season in College Station, Klein navigated an offensive line that had struggled previously but improved. Conner Weigman returned from injury, then struggled, was benched and transferred to Houston as Marcel Reed took over at quarterback, and running back Le'Veon Moss was leading the SEC in rushing yards before he sustained a season-ending injury, with Rueben Owens missing all but two games last season. They both return along with Amari Daniels. But Noah Thomas, the Aggies' leading receiver with 39 catches for 574 yards, departed for Georgia, a blow to a passing attack that ranked 87th last season nationally. The Aggies brought in transfers Kevin "KC" Concepcion (NC State), Micah Hudson (Texas Tech), Mario Craver (Mississippi State) and Jonah Wilson (Houston) for a makeover at the position, and also added tight end transfers Amari Niblack (Texas), Micah Riley (Auburn) and Nate Boerkircher (Nebraska). -- Wilson
23. Miami Hurricanes
How will the revamped defense look?
It is no secret the Miami defense let the team down after a stellar season from quarterback Cam Ward. Look no further than the regular-season finale against Syracuse, in which Miami gave up 42 points and lost its chance to play for an ACC championship. Coach Mario Cristobal fired defensive coordinator Lance Guidry and hired Corey Hetherman from Minnesota to lead the defense. The Hurricanes also hit the transfer portal hard to help their beleaguered secondary, adding three highly rated players in Charles Brantley (Michigan State), Zechariah Poyser (Jacksonville State) and Ethan O'Connor (Washington State). The three combined for 12 interceptions last season. Brantley was a three-year starter and will be counted on to lead. Miami also signed Emmanuel Karnley (Arizona) to help add depth. -- Adelson
24. Boise State Broncos
How will Boise State begin to replace Ashton Jeanty's production?
There is no easy or simple way to plug and play any one running back to replace Jeanty and the historic season he had last season. Jambres Dubar and Sire Gaines probably will share the load at running back, but the Broncos' offense might need to rely more on returning quarterback Maddux Madsen. With Jeanty as the focal point of the offense, Madsen game-managed his way through the season well and showed flashes of his potential toward the back end of Boise's dream season. He finished with over 3,000 passing yards and 23 touchdowns, but now that Jeanty's gone, it's likely that Madsen will need to make an even bigger leap and become the offensive leader for the Broncos, whose new offensive coordinator, Matt Miller, was also previously the team's passing game coordinator. Spring ball will be the first tell on whether Boise starts to shift more to a pass-first offense. -- Uggetti
25. Ole Miss Rebels
Will Lane Kiffin's portal pick-ups pay off?
Kiffin has brandished his reputation as college football's "Portal King," and his ability to build through the transfer portal will be put to the test again. Ole Miss furnished a 2024 playoff contender with 25 transfers, led by eventual first-team All-SEC defenders Walter Nolen, Princely Umanmielen and Trey Amos. All three are gone, but Ole Miss still holds the foundation of a dominant defensive line between returners Suntarine Perkins and Zxavian Harris. Alongside them, the Rebels turned to the portal again to reinforce their defense, bringing in edge rushers Princewill Umanmielen (Nebraska) and Da'Shawn Womack (LSU), linebacker Jaden Yates (Marshall) and a collection of defensive backs in Antonio Kite (Auburn), Sage Ryan (LSU), Jaylon Braxton (Arkansas) and Kapena Gushiken (Washington State). Wide receivers Harrison Wallace III (Penn State) and De'Zhaun Stribling (Oklahoma State) and tight end Luke Hasz (Arkansas) lead a cast of seven new pass catchers around quarterback Austin Simmons, a redshirt sophomore who is set to fill the shoes of three-year starter Jaxson Dart. Transfer offensive linemen Patrick Kutas (Arkansas) and Delano Townsend (UAB) should both slot into starting roles for Ole Miss, where offseason transfer turnover has become the norm. -- Lederman