It’s spring game season in the world of college football with nine Power 4 schools holding an event on Saturday, April 11.
The SEC will take most of the spotlight with four games, including the debut (of sorts) for new Florida coach Jon Sumrall and a quarterback battle at Alabama between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell.
Here’s a look at the top storyline, a position of intrigue and player to watch for each Power 4 game this weekend. Returning leaders and notable additions courtesy of ESPN Research.
Jump to conference:ACC | Big 12 | Big Ten | SEC
SEC
Spring game: 2 p.m. ET
2025 Record: 11-4
Returning leaders
WR Ryan Coleman-Williams: 49 catches, 689 receiving yards, 4 receiving TDs
DB Bray Hubbard: four INT, six PBUs, 79 tackles, 4.5 TFLs
DB Keon Sabb: one INT, three PBUs, 54 tackles, 2.5 TFLs
DB Zabien Brown: two INT, six PBUs, 2.5 TFLs
LB Yhonzae Pierre: 52 tackles, 14.5 TFLs, 8.0 sacks
Notable additions
DL Devan Thompkins: 31 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, one FF (at USC)
DL Terrance Green: 15 tackles, 1.0 TFLs (at Oregon)
IOL Nick Brooks: seven pressures allowed on 118 pass block attempts, 14 blown blocks on 217 total block attempts (at Texas)
EDGE Desmond Umeozulu: 19 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, 1.0 sacks (at South Carolina)
WR Noah Rogers: 441 receiving yards, two receiving TDs (at NC State)
S Jireh Edwards: No. 9 overall recruit and No. 1 safety in SC Next 300
RB Ezavier Crowell: No. 27 overall recruit and No. 3 RB in SC Next 300
OLB Xavier Griffin: No. 29 overall recruit and No. 4 OLB in SC Next 300
CB Jorden Edmonds: No. 37 overall recruit and No. 3 CB in SC Next 300
WR Cederian Morgan: No. 43 overall recruit and No. 7 WR in SC Next 300
QB Jett Thomalla: No. 121 overall recruit and No. 5 Pocket Passing QB in SC Next 300
Spring storyline: After back-to-back so-so seasons to start his Alabama tenure, Kalen DeBoer might need to win big this year. The Tide suffered ugly defeats in two of their last three games in 2025, falling 28-7 to Georgia in the SEC championship game and 38-3 to Indiana in a CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl. The Tide ranked 125th in rushing (104.1 yards) and 111th in sacks allowed (2.13 per game), which led to DeBoer firing offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic. Former NFL offensive line coach Adrian Klemm was hired to replace him, and Bryan Ellis moved from tight ends to quarterbacks coach. Longtime SEC assistant Derrick Nix was hired to coach receivers; former Louisville offensive line coach Richard Owens is now working with the tight ends.
Position of intrigue: If the Tide are going to turn things around, they’ll have to run the ball and protect the quarterback in 2026. It won’t be easy after four of the team’s five starting offensive linemen departed, along with several backups. Right tackle Michael Carroll and left guard William Sanders have experience, and center Racin Delgatty (Cal Poly) and tackle Jayvin James (Mississippi State) played a lot of snaps at their previous schools. Kaden Strayhorn (Michigan) and Nick Brooks (Texas) are other additions who might contribute up front.
Players to watch: With Ty Simpson leaving for the NFL draft, there’s going to be an intriguing quarterback battle between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell. Mack originally signed with Washington and followed DeBoer to Alabama. This will be his fourth season in DeBoer’s offense, so he should know the system well. He attempted 35 passes the past two seasons. Russell was the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2025 and played well in mop-up time in two games as a freshman. — Mark Schlabach
Spring game: Noon ET
2025 Record: 4-8
Returning leaders
RB Jadan Baugh: 1,170 rush yards, eight rush TDs
WR Vernell Brown III: 40 catches, 512 receiving yards
DL Kamran James: 44 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks
EDGE Jayden Woods: 28 tackles, 5.0 TFLs, 3.5 sacks
S Bryce Thornton: 56 tackles, six PBUs, 3.0 TFLs
ILB Myles Graham: 76 tackles, 7.0 TFLs, four PBUs
Notable additions
WR Eric Singleton Jr.: 58 catches, 534 receiving yards, three receiving TDs (at Auburn)
QB Aaron Philo: 373 pass yards, one pass TD (at Georgia Tech)
IOL TJ Shanahan Jr.: 11 blown blocks on 412 total block attempts (at Penn State)
WR Bailey Stockton: 21 catches, 233 receiving yards (at Georgia Tech)
WR Micah Mays Jr.: 18 catches, 302 receiving yards, two receiving TDs (at Wake Forest)
DE JaReylan McCoy: No. 19 overall recruit and No. 3 DE in SC Next 300
ATH Davian Groce: No. 52 overall recruit and No. 2 athlete in SC Next 300
QB Will Griffin: No. 135 overall recruit and No. 6 Pocket Passing QB in SC Next 300
ILB Malik Morris: No. 190 overall recruit and No. 2 ILB in SC Next 300
Spring storyline: Coach Jon Sumrall’s revamped staff. Sumrall has been a head coach for four years, two at Troy and two at Tulane, and he made the conference championship game in all four years, winning the title in three. He knows football, but he also has a great sense of place, as he referenced upon taking the Florida job. “One of my first priorities,” Sumrall said, “will be to assemble an incredible staff, including an offensive coordinator who understands that, at Florida, having an explosive offense isn’t optional — it’s mandatory.”
Position of intrigue: Quarterback. Sumrall talked about how important offense is at Florida, and the Gators have seemingly put pieces in place to give themselves a shot at delivering. Sumrall hired former Georgia Tech offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner and brought in transfer quarterback Aaron Philo, also from Tech. The Yellow Jackets finished No. 12 nationally in total offense with QB Haynes King and felt great about Philo as their backup. The OC/QB transfer duo has worked for teams in the past, and the Gators will give it a go with Faulkner and Philo.
Player to watch: WR Eric Singleton Jr. Singleton transfers from Auburn, but has some crossover with Philo and Faulkner from Georgia Tech. He’s a talented receiver who had a bit of a down year last season after a monster freshman season in 2023 that carried over into 2024 before his transfer to Auburn. He should be a main target for the Gators heading into 2026. — Harry Lyles
Spring game: 10:15 a.m. ET
2025 Record: 5-8
Returning leaders
Notable additions
QB AJ Swann: 1,495 pass yards, 10 pass TDs (at App State)
OL Tyler Miller: redshirt freshman (at LSU)
OL DJ Chester: eight pressures allowed on 157 pass block attempts (at LSU)
S Bralan Womack: No. 49 overall recruit and No. 4 safety in SC Next 300
OLB Micah Nickerson: No. 267 overall recruit and No. 19 OLB in SC Next 300
Spring storyline: Mississippi State’s game against Texas in October encapsulated the potential and reality of the Bulldogs’ 2025 season when a 38-21 fourth-quarter lead in a raucous stadium evaporated and ended with the Longhorns’ backup quarterback delivering the winning score in a 45-38 overtime gut punch. Mississippi State lost seven of its last eight games, with only a 3-point win over Arkansas, which went winless in the SEC. Jeff Lebby lured Mike Leach’s former defensive coordinator — and former MSU head coach — Zach Arnett back to Starkville to try to fix the defense, offering promise alongside an offense that can put up numbers.
Position of intrigue: The Bulldogs’ offensive line struggled last season, allowing 45 sacks, fourth most in the FBS. Eight offensive linemen departed after the season, and Lebby brought in eight new ones, including several from big programs: Tyler Miller and DJ Chester (LSU), Jayvin James (Alabama), Miles McVay (North Carolina), Ja’Elyne Matthews and Mario Nash Jr. (Florida State) and Isaiah Dent (Oklahoma). There’s not a lot of experience up front, but there is a lot of size and potential. How fast they get up to speed will determine how well Lebby’s rebuild goes.
Player to watch: Kamario Taylor, the star freshman, will inherit the starting quarterback role after throwing for 629 yards with five touchdowns last season in spot duty, including finishing third on the team in rushing with 458 yards and having a team-best eight TDs on the ground. Taylor had 173 rushing yards in his first career start, in the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss. — Dave Wilson
Spring game: 2 p.m. ET
2025 Record: 8-5
Returning leaders
LB Arion Carter: 76 tackles, 6.0 TFLs, 1.5 sacks
RB DeSean Bishop: 1,076 rush yards, 16 rush TDs
WR Braylon Staley: 68 catches, 837 receiving yards, six receiving TDs
DB Ty Redmond: 43 tackles, three INTs, 11 PBUs
DL Daevin Hobbs: 30 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks
WR Mike Matthews: 53 catches, 813 receiving yards, four receiving TDs
Notable additions
EDGE Chaz Coleman: eight tackles, three TFLs, 1.0 sacks (at Penn State)
CB Kayin Lee: 31 tackles, one INT, four PBUs (at Auburn)
S TJ Metcalf: 58 tackles, one INT, four PBUs (at Michigan)
LB Amare Campbell: 103 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks (at Penn State)
RB Javin Gordon: 516 rush yards, five rush TDs (at Tulane)
WR Tristen Keys: No. 10 overall recruit and No. 2 WR in SC Next 300
QB Faizon Brandon: No. 14 overall recruit and No. 3 Pocket Passing QB in SC Next 300
WR Tyreek King: No. 60 overall recruit and No. 9 WR in SC Next 300
DE Jordan Carter: No. 64 overall recruit and No. 9 DE in SC Next 300
TE Luca Wolf: No. 251 overall recruit and No. 5 TE-Y in SC Next 300
Spring storyline: There will be plenty of eyes on the quarterback battle after a state judge denied former starter Joey Aguilar’s injunction, which would have given him another season with the Volunteers. But the more pressing work will come on the other side of the ball, where new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles will try to fix a unit that ranked 15th in the SEC in passing defense (244.8 yards) and 14th in total defense (397.2 yards) and scoring defense (28.8 points). Knowles brought two of his assistant coaches from Penn State, as well as four transfers, including linebacker Amare Campbell, edge rusher Chaz Coleman and safety Dejuan Lane.
Position of intrigue: Tennessee’s secondary is getting a complete overhaul, so new co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach Anthony Poindexter is going to have his hands full. The Volunteers brought in seven new defensive backs to shore up the back end of their defense. Auburn transfer Kayin Lee is probably in line to start at one of the cornerback spots, and safeties Qua Moss (Kansas State), TJ Metcalf (Michigan) and DJ Burks (Appalachian State) are potential upgrades.
Player to watch: With Aguilar moving on, freshman George Macintyre is probably the quarterback to beat for the starting job. He was the No. 8 pocket passer coming out of Brentwood Academy in Nashville in the Class of 2025. He played in two games as a freshman and attempted nine passes. Freshman Faizon Brandon was the No. 1 prospect in North Carolina and No. 3 pocket passer in the Class of 2026. — Schlabach
ACC
Spring game: 1 p.m. ET
2025 Record: 8-5
Returning leaders
Notable additions
Spring storyline: Once again, Pitt got off to a strong start last year only to falter at the end of the season, losing three of its last four to put a damper on what was an improved campaign. Pitt has plenty to work with on offense behind second-year quarterback Mason Heintschel, who wowed as a true freshman a year ago. How Pitt puts Heintschel in a better position to succeed will be a big story to watch. After turning heads in his first seven games of the year, defenses started to game plan for him, and he ended throwing just four touchdowns to three interceptions in the final four games. Part of that is because Pitt struggled to run the ball consistently after Desmond Reid got hurt — so getting back to run/pass balance is a huge part of spring.
Position of intrigue: Linebacker. There is no sugarcoating how much production, experience and leadership Pitt lost from its linebacker room between Kyle Louis (NFL draft) and Rasheem Biles (transfer to Texas) — the best linebacker combo in the ACC and one of the best in the country. Louis and Biles were surehanded tacklers, and each had the ability to know where to make a play thanks to their instincts and savvy. The two combined for 179 tackles a year ago, with four interceptions, three forced fumbles and 7.5 sacks. Braylan Lovelace does return to anchor the entire unit, but there will be inexperience here to start spring. Jeremiah Marcelin and Cam Lindsey are expected to jump into starting roles, with DeMarco Ward (Memphis transfer) and Alex Sanford (Purdue transfer) competing as well.
Player to watch: WR Malik Knight. Pitt lost its top two receivers from a year ago in Kenny Johnson (transfer to Texas Tech) and Raphael “Poppi” Williams (NFL). Outside of returning starter Cataurus “Blue” Hicks, Pitt does not have much in the way of production or experience in the receivers room. That is where Knight hopes to make his mark. A transfer from Western Carolina, Knight has 12 career starts, and had 47 catches for 774 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago. With Heintschel leading the offense, it is important to build a solid, reliable receivers group around him, and working together this spring will go a long way toward that. — Andrea Adelson
Spring game: Cancelled due to rain
2025 Record: 4-8
Returning leaders
Notable additions
Spring storyline: There’s a new sheriff in town … again. After a year of interim head coach Frank Reich, a new era begins under former Stanford QB (and Andrew Luck’s backup) Tavita Pritchard. There’s a lot of work to be done, and in truth, 2026 is probably as much about setting a foundation as it is about making a real run at winning the conference. But Pritchard and GM Luck have clear alignment on their vision, so this spring will offer the first real chance for fans to get an idea of exactly what that looks like. On offense, aside from returning tailback Micah Ford, it’s a near complete overhaul, so any step toward certainty is real progress this spring.
Position of intrigue: Tight end. It’s a position where Stanford has routinely churned out stars, including last year’s best offensive weapon in the passing game, Sam Roush. This year, there’s no clear-cut option ready to take over, though Benji Blackburn did get some good experience last year backing up Roush (nine catches, 109 yards and a TD). Three-star freshman Marcus Monroe is set to arrive this summer, but that opens the door for Reiman Zebert and Zach Giuliano — two members of last year’s signing class — to prove their worth this spring. The offense isn’t likely to have a lot of downfield explosiveness, and QB is thin, so having a safety valve at tight end who can turn some short throws into big gains and provide some physical mismatches in the red zone (where Stanford ranked 128th nationally in TD% last year) will be critical if the Cardinal want to maximize their chances this season.
Player to watch: Linebacker Matt Rose. Want a reason for optimism for Stanford in 2026? Rose is the best place to start. There’s not a ton coming back from last year — though, after a seventh straight season winning four games or fewer, that’s not always a bad thing — but Rose is an established star. He finished last season with 106 tackles (eight for a loss) and was one of the most prolific linebackers in the ACC. With so much turnover around him, his leadership will be on display as much as his physical talent. He’s a worthy building block for a team that needs a lot of new faces to develop quickly, and Rose figures to be the lynchpin for a defense that has some upside — along with a lot of question marks. — David Hale
Spring game: 7:30 p.m. ET
2025 Record: 3-9
Returning leaders
Notable additions
Spring storyline: Most conversations about Syracuse’s ability to compete in 2026 will revolve around the health of starting QB Steve Angeli, though the Orange added some intriguing transfers in Malachi Nelson (a former five-star recruit) and Amari Odom from Georgia Southern. The depth at the position offers some security compared to last year, when a walk-on from the lacrosse team ended up starting multiple games. The real question for the Orange this spring instead likely revolves around how much development can happen quickly for the youngsters after coach Fran Brown signed back-to-back strong recruiting classes, including six blue chips in 2026. There’s a lot of talent on this Syracuse roster — but most of it is extremely green. Building around the likes of Demetres Samuel Jr., Javeion Cooper and Antoine Deslauriers offers a strong blueprint for the future. The question is about how quickly that future can arrive.
Position of intrigue: Defensive line. It’s a complete makeover up front on D for the Orange — and that’s probably not a bad thing. Syracuse ranked 100th nationally in non-blitz pressure rate last year, and the D managed just 20 sacks (seven of which came in one game against Pitt), good for 14th in the ACC. In steps a mix of young talent and veteran transfers. Kamron Wilson, Jarius Rodgers and Alexander Haskell are all blue-chip recruits, but it’s rare to see a true freshman step in and immediately contribute big-time production at the line of scrimmage. That puts more emphasis on the impact of Dillan Fontus from Maryland and Tunmise Adeleye from UNLV, among a handful of other returning veterans who need to showcase they’re ready for the big time. Much of Syracuse’s second-half tailspin was credited to the struggles of the QB position, but the defense was a mess, too, and turning things around on that side of the ball is every bit as critical as getting a healthy QB.
Player to watch: Half the fun of getting a healthy Angeli at QB will be seeing what he can do with a supremely talented receiving corps. Syracuse inked its best recruit in decades with five-star Calvin Russell (the No. 4 WR in the country according to ESPN), as well as landing another blue-chip receiver in Amare Gough. Add in established veterans Johnny Cook and Darrell Gill and an emerging crop of tight ends, and Syracuse should have plenty of weapons in the passing game. Russell, however, is the star. He worked with the Orange basketball team this winter in hopes of becoming a two-sport talent, which only goes to underscore his competitiveness and athleticism. A year ago, Samuel went from highly touted freshman to, arguably, Syracuse’s best player. Can Russell do the same in 2026? — Hale
Big 12
Spring game: 3 p.m. ET
2025 Record: 3-9
Returning leaders
Notable additions
Spring storyline: Deion Sanders brought a spotlight to Boulder in a way that has rarely been seen in college football, but now — three years in — it’s fair to start questioning how long he’ll be around. This never felt like a long-term solution for Colorado and after the Buffaloes went just 1-8 in the Big 12 last season — their second one-win conference season in Sanders’ three years — there isn’t much to indicate a major turnaround is on tap. Brennan Marion’s arrival as the offensive coordinator is an interesting addition that could spark some improvement.
Position of intrigue: Offensive line. This unit has been the Achilles’ heel for Colorado for years and with the departure of standout left tackle Jordan Seaton, it will be another rebuilt group. Bo Hughley (Georgia), Demetrius Hunter (Houston) and Jose Soto (Sacramento State) arrived via the portal. Hughley never emerged as a starter.
Player to watch: QB Julian Lewis. If Colorado is going to have the type of bounce-back season it had in 2024, it will have Lewis to thank. The former five-star prospect got his feet wet last season and showed flashes of what might be possible, but he has a long way to go before there should be an expectation for him to play at an all-conference level. The revolving door at quarterback last season was a problem, so having an entrenched starter is a significant development. — Kyle Bonagura
Big Ten
Spring game: Noon ET
2025 Record: 2-10
Returning leaders
Notable additions
Spring storyline: After a winless Big Ten season in 2025, coach Barry Odom is turning to some familiar faces to engineer a Year 2 upgrade in West Lafayette. Quarterback Ryan Browne, who battled through injuries during the second half of the 2025 season, will once again lead the offense. Odom told ESPN he really liked what he saw from Browne before the injuries, as the quarterback eclipsed 200 passing yards in five of his first six games of the 2025 season. Purdue also brought back Kevin Kane, the team’s defensive coordinator in 2023 and 2024, to oversee the defense. Odom and Kane have known each other for years, and Odom credited Kane with helping retain several key defenders through his previous relationships with them.
Position of intrigue: Linebacker. Like many position groups at Purdue, the linebackers will have a different look in Year 2 under Odom. The Boilermakers were aggressive in the portal, adding transfers like Tre Moore (San Diego), Jojo Hayden (Illinois), Anthony Speca (Penn State) and Hudson Miller (Toledo). The 6-foot-4 Moore had six sacks and three forced fumbles last year for San Diego and should help Purdue’s pass rush. Hayden had 26 tackles in 11 games for the Illini last fall, and Miller returned to Purdue, where he started the final five games in 2024 under Kane. Purdue also must develop several holdovers and younger players to create a better defensive midsection this fall.
Player to watch: Wide receiver Xavier Townsend. He’s a fifth-year player who has started games in each of the past four seasons, three at UCF and one at Iowa State. Townsend was a third-team all-conference punt returner as a freshman at UCF, where he had 33 receptions as a sophomore. Although he started only one game at Iowa State and recorded 18 receptions last fall, Odom thinks his skill set and experience will translate well to a Purdue offense that resets at receiver after losing Michael Jackson III, Nitro Tuggle and others. Townsend ran the ball in high school and has a versatile skill set with his returns background that could make him especially useful for offensive coordinator Josh Henson. — Adam Rittenberg
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