Spring buzz: New coaches, QB battles, breakout candidates, long shot

• Heather Dinich Close Heather Dinich ESPN Elder Writer College football reporter Signed up with ESPN.com in 2007 Graduate of Indiana

• University Adam Rittenberg Close Adam Rittenberg ESPN Elder Author College football reporter. Joined ESPN.com in 2008. Graduate of Northwestern University.May 13,

2024, 07:00 AM ET This spring differed from any other in college

• football.For the very first time in decades, retired Alabama coach Nick Saban wasn’t running a

spring practice. USC, UCLA,

Oregon and Washington were preparing for their very first season in the Big Ten, and Oklahoma and Texas were gearing up for their inaugural season in the SEC. The 16 schools in the Big 12 fulfilled at the Feast Top, the first time they all collected face to face considering that Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah signed up with the league.And for the very first time in the history of college football, the 5 highest-ranked conference champs will make a spot in the new 12-team College Football Playoff, together with the next seven highest-ranked teams.The path to the playoff has actually unofficially started– with brand-new training personnels, quarterback competitors and increasing stars who will replace home names. Here’s all the buzz ESPN college football press reporters Adam Rittenberg and Heather Dinich were hearing this spring: Dive to a section: New coaches|QB fights Breakout players|Playoff buzz Spring football|Longshot contenders|Notes