College football spring games 2022 — USC, Notre Dame, LSU highlight weekend schedule

The final huge batch of school soccer spring video games for 2022 will give us our first take a look at the seismic shifts wrought by the teaching carousel this offseason.

Lincoln Riley at USC, Brian Kelly at LSU, Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame — to not point out Dan Lanning at Oregon and Brent Venables at Oklahoma — all make their on-field debuts at their new locations of employment this weekend.

As well as, we’ll get a take a look at some outstanding quarterbacks at new faculties — Caleb Williams at USC, Dillon Gabriel at Oklahoma and Cameron Ward at Washington State amongst them.

Listed here are the highest storylines we’ll be watching at this weekend’s video games.

Baylor
1 p.m. ET, ESPN+

What can we count on from 12 months 3 of Dave Aranda?

What was the distinction between 2020, when Baylor went 2-7, and 2021, when the Bears gained the Large 12 with a 12-2 season? Aranda shook up his offensive workers, and together with new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, moved Abram Smith again to operating again after a swap to linebacker, and Smith reeled off 9 100-yard video games and set the single-season faculty speeding report with 1,621 yards. However Smith and one other key again, Tristan Ebner (859 yards speeding, 284 receiving) are gone. The Bears have two succesful quarterbacks combating for the job: Gerry Bohanon (12 begins final yr, 2,200 yards, 18 TDs passing, 9 speeding) and Blake Shapen (two begins, 17 straight completions within the Large 12 title recreation in opposition to Oklahoma State’s stingy protection), so it stays to be seen how that race will shake out. — Dave Wilson

Colorado
3 p.m. ET

Will the Colorado offense present indicators of life?

Solely one of many 130 groups in FBS final season had a worse offense than the Buffs. Averaging solely 18.8 factors and 257.4 yards per recreation, it’s a minor miracle that they gained 4 video games. Head coach Karl Dorrell cleaned home and employed a brand new offensive coordinator in Mike Sanford, in addition to a brand new offensive line coach (Kyle DeVan), new broad receivers coach (Phil McGeoghan) and new tight ends coach (Clay Patterson). Though Colorado returns quarterback Brendon Lewis, it additionally has switch Maddox Kopp from Houston as an choice. Saturday’s spring recreation is the primary alternative for all of them to point out that this upcoming season might be totally different on that facet of the ball. — Paolo Uggetti

LSU
2 p.m. ET, ESPN+/SEC Community+

Finding out a crowded QB competitors

Brian Kelly has plenty of work to do so as to get the Tigers’ roster backfilled after the flood of transfers that hit when Ed Orgeron was fired. However there’s one space the place he is obtained quite a few choices: quarterback. Sure, former starter Max Johnson is now at Texas A&M, and dropping anybody with that a lot expertise is not excellent. However Kelly was in a position to preserve proficient freshman Garrett Nussmeier and pulled former starter Myles Brennan again after he’d entered the switch portal. Then Kelly obtained former Arizona State starter Jayden Daniels late within the cycle. The one downside is the right way to divide the reps amongst three QBs who see themselves as starters. Saturday’s spring recreation ought to present a glimpse within the pecking order. — Alex Scarborough

Notre Dame
1 p.m. ET, Peacock

Marcus Freeman makes his much-anticipated debut

When it was introduced that Marcus Freeman can be the top coach at Notre Dame, a video went viral displaying the gamers celebrating the choice. Freeman relates nicely to gamers and recruits, and has had a easy begin to his tenure. At solely 36, Freeman has an enormous alternative forward of him and all eyes shall be on him and the way his workforce performs this season. He is dropping some vital items from final season, together with security Kyle Hamilton, operating again Kyren Williams, quarterback Jack Coan, receiver Kevin Austin and a handful of others. Freeman has proven what he can do on the recruiting path, getting Notre Dame off to a quick begin, however having an analogous begin on the sector shall be a problem. — Tom VanHaaren

Oklahoma
4 p.m. ET, SoonerSports.TV

How good does Dillon Gabriel look?

After dropping each Caleb Williams and Spencer Rattler to the switch portal, Brent Venables’ first season in cost in Norman will hinge fairly considerably on one other switch: Dillon Gabriel, previously of UCF. The junior lefty has a great deal of expertise within the tempo-heavy assault that coordinator Jeff Lebby possible needs to deploy — Gabriel threw for 8,037 yards and 70 touchdowns over three seasons in Orlando, two of which have been below tempo king Josh Heupel. If he performs at a degree most assume he can, and if he can construct a powerful rapport with Marvin Mims and a few children in a inexperienced OU receiving corps, the Sooners ought to once more be thought-about the favourite within the Large 12. On Saturday, Gabriel will take heart stage, nonetheless briefly. — Connelly

Oklahoma State
2 p.m. ET

On the lookout for some defensive playmakers

After an unbelievable 12-win season and this system’s first top-10 end in a decade, OSU and head coach Mike Gundy are a little bit of a rebuild. The offense returns respectable expertise, however protection drove final yr’s success, and the Pokes are changing not solely defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, but in addition two sure-tackling linebackers and four-fifths of a dynamite secondary. New DC Derek Mason may have a probably unbelievable line to lean on — ends Tyler Lacy, Brock Martin and Collin Oliver are all among the many finest within the league — linebackers Mason Cobb and Kamryn Farrar and corners Jabbar Muhammad and Korie Black are filling huge sneakers. Making an enormous play or two on Saturday (in what is going to evidently be extra like an everyday follow than a spring scrimmage) would possibly assuage some issues heading into the summer season months. — Connelly

Ole Miss
1 p.m. ET, ESPN+/SEC Community+

The Portal King?

Again in late November, issues seemed form of bleak when projecting what Ole Miss’ offense would seem like in 2022. Beginning quarterback Matt Corral was going to the NFL, together with broad receivers Dontario Drummond and operating backs Snoop Conner and Jerrion Ealy. However then coach Lane Kiffin — the self-styled Portal King — hit the switch market in an enormous manner, touchdown former TCU standout operating again Zach Evans and a handful of former Energy 5 pass-catchers in Michael Trigg (USC), J.J. Pegues (Auburn), Malik Heath (Mississippi State) and Jordan Watkins (Louisville). The cherry on prime, after all, was Jaxson Dart, the previous No. 2-ranked pocket passer within the 2021 class who threw 9 touchdowns as a real freshman at USC final season. Whereas there could be a steep studying curve with so many new faces, the expertise to subject one other top-flight offense is definitely in place. — Scarborough

Oregon
4 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Networks

What’s going to Oregon seem like in Dan Lanning’s first spring recreation?

Very similar to USC with Lincoln Riley, the scene in Eugene this Saturday will function plenty of firsts. It’s the first time Oregon and its followers will get a glimpse of the coach they hope doesn’t go away them for one more job, because the final two have. It’s the first time former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix, who like Lanning, left the SEC for the West Coast, will swimsuit up for the Geese. And it’ll even be the primary time Autzen Stadium will see what extremely touted redshirt freshman QB Ty Thompson, who has been taking first-team reps, can do. Lanning brings with him an SEC pedigree and a recruiting fame that kind of obtained him the job. However he is additionally a first-time head coach with huge sneakers to fill, elite gamers to interchange, together with Kayvon Thibodeaux, and inquiries to reply about how he shall be as a CEO of a soccer program that doesn’t need to take a step again. — Uggetti

Penn State
2 p.m., Large Ten Community

Can Penn State discover a operating recreation?

Final season, Penn State ranked fortieth in go touchdowns, 54th in interceptions, a hundred and fifteenth in whole speeding yards and 117th in speeding touchdowns. The run recreation was an issue, and the offense is dropping operating backs Noah Cain, who transferred to LSU, and John Lovett, who has no eligibility remaining. Main rusher Keyvone Lee is returning, and the coaches signed ESPN 300 operating backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, each of whom ought to have a chance to contribute this season. Penn State might want to discover consistency and playmakers on offense to interchange a few of the huge losses from 2021. — VanHaaren

TCU
Friday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN+

Will it’s Max Duggan or Chandler Morris?

Sonny Dykes jumped from the Group of 5 at SMU to a Energy 5 gig by shifting throughout the Metroplex from Dallas to Fort Price, and his plan shall be much like what he used to assist the Mustangs attain new heights: Recruit their yard, be a house for gamers seeking to come again to Texas and play a enjoyable model of soccer. Zach Evans is gone to Ole Miss, however Max Duggan (10 begins final yr, 2,048 yards, 16 TDs, 6 INTs) and Chandler Morris (461 yards passing, 70 speeding in first profession begin in opposition to Baylor final season) each return. Gary Patterson’s legendary 4-2-5 protection is gone, and new coordinator Joe Gillespie, who impressed at Tulsa, has instituted a 3-3-5 that the Frogs hope will shore up a gaggle that allowed 34.9 factors per recreation throughout final yr’s 5-7 season. — Wilson

Texas
7 p.m. ET, Longhorn Community

All eyes are on Quinn Ewers

Texas’ protection would be the supply of a lot consternation for followers this season, and former TCU coach Gary Patterson got here on board as a particular assistant this offseason after the Longhorns ranked one centesimal nationally in 2021. However it is a spring recreation, and followers shall be desperate to see how Steve Sarkisian’s offense appears in 12 months 2. Bijan Robinson is again after a season-ending harm, and there is a new broad receiver in switch Isaiah Neyor (878 yards, 12 TDs on 20.0 yards per catch final yr at Wyoming) to pair with breakout freshman star Xavier Worthy. However the primary draw is the quarterback battle between Ohio State switch Quinn Ewers, one of many prime prospects within the nation popping out of highschool, and Hudson Card, who gained final yr’s battle over Casey Thompson within the fall, however ended up beginning solely two video games, passing for 590 yards with 5 touchdowns and one interception. — Wilson

Texas Tech
1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+

A jolt of enthusiasm for Texas Tech

New coach Joey McGuire has constructed pleasure across the Crimson Raiders program, together with a recruiting windfall that at present ranks among the many finest nationally. However there’s additionally cause for enthusiasm with the return of Zach Kittley, the offensive coordinator who started his teaching profession as a volunteer assistant below Kliff Kingsbury earlier than operating a few of the nation’s finest offenses at Houston Baptist and Western Kentucky (535 yards per recreation final yr, 63 passing TDs). The Crimson Raiders will put up factors regardless of who wins the quarterback race between Tyler Shough and Donovan Smith. However as all the time, the protection would be the key. New coordinator Tim DeRuyter, who has overseen defenses at Texas A&M, Cal and Oregon lately, performs an attacking 3-4 scheme that can get after quarterbacks, however may hand over huge performs. On Saturday, we’ll see simply how aggressive the Crimson Raiders look on each side. — Wilson

UCLA
Midday ET, Pac-12 Community

Chip Kelly and Dorian Thompson-Robinson trip once more

For so long as Kelly has coached the Bruins, Thompson-Robinson — give or take a couple of snaps, accidents and video games — has quarterbacked them. Within the midst of what has been a fairly mediocre stretch for UCLA soccer, the 2 are again this season, and the flashes that they’ve proven are tantalizing sufficient to surprise if they’ll accomplish greater than they’ve since 2018. They’re going to be relying on junior operating again Zach Charbonnet to assist, however should discover new targets for Thompson-Robinson. On the defensive facet of the ball, there’s loads to show beginning Saturday. Kelly has a brand new defensive coordinator, by means of the NFL, in Invoice McGovern. The previous New York Giants linebackers coach is one among a handful of recent hires Kelly made to improve his workers after a season that left him hovering over the new seat. — Uggetti

USC
3 p.m. ET, ESPN

It is lastly time for Lincoln Riley’s (and Caleb Williams’) USC debut

Any sweeping declarations about this much-discussed USC workforce should wait till the autumn, however for now, we lastly get to see a glimpse of what Riley, Williams and the remainder of USC’s revamped program has been engaged on the previous couple of months. Riley mentioned Tuesday that the Trojans will “be good” about what they present throughout a nationally broadcast spring recreation that shall be offense vs. protection, not two full squads. Williams, for his half, mentioned that he is loved the truth that USC has led to totally different challenges than Oklahoma, together with performing as a second coach on the sector. Past the headliners, USC has a slew of transfers who shall be seen for the primary time Saturday, together with former Alabama linebacker Shane Lee, who has already grow to be a signal-caller for the protection. — Uggetti

Utah
2 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Community

The Utes start their title protection as Pac-12 favorites

In accordance with ESPN’s FPI, Utah is the one workforce within the Pac-12 that has a greater than 0.1% likelihood of creating the nationwide title recreation. In addition they have by far the very best odds to make the playoffs at 4.9%. That is all to say that although the Utes misplaced some key starters on protection, the dynamic Britain Covey and some essential offensive linemen, what this workforce is bringing again, not simply in personnel however when it comes to tradition and continuity (particularly on offense), is sufficient to put them on the head of the convention. Kyle Whittingham mentioned this week that he’ll use the spring recreation to get plenty of new gamers reps as they work to keep up what Utah had final season — a top-30 protection and essentially the most full offense within the convention. “It is actually for the blokes who have not had a lot time at this degree and to see how they react,” Whittingham mentioned. — Uggetti

Virginia
4 p.m. ET, ACC Community

What’s going to new head coach Tony Elliott’s offense seem like?

Brennan Armstrong ranked No. 2 within the nation in whole yards a yr in the past with 4,700, and now that he’s again for one more season, first-year coach Tony Elliott and offensive coordinator Des Kitchings perceive the Cavaliers want to regulate their method so as to be extra profitable. Which means establishing the bottom recreation with operating backs, and being much less reliant on Armstrong scrambling round to make performs occur. (Armstrong led the workforce with 98 carries and 9 speeding touchdowns a yr in the past.) We might not get plenty of solutions within the spring recreation, as Virginia is down to 2 scholarship operating backs due to harm, and the offensive line is a piece in progress with new starters throughout the board. However Armstrong has proven development as a passer, and with a proficient and deep receiver group returning, discovering a operating recreation that’s constant and efficient will assist not solely Armstrong however your complete offense. — Andrea Adelson

Washington State
6 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Community

What’s going to Cameron Ward do for Wazzu?

Jake Dickert’s first season as full-time head coach at Washington State options one of many extra thrilling issues a school soccer program can have: a quarterback with some hype to his title. Cameron Ward comes from Incarnate Phrase, the place he and new Wazzu offensive coordinator Eric Morris broke information and crammed spotlight reels. Although Ward has already performed loads of impressing in the course of the Cougars’ spring practices, Saturday would be the first time his potential shall be on full show. There’s plenty of work to be performed for Washington State to completely recuperate from final season’s curler coaster, however retaining Dickert and getting Ward to return to Pullman (with assist from an NIL) has been an enormous step in making a constructive outlook for this system. — Uggetti

West Virginia
2 p.m. ET, ESPN+

How does the secondary look?

The most important information for West Virginia this spring got here off the sector, when Georgia switch quarterback JT Daniels picked Morgantown for his house this coming fall. However he hasn’t formally signed but and will not be on the sector Saturday, so we’d not get a very correct impression of the Mountaineers’ offense. We are able to start to study issues in regards to the protection, nonetheless: Whereas the entrance six returns fairly a little bit of veteran expertise, the secondary obtained waylaid by attrition, dropping six of final yr’s prime seven gamers. Veteran nook Charles Woods and redshirt freshmen Aubrey Burks and Andrew Wilson-Lamp are amongst those that shall be requested to tackle main accountability this fall, and Saturday can be a fairly good time for them to point out out. — Connelly