25 X-factors heading into the college football season

The Wildcats surprised many by finishing No. 12 in the AP Poll last season, and a lot of that can be credited to the downhill running of Benjamin Snell Jr. With Snell departing to the NFL, there is a 1,500-yard hole in production to fill. Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops will most likely look to Asim Rose to pick up the slack and get the team consistent yards in the ground game. He gained 442 rushing yards on 71 carries last season and if the Wildcats want to build on their 10-3 record in 2017, they’re going to need him.

Missouri quarterback Drew Lock is going to be sorely missed, but getting a College Football Playoff-caliber quarterback might soften the blow. After being replaced by Trevor Lawrence at Clemson, Kelly Bryant transferred to Mizzou, hoping to turn the Tigers around. The team finished with a 4-4 record in the SEC with Lock throwing for nearly 3,500 yards and 28 touchdowns. Bryant might not be the gunslinger Lock is, but he is poised and talented enough get keep Missouri on the path toward SEC relevance.

Toney might be one of the most electrifying athletes in the country, but he needs the ball to really show off that ability. For the past two seasons, Toney has yet to clear 270 yards in a season for either rushing or receiving despite being one of the quickest players on any field he steps on. The Gators finished in the top 10 of the AP Poll in Dan Mullen’s first year, and Toney could be a big player in the SEC this year. But if the Gators want to make the leap to the next level, the speedy athlete is going to need to be a big part of the offense.

With Alabama, it’s usually the quarterback who is the determining factor in how far the team goes. But when the quarterback is Tua Tagovailoa, there isn’t much concern there. What will really take the Crimson Tide further will be the running game. Teams are going to be keying in on Tagovailoa, so the running game needs to keep defenses honest. With Josh Jacobs and Damien Harris departing for the NFL, that responsibility falls to Najee Harris, who had a 783-yard season being part of a three-headed rushing attack. The former five-star recruit is now the leader in the backfield, and the Tide is going to need him to produce so the offense can continue to be one of the most dynamic in the country.

No one is going to replace Kyler Murray, but Jalen Hurts isn’t a bad place to start. The Sooners made it to the College Football Playoffs last season, and they could get there again if the transfer from Alabama pans out. Hurts doesn’t have the proven production of Murray, but he definitely has the legs. In his first two seasons at Alabama, he never had fewer than 855 rushing yards as a full-time starter, and he can thrive in this offense that spreads the field effectively. The Sooners nearly made it to the national championship game last year and if Hurts can put that chip on his shoulder to good use, they could be in the same position again.

When Jeremy Larkin went down for the season, it was Bowser who stepped up and helped the Wildcats finish 8-1 in conference play. With Larkin forced to retire, the kid from Sydney, Ohio, will be called on once again to be the bell cow running back for Northwestern. In 197 attempts, Bowser gained 866 yards on the ground and added six touchdowns. The Wildcats are also losing 3,000-yard quarterback Clayton Thorson, so they will be leaning on Bowser to grind out yards to set up the offense.

The Badgers have one more year of Jonathan Taylor before he will most likely leave for the NFL, so they don't have to be too concerned about the running game this year. What they do have to worry about (like they have been for two seasons) is the passing game to open up space for him. Solid quarterback play got Badgers a Big 10 Championship and Rose Bowl win in 2017, but with Alex Hornibrook’s transfer to Florida State, there is an unknown element that could sink the season. Jack Coan performed solidly in relief last season, but four-star freshman Graham Mertz is right there ready to compete. Whoever comes out on top won’t need to be a Heisman Trophy candidate, but he will need to make pressure throws in key situations where Taylor is being stacked in the box. The Badgers won’t go far unless their quarterback is solid.

After a frustrating year of playing behind Jake Fromm in Georgia, Justin Fields can show off his full skill set in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes have one of the most coveted young quarterbacks in the country, but will he stand up to the pressure? He’s got big shoes to fill, replacing Heisman Trophy finalist Dwayne Haskins, who led the country in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Ohio State nearly made it to the College Football Playoff last season and has to tools to contend again. All that is left to be seen is whether Fields is the real deal.

Saquon Barkley’s supernatural abilities were sorely missed last year, but Trace McSorley’s departure after the 2018 season might hurt more. McSorley was the leader of this team, and Sean Clifford will likely be the man tasked to replace his production. The former four-star prospect hasn’t officially won the job, but he has the ability to get the ball in the hands of the Nittany Lions’ capable playmakers. Whether he will actually do it is questionable, and Penn State won’t go far unless Clifford is able to effectively manage the offense from the backfield.

When Scott Frost was coaching at UCF, quarterback Milton McKenzie took a huge leap his second year. Nebraska is hoping Adrian Martinez can do the same. The Cornhuskers finished 4-8 in Frost’s first year, and the team needs a spark to get his tenure back on track. Martinez completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 2,617 yards and had a better than 2:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Throw in 629 yards on the ground, and you have a dual-threat quarterback who might be able to carry an offense. Wherever Nebraska goes, it will all hinge on Martinez’s progression.

After Milton McKenzie’s gruesome injury last season, the Knights are searching for answers in four quarterbacks. Darriel Mack Jr. stepped in last season and won games against East Carolina and Memphis but struggled against LSU in the Fiesta Bowl. Competing against him are Notre Dame transfer Brandon Wimbush along with Quadry Jones and Dillon Gabriel. No matter who steps in, he will have an important role in the UCF offense. McKenzie was the man, and the quarterback will have to be above average if the team has any hope of sustaining the momentum the program has built in recent years. The Knights can step up production on defense or focus on the run game more, but it is the quarterback who will determine the quality of this team.

Helton took over at USC after Steve Sarkisian was fired in 2015, and in his first full season he guided the Trojans to a thrilling 2016 Rose Bowl win. Unfortunately not much has gone right since then. They were blown out in the 2017 Cotton Bowl and notched a 5-7 record last season, which was the school’s first losing season since 2000. The Trojans always bring in a talented roster and how Helton utilizes it will be the key to their success this year. Will J.T. Daniels actually be protected? Will the defense actually stop anyone? Those are questions Helton has to answer.

Eason went from No. 1 pro-style quarterback prospect to riding the bench at Georgia, but he’s found new life in Seattle. The Huskies lost star quarterback Jake Browning and need Eason’s rocket arm and mobile legs to carry them in the Pac-12. Before he was injured, Eason displayed everything needed to be an elite quarterback in college football. With Browning and Myles Gaskin gone, Washington needs a playmaker to keep the ship moving. The former five-star recruit could be that guy.

Yes, Jarret Doege may be eligible to play immediately, but as of now, Oklahoma graduate transfer Austin Kendall is the man slated to succeed quarterback Will Grier. Dana Holgorsen may be gone, but a fearless quarterback like Kendall could be what the doctor ordered to ease the transition. West Virginia averaged 351.3 yards per game through the air accounting for about 68.5 percent of the Mountaineers total offense. If the team wants to be as efficient as they were with Grier in the driver's seat, Kendall is going to need to flex that accuracy he was able to show in spots with the Sooners.

Texas lost a lot of production on the defensive side of the ball, and the Longhorns are going to need returning players like B.J. Foster to fill the big void. He was a menace his freshman year, notching nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, an interception and two forced fumbles from the cornerback position. His freaky athleticism allows him to be one of the most versatile pieces for a defense with a lot of new faces. If Texas has any hope of winning games, he needs to be a star for this team.

For the first time in a while, the Clemson Tigers defensive line isn’t unquestionably dominant. The offense will be fine with Trevor Lawrence and some returning playmakers, but to maintain their national championship status, the Tigers are going to need Jordan Williams to play like an All-American. Clemson’s defense starts and ends with the line. The team had Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence, two of the greatest Clemson players ever, and they made things easy for the rest of the defense. Williams, who was rated the No. 8 prospect in the state of Virginia by ESPN in 2017, notched three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 2018. The Tigers are going to need more if they want to continue competing for titles.

Florida State struggled to do anything last season, including failing to protect Deondre Francois and James Blackman, and was unable to produce a 1,000-yard rusher. If the Seminoles are going to get back to winning football, it all starts in the trenches on the offensive side. Lucas comes in as a highly touted, four-star guard and will be tasked with springing running backs and taking care of interior defensive linemen in his zone. With a questionable offensive line, his performance may determine how the unit as a whole performs. If he can be a star on the line, the Seminoles might have a decent season.

Texas Tech has been known for high-flying offenses in recent years, but all that action hasn’t resulted in much winning. In the six years Kliff Kingsbury was head coach, the Red Raiders had only had two winning seasons. Matt Wells is hoping to change that. The former Utah State head coach brings a more balanced approach to the offense, which may not work with essentially Kingsbury’s recruits. How Wells handles personnel while implementing his own system could result in a winning season immediately or continue Texas Tech’s losing ways.

Four games into the season, Brock Purdy took over at quarterback and went 7-2 to end the regular season. Iowa State may have found its star quarterback, but can he take the team over the top? He certainly showed flashes last season, being a key player in defeating ranked Oklahoma State and West Virginia in back-to-back weeks. In those two games, he averaged 286 passing yards, threw seven touchdowns and rushed for another. Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell is building a winner in Ames, but he will only go as far as Purdy can take him.

The Wolverines have plenty of talent on the receiving group, but it may be an under-the-radar talent who could be the difference maker. Thomas might not have the name recognition of Donovan Peoples-Jones, Tarik Black or Nico Collins, but he may be just as dangerous. He is arguably the fastest player on Michigan and if people are keying in on his teammates, he will have a lot of room to show off that speed. That kind of one-punch power can be the difference maker for the Wolverines this season.

The Fighting Irish made it to the College Football Playoff, but after losing a couple of significant pieces on defense, they need someone to step up to continue the momentum. NFL-prospect Julian Okwara can be that anchor. The senior defensive end is known for his elite pass rushing, but where he needs to make a mark is in the rushing defense. The linebacking corps is young and inexperienced, and he will need to help out on the inside and outside for Notre Dame to move up the rankings.

Jeremiah Holloman and Riley Ridley are gone, and the Bulldogs sorely need playmakers at the receiver position. Who better to step in and make an impact than a former No. 1 wide receiver prospect? Robertson has the explosiveness that Georgia needs to stretch the field vertically. With D'Andre Swift being the focus of every defensive coordinator, the Georgia native will have plenty of opportunities to go over the top for huge plays. If the Bulldogs are able to become a dynamic offense, they may find themselves in the College Football Playoff again.

Justin Herbert returned to Oregon for one last dance, but his playmaking wide receiver sure didn’t. Dillon Mitchell is gone, and someone needs to catch balls on the outside. Pittman comes in as a four-star freshman and has elusiveness that will make him a crowd favorite when he gets into the open field. If Herbert wants to head to the pros with no regrets, the younger son of former NFL player Michael Pittman will have to show why he was one of the best high school wide receivers in the country.

The Tigers have always had a great rushing attack, but what might make them national title contenders is quarterback play. Joe Burrow showed he was up to the task last year. In 13 games, Burrow threw for nearly 2,900 yards and had a 3:1 touchdown to interception ratio. LSU’s defense and running game will put the Tigers in the mix in every game, but it will be Burrows who will determine how high they go in the season.

Cougars head coach Mike Leach struck graduate transfer gold with Gardner Minshew. He’s hoping Gage Gubrud is going to be the same. The former Eastern Washington quarterback was a two-time finalist for the Walter Payton Award given to the top FCS player in the country and had 3,342 passing yards in 10 games his last season with the Eagles. Washington State leaned heavily on Minshew’s arm last year and will need Gubrud to be as dependable if the Cougars want to dominate the Pac-12.