5 storylines you need to know for Week 1
With college football season finally beginning later this week, it's time to take a look at five key storylines heading into Week 1. Whether they made league headlines or not, each of these storylines will be major plots to kick off the 2014 season.
Can Jameis Winston and Florida State do it again?
Florida State remains the team to beat, and they'll have to have another spectacular year in order to emulate the success they enjoyed as national champions last season.
Nothing moves on offense without star quarterback Jameis Winston, of course, and the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner is back in action after a phenomenal debut season. With a great crop of freshmen coming in, all eyes will once again be on Winston and his squad as they make a push to defend their national title.
Life without Braxton Miller begins for Ohio State
No team suffered a bigger blow to their championship dreams this offseason than the Ohio State Buckeyes, after starting quarterback Braxton Miller was lost for the season with a shoulder injury.
With J.T. Barrett taking over for Miller, Ohio State certainly faces an uphill climb if they intend on making a national title run without their star quarterback. But writing the Buckeyes off completely would be a mistake, as they still boast one of the strongest squads in the Big Ten.
The Notre Dame academic fraud investigation
Without even considering the far-reaching implications of Notre Dame's academic fraud investigation, the football team stands to lose some key players if the inquiry turns up anything substantive.
The four players involved - wide receiver DaVaris Daniels, defensive back KeiVarae Russell, linebacker Kendall Moore, and defensive lineman Ishaq Williams - were all important contributors and their absence could be catastrophic depending on how the rest of the team gels.
The Charlie Strong era begins in Texas
After joining Texas as its new head coach in January, Charlie Strong wasted no time making his presence felt. He suspended and dismissed players for disciplinary reasons, and gave his team blank helmets, telling players they'd have to earn the Longhorns logo.
Enjoying success in Louisville is one thing, but if Strong is able to put together some big wins for Texas, the parade planning will be ahead of schedule. Running backs Johnathan Gray and Malcolm Brown will be key offensive producers and Strong will also be tasked with getting the best out of quarterback David Ash.
Welcome to the Pac-12, home of the great quarterbacks
It's no secret the Pac-12 boasts the best crop of quarterbacks in college football and they'll be on display in their respective Week 1 matchups.
UCLA's Brett Hundley, Oregon's Marcus Mariota, Oregon State's Sean Mannion, USC's Cody Kessler, and even the immensely underrated Taylor Kelly from Arizona State are all capable of brilliant individual performances, and they will most certainly be counted on to perform in big ways this season.