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1. Boise State, without Kellen Moore, opens at Michigan State with essentially an entirely new team. Six former Broncos were taken in April's NFL draft -- and that doesn't include the biggest of them all, the winningest QB in NCAA history. Coach Chris Petersen will look for another strong season, starting with another tough opener, this time in East Lansing.
2. Last year of the WAC as we know it, everybody but New Mexico State and Idaho has jumped ship to a new conference. The game of musical chairs is ongoing, but it looks like these two programs are without a seat at the conference realignment table. Who leaves first? Last? Who welcomes either (or both) of these programs before the lights are officially turned off?
3. How does Gus Malzahn do in Year 1 at Arkansas State? "In Gus We Trust" is the rallying cry in Jonesboro … er, "Gusboro." The possibilities once looked bigger for the former Auburn offensive coordinator, who had drawn interest from BCS schools. But Malzahn will look to build off the Red Wolves's 10-win 2011 campaign.
4. Several top non-AQs lose their star QBs -- Boise State (Moore), Houston (Case Keenum), Tulsa (G.J. Kinne), Southern Miss (Austin Davis), San Diego State (Ryan Lindley), Northern Illinois (Chandler Harnish) The little guys struggle for attention, and nothing draws attention better than a strong signal caller. Except, of course, a big upset. With no record-setters (Moore and Keenum) at QB in 2012, the non-BCS schools will have to make their national mark during marquee nonconference matchups.
5. Can BYU make a serious run? Cougars have a senior QB in Riley Nelson, and BYU thrives when it has senior leadership at the position. A September slate featuring two BCS conference opponents -- in addition to Boise State -- means the Cougars will have to earn their stripes early. Later games against Oregon State, Notre Dame and Georgia Tech won't exactly lighten the load, but they provide Nelson with a great chance to go out with a bang.
6. Can Navy make it back to a bowl game? Big opener versus Notre Dame in Ireland. And another very big game following that at Penn State. The Midshipmen lost a lot of heartbreakers last season, and QB Trey Miller will have to build off 2011 and help Navy take care of business when the opportunities present themselves in 2012.
7. Who will challenge Boise State as the top non-AQ this season, and will there be a non-AQ BCS buster? Appears to be slim pickings in 2012. If Malzahn wants to turn Arkansas State into "The Boise State of the South," 2012 wouldn't be a bad time, as he returns a fifth-year QB and will have a couple of good measuring-stick games early in Oregon and Nebraska.
8. Tommy Rees' future. Rees recently pleaded not guilty to four misdemeanor charges stemming from an off-campus party. He was already trying to fend off three other QBs in working to become the 2012 starter, and that now looks like less of a possibility for the only QB on the roster with any starting experience.
9. Notre Dame's ridiculously tough schedule. The Irish never have an easy week, facing rivals like Michigan, Michigan State, Stanford and USC annually. But 2012 takes it to a new level, with teams like Oklahoma, Miami and BYU on the slate, in addition to an opener versus Navy in Dublin.
10. Is Year 3 the year Brian Kelly takes the Irish to a BCS game? See above. The schedule makes this an awfully difficult challenge, especially for a team with QB questions. But the Irish return All-Americans Tyler Eifert and Manti Te'o. They also boast a strong front seven and have loads of offensive talent, in addition to a familiar approach after two seasons under Kelly.
2. Last year of the WAC as we know it, everybody but New Mexico State and Idaho has jumped ship to a new conference. The game of musical chairs is ongoing, but it looks like these two programs are without a seat at the conference realignment table. Who leaves first? Last? Who welcomes either (or both) of these programs before the lights are officially turned off?
3. How does Gus Malzahn do in Year 1 at Arkansas State? "In Gus We Trust" is the rallying cry in Jonesboro … er, "Gusboro." The possibilities once looked bigger for the former Auburn offensive coordinator, who had drawn interest from BCS schools. But Malzahn will look to build off the Red Wolves's 10-win 2011 campaign.
4. Several top non-AQs lose their star QBs -- Boise State (Moore), Houston (Case Keenum), Tulsa (G.J. Kinne), Southern Miss (Austin Davis), San Diego State (Ryan Lindley), Northern Illinois (Chandler Harnish) The little guys struggle for attention, and nothing draws attention better than a strong signal caller. Except, of course, a big upset. With no record-setters (Moore and Keenum) at QB in 2012, the non-BCS schools will have to make their national mark during marquee nonconference matchups.
5. Can BYU make a serious run? Cougars have a senior QB in Riley Nelson, and BYU thrives when it has senior leadership at the position. A September slate featuring two BCS conference opponents -- in addition to Boise State -- means the Cougars will have to earn their stripes early. Later games against Oregon State, Notre Dame and Georgia Tech won't exactly lighten the load, but they provide Nelson with a great chance to go out with a bang.
6. Can Navy make it back to a bowl game? Big opener versus Notre Dame in Ireland. And another very big game following that at Penn State. The Midshipmen lost a lot of heartbreakers last season, and QB Trey Miller will have to build off 2011 and help Navy take care of business when the opportunities present themselves in 2012.
7. Who will challenge Boise State as the top non-AQ this season, and will there be a non-AQ BCS buster? Appears to be slim pickings in 2012. If Malzahn wants to turn Arkansas State into "The Boise State of the South," 2012 wouldn't be a bad time, as he returns a fifth-year QB and will have a couple of good measuring-stick games early in Oregon and Nebraska.
8. Tommy Rees' future. Rees recently pleaded not guilty to four misdemeanor charges stemming from an off-campus party. He was already trying to fend off three other QBs in working to become the 2012 starter, and that now looks like less of a possibility for the only QB on the roster with any starting experience.
9. Notre Dame's ridiculously tough schedule. The Irish never have an easy week, facing rivals like Michigan, Michigan State, Stanford and USC annually. But 2012 takes it to a new level, with teams like Oklahoma, Miami and BYU on the slate, in addition to an opener versus Navy in Dublin.
10. Is Year 3 the year Brian Kelly takes the Irish to a BCS game? See above. The schedule makes this an awfully difficult challenge, especially for a team with QB questions. But the Irish return All-Americans Tyler Eifert and Manti Te'o. They also boast a strong front seven and have loads of offensive talent, in addition to a familiar approach after two seasons under Kelly.
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