Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said he understands the relentless expectations that come with leading a blue-blood program, even after going 20-8 in two seasons. He emphasized that keeping roster and staff continuity is vital to sustained success, particularly in an era shaped by the transfer portal.
Spring practices are underway, bringing optimism, settled rosters and coaches who are talking up their teams. The offseason features six new SEC head coaches, added pressure on established programs to reach the College Football Playoff and possible shifts among the Group of 6. Here are the main takeaways from around the country and what coaches are saying about the playoff landscape.
Around the country
Oregon: Dan Lanning called it the program’s top offseason win that at least eight players who could have entered the NFL draft chose to return, including QB Dante Moore and several high-end defenders such as A’Mauri Washington, Bear Alexander, Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti. Lanning credited the program’s trust and players’ maturity for convincing them to bet on another college season.
Texas Tech: Joey McGuire relayed his son Garret’s bold aim: to make Texas Tech the first Big 12 program since Oklahoma to repeat as conference champion. The Red Raiders bring back 14 starters from last year’s title team and project to be stronger up front, a trait McGuire underscored as critical in trench battles.
USC: Lincoln Riley is pleased to have returning starter Jayden Maiava and intrigued by true freshman Jonas Williams, who enrolled early at 17. Riley praised Williams’ poise, athleticism and intelligence and said the freshman will get plenty of reps to accelerate his development.
Alabama: DeBoer said the Tide can once again be the dominant program but acknowledged it’s tougher now. He ruled out chasing a quarterback via the portal, expressing confidence in returning options Austin Mack and Keelon Russell. Mack, in his fourth season in DeBoer’s system, showed late-game composure and arm strength in the Rose Bowl and is considered a legitimate candidate to lead the offense.
Texas: Arch Manning remains the clear leader at quarterback. Steve Sarkisian expects a more explosive attack after adding portal running backs Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown—both capable receivers out of the backfield—and transfer deep threat Cam Coleman.
Auburn: First-year coach Alex Golesh is upbeat about his linebackers, defensive line and safeties and has brought QB Byrum Brown from South Florida. He remains cautious about the offensive line and cornerback room, both of which are essentially new and will shape scheme choices and depth.
Boise State: After three straight Mountain West titles, Boise State joins the Pac-12 and coach Spencer Danielson warned that making the CFP will be harder. The Broncos open at Oregon, a matchup Danielson said the staff will prepare for early and publicly embrace as a marquee early-season test.
UNLV: With Boise State departing the Mountain West, Dan Mullen believes the path to a conference title—and a playoff résumé—is more attainable. UNLV added games against Memphis and North Texas and plays Cal to bolster its nonconference profile.
BYU: Kalani Sitake reminded observers that Bear Bachmeier was a true freshman who only arrived in June last year. Now comfortable in the offense, Sitake expects Bachmeier to move from learning to refining his craft. BYU, which nearly reached the playoff last season, faces high expectations and hosts Notre Dame on Oct. 17.
Florida: First-year coach Jon Sumrall joked about expanding staff resources while noting the SEC’s nine-game conference slate is taxing but not intimidating. He’s monitoring an open quarterback competition between transfer Aaron Philo (Georgia Tech) and Tramell Jones Jr., but warned that camp surprises are always possible.
SMU: Rhett Lashlee said senior linebacker Alex Kilgore believes this roster captures a similar energy to the 2024 ACC regular-season champion that reached the CFP. With returning Heisman-caliber QB Kevin Jennings and portal reinforcements, Lashlee expects improved corner play, a stronger interior defensive front and a steadier running game. If SMU survives a difficult early schedule and a November trip to Notre Dame, Lashlee thinks this could be his best team yet.
Playoff talk
The CFP’s decision to keep the 12-team field disappointed many in the SEC, especially as the conference shifts to a nine-game league schedule. Coaches want clearer committee guidelines on issues such as scoring margin and strength of schedule and complained about the opaque nature of selections.
Several coaches said the conference room was united in frustration: teams are scrutinized for playoff inclusion while scheduling inequities persist. That has fueled internal debate over whether to keep starters in games to protect margins or to pull them to develop depth, with many viewing the selection process as subjective.
Lincoln Riley advocates enlarging the playoff, arguing it would reduce scheduling inequities and give more teams a fair shot. He noted the gap between the Power Five and other leagues has widened and that uneven scheduling makes objective comparisons more difficult.
The Big Ten’s push for a 24-team playoff is on pause, but conference attitudes about expansion could shift depending on how the season unfolds; some schools may back a larger field if it seems likely to include them among the top teams nationally.
Bottom line: Spring practice is underlining continuity at some programs, exciting freshmen arrivals at others and an ongoing national debate about playoff fairness and format as realignment and schedule changes reshape college football.
