The spring football season is almost complete with only a half-dozen games remaining this upcoming weekend and Michigan completing its work-cation in Rome
Let's take a look at some highlights from the 32 spring games played this past Saturday, featuring some of the SEC's top programs.
Alabama
Doesn't something have to give at quarterback for Alabama? And by "give," I mean a transfer. That was evident during the spring game. It was almost as if Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa were made to look good before 74,000 at Bryant Denny. They combined to complete 33 of 54 for 614 yards.
Hurts isn't going to lose the starting job -- for now --- but Tua's talent is obvious. In January, I tried to get his dad to explain why an early enrollee would go to Alabama where a freshman all-SEC quarterback with three years of eligibility left was entrenched. Nalu Tagovailoa said all the right things. The quarterback and his family are committed and actually thought of moving from Hawaii to T-town.
But something has to give, right? It's not like it hasn't happened before at Alabama really, really recently. (Hello Blake Barnett, Cooper Bateman and David Cornwell.) I'm taking bets right now that Hurts and Tua are not on the same Alabama roster sheet in 2019.
Florida Atlantic
Approximately 2,000 hearty souls showed up to see Lane Kiffin's first spring game at FAU. That was only 70,000-odd short of those watching his team, 750 miles away Saturday at Alabama. Boca being Boca means there isn't the fervor for college football there is Tuscaloosa. After, there's a lot paddle boarding and shopping to do on the Gold Coast. "Boring," Kiffin said. "I would have left too, to go to the beach."
Baylor
Matt Rhule is a great guy, but if you want to see him get a bit uncomfortable, ask him about his offense. It does not in any way resemble Art Briles'. In some metaphorical way, that is just. But it was different watching the Bears line up with multiple tight ends in Rhule's pro-set offense in his first spring game. Never thought I'd write these words, but: Baylor will look a lot like Temple. Yes, things have changed in Waco including (for fun) offensive and defensive linemen catching punts in the spring game.
Penn State
Yes, the media played in the spring game. Well, if by "played" you mean fielding punts at halftime, then, yes. Critics have suggested we try to create sideshows. This time we were the sideshow.
In the real media world, there can't be enough written and said this offseason about the defending Big Ten champs. Trace McSorley threw for 114 yards in the first half before 71,000. Heisman Trophy candidate Saquon Barkley did not play.
Georgia
The shine hasn't worn off Kirby Smart. The shine has worn off Kirby Smart's hyping of the spring game. "Only" 66,000 showed up at Sanford Stadium for Kirby's second spring game. (Sanford was filled to capacity last spring.) Jacob Eason threw for 311 yards. However, a lot of eyes were on early enrollee Jake Fromm, who threw for 277 yards.
Washington
Chris Petersen wasn't playin'. Washington's coach made sure that winners in Saturday's spring scrimmage got burgers from local spot Dick's Drive-In. The losers got postgame showers of no more than a minute. That stinks, on several levels.
"If we make this quick," Petersen told reporters, "I can make sure no one is [cheating] in there."
The low-key scrimmage showed that Jake Browning at least looked healthy in limited action three months after shoulder surgery.
Tennessee
Attendance was way down and weather-shortened the game to one half, but Butch Jones may have found himself a replacement for Josh Dobbs. Junior Quinten Dormady went 10 for 10 for 120 yards with two touchdowns. Then again, if any quarterback in any spring game doesn't succeed against a rush that can't tackle him, there should be massive questions. The biggest one at Tennessee was an SEC Network analyst using Tom Brady in a reference to Dormady.
Notre Dame
Brian Kelly is on the hot seat. After a 4-8 campaign in which a first-round draft choice at quarterback didn't start the season, there are questions. They start with having a replacement for Deshone Kizer. Brandon Wimbush completed 22 of 32 for 303 yards in the spring game. Much of the postgame was spent complimenting sophomore Ian Book (271 yards), who seemed to have a leg up for the backup spot.
None of this means much for Kelly until he starts competing for championships again soon. It's been five years.
LSU
LSU was asking for it when it cancelled the spring game because of weather. The (pleasant) surprise was the official Florida football account weighing in on Twitter.
Just another reminder, LSU fans: Your Tigers will be playing at Florida the next two seasons. That means you get only three SEC home games this season.