5. Can LSU rebuild its lines?

While the good people of Baton Rouge remain fixated on the Tigers' nonexistent quarterback controversy (repeat after me: JaMarcus Russell's job is not in danger), a much more pressing issue for LSU is replacing several veteran standouts along the line of scrimmage. On offense, the Tigers will dearly miss four-year starting tackle Andrew Whitworth, center Rudy Niswanger and guard Nate Livings. Sophomores Herman Johnson and Ryan Miller are among those vying for starting jobs. Meanwhile, LSU's defensive success last season started first and foremost with the dominance of tackles Claude Wroten and Kyle Williams, both of whom have departed. Spring will present an opportunity for former all-everything recruits Glenn Dorsey and Marlon Favorite to assert themselves.

6. Is Miami gellin'?

Since the Peach Bowl debacle against LSU, the 'Canes have undergone a massive staff overhaul that could either prove to be the spark Larry Coker's slumping program needs or a lightning rod that further fractures the divided UM community. Four assistants were fired, most controversially longtime offensive line coach Art Kehoe, while receivers coach Curtis Johnson took an NFL job. Among the new hires are offensive coordinator Rich Olson, who served in the same role under ex-'Canes coach Dennis Erickson, former Army head coach Todd Berry (quarterbacks) and longtime Barry Alvarez assistant John Palmero (defensive line). Spring will be the first real opportunity for the new coaches to mesh with the returning players and returning staff members, like defensive coordinator Randy Shannon.

7. Can Notre Dame find a couple of decent corners?

Here's the thing about the Irish: In a year when seemingly everybody's been hurt by graduation and draft defections, Charlie Weis' team appears to be loaded. Notre Dame welcomes back 15 starters, including stars Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija and Darius Walker. Anyone who watched the Fiesta Bowl, however, has a hard time shaking the image of Ohio State receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Santonio Holmes racing past Notre Dame defenders who had apparently stopped to admire the view. Last year's starting cornerbacks, Mike Richardson and Ambrose Wooden, both return, and while an added year's experience should certainly help, there's no substitute for speed. U.S. Army All-America Raeshon McNeil arrives in the fall. In the meantime, untested youngsters like sophomore Leo Ferrine should get a hard look in the spring.

8. Can Oklahoma block anyone?

The Sooners have Adrian Peterson and Rhett Bomar and are loaded on defense, but one thing Oklahoma is desperately missing is proven offensive linemen. The departures of starters Davin Joseph, Kelvin Chaisson, Chris Bush and Chris Chester -- on the heels of stars Jammal Brown and Vince Carter graduating the previous year and two others quitting the team last fall -- means that several youngsters will have to mature in a hurry. Most notably, head coach Bob Stoops will be looking for major progress this spring from sophomores Branndon Braxton and J.D. Quinn, who started sporadically last season, and center Jon Cooper, who shined as a true freshman last season before breaking his ankle. Juco transfer Sherrone Moore, who enrolled in January, will also get a long look.

9. Who will be Georgia's next quarterback?

For the first time since his first spring, in 2001, Bulldogs coach Mark Richt has no idea who his starting quarterback will be next fall. Following five years of David Greene and D.J. Shockley, the job is available to either senior Joe Tereshinski, the third-generation Dawg who had a rough outing in his lone career start last season against Florida; sophomore Blake Barnes, who threw three passes last season; and vaunted true freshman Matthew Stafford, who enrolled in January. Tereshinski has the edge, but look for Richt to bring along the talented Dallas native Stafford quickly.

10. Are the times a-changin' in Ann Arbor?

The Michigan program experienced two unfamiliar events in the past three months: 1) The underachieving Wolverines finished a season with five losses for the first time since 1985; 2) head coach Lloyd Carr lost both his offensive (Terry Malone) and defensive (Jim Herrmann) coordinators, though it's unclear whether it was their choice or Carr's. Suffice it to say, most Wolverines followers are excited about the changes, particularly since they allowed Mike DeBord, the offensive coordinator on UM's 1997 national title team, to return to his old post and prevented ace recruiter Ron English, now the defensive coordinator, from bolting for the Chicago Bears. The Maize and Blue operate under a constant cloak of secrecy, so we can only guess that DeBord is spending the spring helping QB Chad Henne cut down on the mistakes that plagued him as a sophomore and that English is trying to instill some much-needed toughness in the D.