CFB: Spring Football Previews Part II
- Drew Ashurst
- May 1
- 2 min read
CJ Carr - The Notre Dame QB looks to make his name in 2026 (Credit: Sports Illustrated)
We’re continuing our look at spring practice across some of college football’s top programmes — and if you missed Part I, now’s the perfect time to catch up.
Indiana
2025 Season: Record 16-0, National Champions
In what seems like a typical Curt Cignetti move, Indiana hosted their spring game at the exact moment their Heisman winning QB was being selected No 1 overall in the NFL draft. The defensive front, dominated the game. There was no vanilla defence on show,
as is the norm in spring games. DC Bryant Haines was sending stunts, blitz and twists all night. Transfer WR Nick Marsh looks the real deal through spring, even if Cignetti had to knock him down a peg at the start of spring for wearing gold cleats.
Penn State
2025 Season: Record 7-6, Unranked. Did not make CFB Playoff
The Penn State Nittney Cyclones, sorry Lions, finished spring with an open practice, where fans got to set their eyes on over 50 new players on the roster.
QB Becht looked the part, but he will only go as far as his WR takes him. This has been a weakness for the team during the last few seasons. The DTs looked massive, and on this showing, should be able to occupy the OLine. This will help the Linebackers find the space to attack. My question for this team is, how does a team full of players who followed the HC from Iowa State, handle the riggers of a BIG10 schedule ?
Oregon
Dakorien Moore and Evan Stewart, who’s returning from an injury that kept him out all of last season, should give Oregon one of the best WR duos in the country, for the upcoming season. There will be some special team concerns, a couple of muffed punts and missed field goals. Dante Moore still looks like a QB that would have gone top 2 in the draft, so no worries there.
The corners got torched a few times, which they will want to rectify, but won’t face many WR rooms as talented as their own.
Notre Dame
2025 Season: Record 10-2. Ranked #11. Did not make the CFB Playoff.
Aneyas Williams had a good day and looks set to take the starting role at RB replacing two 1st round NFL draft picks. CJ Carr is still the real deal but will need more from his WR room this season a couple of spring game TDs from sons of NFL legend WRs Elijah Burress son of Plaxico Burress and Devin Fitzgerald son of Larry Fitzgerald shows hope in the room.
Spencer Porath transfer kicker from Purdue was perfect on the day including the game winning field goal which is always a good sign. Most importantly there were no major injuries for a team that could well be the most talented in the country.
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