The Wiz of Odds

Spring Reports

Our last report on spring scrimmages. Click here, here and here to view previous reports. Announced attendance included when available.

Big East

West Virginia: Running back Noel Devine played only a half, but rushed for 73 yards and one touchdown in 12 carries. Attendance: 21,029.

Conference USA

Southern Methodist: No spring game for the Mustangs. "I think it's overrated," June Jones said.

Mid-American

Kent State: Running back Eugene Jarvis, seven months removed from a lacerated kidney that ended his 2009 season, scored a touchdown and was elected captain for a team-record fourth time. Attendance: 3,000.

Pacific 10

Oregon: Quarterbacks Nate Costa and Darron Thomas each had their moments, but look for Costa to win the starting job in the fall. Attendance: 25,211.

Oregon State: Ryan Katz completed nine of 20 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. The projected starter had one pass intercepted. Redshirt freshman Jack Lomax, son of former NFL quarterback Neil Lomax, threw three touchdown passes, all to Mitch Singler. Jacquizz Rogers did not play. Attendance: 7,141.

USC: Matt Barkley suffered a hand injury and Mitch Mustain made the most of extended playing time, passing for nearly 300 yards and five touchdowns. Freshman running back Dillon Baxter ran for 129 yards, including 58 after a flashy double-spin move. But Lane Kiffin's team remains a work in progress. Attendance: 15,000.

Washington: Nick Montana, son of Hall of Famer Joe Montana, completed 21 of 34 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. He had an interception returned for a score by cornerback Anthony Boyles. Attendance: 15,000.

Western Athletic

Fresno State: Receiver Devon Wylie caught three touchdown passes and cornerback L.J. Jones scored on a 24-yard interception return. Attendance: 2,000.

Hawaii: The Warriors displayed more punch to their running game, but the quarterback derby remains a puzzle, a concern with the opener against USC in 122 days. Attendance: 1,000.

New Mexico State: The Aggies have college football's longest bowl drought at 51 seasons, but DeWayne Walker's rebuilding plan could be paying dividends. Quarterback Matt Christian, a junior college transfer, completed 16 of 26 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown.

Spring Reports

Our third of four reports on spring scrimmages. Click here and here to view previous reports. If reported, the announced attendance is included.

Atlantic Coast

Boston College: Sophomore Mike Marscovetra, who played sparingly last season, thrust himself into the quarterback competition by completing 13 of 16 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. Linebacker Mark Herzlich, recovering from cancer treatments and surgery to insert a rod in his left leg, did not participate as he was held out of full contact drills this spring.

Georgia Tech: Tevin Washington secured his spot as the No. 2 quarterback by running for three scores and completing a 70-yard pass to receiver Stephen Hill for another. The scrimmage was called at halftime because of rain.

Maryland: Ralph Friedgen, coming of a 2-10 season, had his team play four 10-minute quarters. The Fridge liked what he saw. "If I was disappointed," he said, "we'd still be out there."

Virginia Tech: Redshirt freshman quarterback Logan Thomas showed command of the offense during a 12-play, 57-yard scoring drive to open the scrimmage. Michael Vick made an appearance, his first at Virginia Tech since being released from federal prison on dog-fighting convictions. "This is a place where I spent three years of my life, and I was able to build relationships with people and put myself in my position where I could take care of myself for the rest of my life and also further my education," he said. "It's a great group of people here, and I've still got a lot of love and respect for them." Announced attendance: 40,000.

Big East

Cincinnati: Tony Pike is gone, but the Bearcats have a capable replacement in Zach Collaros, who completed 18 of 20 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns.

Rutgers: There was a time during Greg Schiano’s tenure as Scarlet Knight coach when a regular-season home game drew about half of what Saturday’s spring scrimmage did. A 2002 loss to Temple, for example, when the announced attendance was 10,225. But Schiano's 10th spring scrimmage drew a record 20,114.

Spring Reports

Our second look at spring scrimmages across the country. Click here to view our first report. Announced attendance if reported.

Atlantic Coast

North Carolina State: It was a huge scrimmage for receivers against a defensive backfield that's still maturing after struggling throughout the 2009 season. Announced attendance: 25,372.

Wake Forest: Starting quarterback Skylar Jones completed four of five passes for 38 yards and carried seven times for 21 yards. Backup Ted Stachitas, who missed much of the spring with a pulled hamstring, completed four of seven for eight yards and carried seven times for 18 yards. Attendance: 5,000.

Big East

Connecticut: Plenty of firepower on offense, with Michael Smith catching five passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns. But the concern is squarely on the secondary, still trying to recover from the tragic death of Jasper Howard last year. Attendance: 2,500.

Pittsburgh: Is the defense that good or the offense that bad? Outside of Dion Lewis' 52-yard run, the offense managed only 67 yard in the other 37 carries. Attendance: 6,532.

South Florida: Quarterback B.J. Daniels passed for 381 yards and five touchdowns and receiver Dontavia Bogan had 233 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Receiver A.J. Love suffered an injury to his right knee. If Love is to miss a significant part of the season, look for Skip Holtz to reach out to North Carolina State receiver Donald Bowens, who graduates next month and wants to transfer to South Florida for his season of eligibility. Attendance: 6,357.

Syracuse: The Orange's aggressive offense was rewarded with 537 yards and six touchdowns. Attendance: 4,752.

Spring Reports

Our first in a series of looks at spring scrimmages across the country.

Atlantic Coast

Clemson: There were 18 punts. One of them was fumbled. The number of standout plays could be counted on one hand, and the teams combined for 358 yards of offense. Reported attendance: 21,000.

Duke: David Cutcliffe has emphasized improving team speed since his arrival three years ago, and although the efforts are beginning to pay off, the team is young, with 54 of 82 scholarship players either sophomore or freshmen.

Florida State: Quarterback Christian Ponder was in midseason form, throwing for 266 yards and two touchdowns. Attendance: 51,300.

North Carolina: The Tar Heels have nine starters returning on defense, and coach Butch Davis used the spring game to give younger players a chance to shine. Attendance: 29,500.

Virginia: Coach Mike London's spring debut went as expected, with the defense overwhelming a sputtering offense, an issue that plagued Al Groh in his final two years as coach.

Big 12

Baylor: Quarterback Nick Florence, the backup to Robert Griffin, passed for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Griffin, who sat out spring drills after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last fall, will be back in the fall.

Colorado: If the season were to start today, Tyler Hansen would be the starting quarterback over Cody Hawkins.

Texas: Garrett Gilbert played like a veteran at quarterback, but Mack Brown was not encouraged by the play of No. 2 Sherrod Harris. Attendance: 44,250.