NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 8
Defense: Starters Returning: 7
The loss of WR Michael Floyd is sure to hurt the Fighting Irish, but he is the only major contributor gone for a young Notre Dame team. Following QB Tommy Rees’ arrest and subsequent one-game suspension, the starting job for the opening game was won by sophomore Everett Golson, who was 11-of-15 for 120 yards and 2 TD in the Spring Game. With Floyd gone, Golson will be looking mostly for star TE Tyler Eifert (803 rec yds, 5 TD). Notre Dame is going to rely even more on RB Cierre Wood (1,102 rush yds, 9 TD), who at times looks like one of the best in the nation at his position. However, Wood will not play the first two games due to a suspension for violating team rules. The Fighting Irish return starters at most of the defensive positions, including stud LB Manti Te’o (128 tackles), but they lose three starters in the secondary. Head coach Brian Kelly and defensive coordinator Bob Diaco will face a tough challenge in finding a way for their team to do a better job defending against the pass.

ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 7
Defense: Starters Returning: 8
Army seemingly was on the right track after playing in a bowl game in 2010, but the loss of a stew of starters forced a young, inexperienced group of players to play big minutes before they were ready. This season, that youth has a lot more experience and should improve upon a disappointing 3-9 season. Fourth-year starting QB Trent Steelman (3 TD, 2 INT; 645 rush yds, 12 TD) is back after a season plagued by injuries that kept him off the field for three games. The Knights had the nation’s leading rushing attack (347 YPG) and they’ll get back RBs Raymond Maples (1,066 rush yds, 7.3 YPC, 4 TD) and Jared Hassin (450 rush yds). The offensive line will be a solid group, as they will be starting four seniors. Defensively, Army is losing only three starters, so the unit that was on the field last season (164 pass YPG allowed, 5th in nation) had an entire year to grow together.

NAVY MIDSHIPMEN

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 4
Defense: Starters Returning: 8
One of the only bright spots last year for Navy was its running game, which averaged 312 YPG (4th in nation). They should be strong in that category again, as they return RB Gee Gee Greene (501 rush yds, 7 total TD). Trey Miller (12-for-29, 205 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT) expects to take over the QB position from departed Kriss Proctor. The offensive line is a big question mark though. On defense, the Midshipmen struggled last year (28.9 PPG, 414 YPG), but they get back almost all of their secondary as well as linebackers, whose extra year of experience should make Navy above average on the defensive side of the ball. Consistent play from their front four will also make life easier on head coach Ken Niumatalolo, who watched his team lose five games by seven points or less.

BYU COUGARS

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 8
Defense: Starters Returning: 7
BYU ran an efficient offense last season, especially down the stretch where it put up 38.7 PPG in the final seven games. The Cougars get back a lot of familiar faces. QB Riley Nelson (1,717 pass yds, 19 TD) won his job back in 2011 and led his team to a 6-1 record as a starter. Nelson will also have back his No. 1 receiver, Cody Hoffman (943 rec yds, 10 TD), and three of his top four running backs from last season to hopefully run more effectively behind a strong O-line. On the defensive end, the Cougars have big defensive linemen who can stop the run, as well as linebackers who can get after the quarterback and make tackles in the open field. The secondary, however, has questions going into 2012 with the loss of its two top performers, Travis Uale and Corby Eason.

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