IT Roundtable: Which team won the offseason? What's the most intriguing opponent storyline?

Not only is Texas football approaching, but also college football is just about one month away. What other teams had big offseasons, whether they play the Horns or not?

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Which team aside from Texas “won” the offseason?

Eric Nahlin – I’ll go Clemson. The Tigers have a lot of returning talent and experience that is set to breakout nationally after a couple of up and down years. Keeping Peter Woods out of the portal was worth a win or two.

Justin Wells – North Carolina. Chapel Bill. Jordon Hudson.

Ian Boyd – Clemson made a massive upgrade at defensive coordinator, added weapons for the D-line, and retained a ton of really talented players across the roster.

Joe Cook – Penn State upgrading at DC, keeping its star running back, overall having enjoyable vibes, and putting pieces around Drew Allar has them feeling great. Texas Tech is probably right behind the Nittany Lions.

Charlie Williams – Alabama getting Ryan Grubb. Kalen DeBoer got his OC back.

Paul Wadlington – Penn State retained all of their talent, added a #1 WR in Trebor Pena, brought in a quality 1,000 yard receiver from Troy, and hired Ohio State DC Jim Knowles. That’s a pretty good offseason.

RT Young – In the sense the offseason is its own event now, it has to be Texas Tech showing up at the Craps table that is The Portal and landing David Bailey, Lee Hunter and a lot more.

Evan Vieth – Has to be Penn State. Return two of the five best RBs in the nation, add three wide receivers after that was your biggest weakness and steal away arguably the best DC in the nation from your competitor. I don’t think there’s any other answer.

What opponent offseason storyline were you most intrigued by?

Eric Nahlin – Probably all the OU stuff. Losing their DC to…West Virginia. The palace intrigue, coup of the longstanding and wildly successful AD, antiquated “small” school evaluation approach, moneyball attempts to procure talent, ridiculous expectations for their new QB. Etc.

Justin Wells – Georgia football players (and commits) being “booked” on a regular basis.

Ian Boyd – Jim Nagy trying to take over the Oklahoma program and bossing around the Sooner coaching staff.

Joe Cook – You know who stayed quiet? The Aggies. Sure, Mike Elko said something about being the flagship program, but that’s not anything that outlandish. Of course he’s going to say something like that about his school. You know what Elko didn’t do? Start a war of words with the best coach of all time. Or start a war of words with anyone. Nor did his players. That’s a far cry from what Jimbo Fisher did. And if that silence results in a modicum of development from Marcel Reed or improved health for Le’Veon Moss, who had that disorderly conduct charge dismissed? The Aggies are going to be a team in the SEC title race again.

Charlie Williams – Texas Tech being a major player in NIL.

Paul Wadlington – Watching OU football being taken over by the failed former CEO of AT&T who also managed to ruin the Boy Scouts of America has been bizarre. Watching the OU GM who reports to that guy and not the Sooners head football coach show up to SEC media days to hold court was even weirder.

RT Young – Oklahoma’s last ditch effort to save Brent Venables through a return to the Air Raid via John Mateer.

Evan Vieth – The exodus at Oklahoma. The Nagy hire was interesting in it’s own right, but now they’re looking to replace an AD who seemingly had already lost his power. What’s going to happen with Brent Venables, and what is his relationship like with Randall Stephenson.

What opponent training camp storyline are you most intrigued by?

Eric Nahlin – Hopefully we get accurate reports on how well Ohio State is doing in the trenches after suffering significant losses on both sides of the ball.

Justin Wells – Can Oklahoma run the ball? Can Texas A&M throw the ball? Can Georgia keep their guys out of the ‘pen?

Ian Boyd – Gotta be Ohio State. Any injuries and meaningful updates for the Buckeyes will be very relevant in a Week 1 game.

Joe Cook – DJ Lagway’s shoulder. You could argue that the reason Florida didn’t can Billy Napier and used the money that would have gone to his buyout on retention and recruiting is the Gators’ signal-caller. Every piece of info has been better than the last, but what will things look like when he puts the pads on soon?

Charlie Williams – The new “rival” in Georgia, what their offense looks like especially at QB and how many players will be suspended before the season starts.

Paul Wadlington – Is DJ Lagway truly healthy? If he is, it will have a real impact on the conference race. They play every contender except Alabama.

RT Young – Who emerges at QB1 for Ohio State.

Evan Vieth – Who has confidence in Gunner Stockton? You heard nothing about him at SEC Media Days and the usually loud Bulldog fans haven’t been speaking praises of him. Does Georgia even like him? It’s eerily quiet on that front.