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15 biggest college football storylines to watch in 2017

By Jerran Anderson

Dec 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson poses with the trophy during a press conference at the New York Marriott Marquis after winning the 2016 Heisman Trophy award during a presentation at the Playstation Theater. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson poses with the trophy during a press conference at the New York Marriott Marquis after winning the 2016 Heisman Trophy award during a presentation at the Playstation Theater. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 29, 2017; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon head coach Willie Taggart walks on the field before the game at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2017; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon head coach Willie Taggart walks on the field before the game at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports /

12. Can the Oregon Ducks bounce back under Willie Taggart?

Willie Taggart is another head coach looking to right the ship after a successful stint at South Florida. The Oregon Ducks had a tumultuous season under Mark Helfrich.

Under Helfrich, the Ducks won just two Pac-12 Conference games and finished the season with a 4-8 record. It was their worst finish since 1991 when the team finished 3-8.

Taggart enters the fray looking to change the Ducks’ fortunes, especially on defense. The defense allowed 41.4 points per game, 144th in the FBS. He led South Florida to a 10-2 record a season ago, their best record in school history.

The expectations to win are high at Oregon this year. We’ll see if the Ducks can find success under Taggart in his first season.

They return 17 total starters, eight on offense, nine on defense. Among those starters are running back Royce Freeman and quarterback Justin Herbert.

Freeman didn’t put up the same amount of rushing yards in 2016 but he still ran for 945 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. He ran for 346 rushing yards and a touchdown in the Ducks final three games of the season.

Herbert came on strong after being named the starter against the Washington Huskies on October 8. The win-loss column didn’t quite showcase his abilities although he still threw for 19 touchdowns and four interceptions in games he appeared in.

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