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The last big group of non-AQ teams begins spring practice this week (two start next week) with hopes of being better than the year before.

Only three of the seven teams opening spring practice this week went to bowl games, while the rest will be looking for ways to rectify that.

Here’s a look at the teams opening spring practice this week:

Navy, March 29

Biggest issue: Linebacker used to be one of the deepest positions for the Midshipmen, but after losing five to graduation, including four starters, the competition to find replacements will be heated this spring.

Arkansas State, March 29

Biggest issue: Quarterback will be an interesting battle this spring with Ryan Aplin returning after starting three games last season. However, Phillip Butterfield, who was supposed to be in the mix last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury, will challenge for the top spot.

SMU, March 29

Biggest issue: The Mustangs are looking for a new starting strong safety this spring after Rock Dennis graduated. Dennis led the team with four interceptions and had 57 tackles. Last year’s backup, Tyler Jones, will be a candidate to start, but he’ll face some stiff competition.

Ohio, March 30

Biggest issue: Iowa State transfer Phillip Bates will get his shot at quarterback this spring as he tries to assert himself as starter. Senior Boo Jackson, who received a medical redshirt, is limited this spring while still nursing a shoulder injury.

Marshall, March 31

Biggest issue: Marshall has a couple of issues, the least of which is learning a new coaching staff, but the key to this season will be getting more players involved in the passing offense. Departed tight end Cody Slate was the main weapon before a season-ending injury. Antavious Wilson stepped in nicely, but now it’s time to get some of the other receivers in the mix to make the Thundering Herd a more versatile offense.

Florida Atlantic, March 31

Biggest issue: The Owls lost seven starters from last year’s defense, including four from the offensive line, and six of the team’s top seven receivers are also gone. Quarterback Jeff Vancamp will be tasked with holding things together as the Owls try to find an offensive rapport this spring.

Hawaii, April 1

Biggest issue: The pass rush was a big concern last season after the Warriors ranked near the bottom of the country in sacks and pass efficiency defense. Paipai Falemalu will move to right end to provide more speed off that edge, and Kamalu Umu could be the starter on the other side of the line.

Here's a breakdown of three issues facing each program heading into the spring:

Arkansas State Red Wolves
Spring practice starts: March 29
Spring game: April 24
What to watch:

• Three-time All-Sun Belt rusher Reggie Arnold is gone and finding his replacement will be their top priority. Derek Lawson, who was third on the team in rushing with 244 yards and two touchdowns, returns and he’ll be the incumbent through spring. But he’ll face competition from Sir Gregory Thornton and Frankie Jackson in the fall.
• Ryan Aplin, who started three of the final four games last season, should be the leading quarterback this spring. Redshirt freshman Phillip Butterfield, however, will also challenge him for the spot. Butterfield was in the mix last fall camp before his season ended with a knee injury.
• Arkansas State is currently without an offensive coordinator after Clay Helton, who came over from Memphis last month, left for USC last week. The Red Wolves still have a month before spring football starts, but trying to fill that void this late is going to make any transition to a new offense tough.

Florida Atlantic Owls
Spring practice starts: March 31
Spring game: April 24
What to watch:

• The Owls lost seven starters from the offense, including four from the offensive line. The only player returning is center Ryan Wischnefski. Several players will be fighting for those spots, including Troy Niblack, Samuel McRoy, Jared Pizzuti and Max Karrick. The 2009 FAU offensive line was the best in the program’s short history. It helped FAU become the No. 2 passing offense in the Sun Belt.
• FAU returns senior quarterback Jeff Van Camp, who started the second half of the season after Rusty Smith was injured. But six of the team’s top seven receivers are gone, including both tight ends Jason Harmon and Jamari Grant. Senior Lester Jean is the lone returning receiver. He had 501 yards and four touchdowns last season. The good thing is that FAU quarterbacks like to spread the ball around, so developing a new rapport with some receivers this spring shouldn’t be too difficult.
• The team is counting on new defensive coordinator Kurt Van Valkenburgh and secondary coach Dick Hopkins to make the defense competitive. The Owls had one of the worst defenses in the country and one of the worst in program history. There will be a lot of competition in the secondary, especially since three walk-ons filled those starting roles.

Florida International Golden Panthers
Spring practice starts: March 3
Spring game: April 1
What to watch:

• Senior Wayne Younger and junior transfer Wesley Carroll, who came from Mississippi State where he was an all-freshman selection in 2008, will compete for the starting quarterback job after Paul McCall graduated. Younger played in spot time last year and threw four interceptions and no touchdowns.
• Darriet Perry should be the leader heading into the running back competition, but Perry struggled at times last year, mostly because of injuries. Kendall Berry, who played out of the Wildcat last year, and Syracuse transfer Jeremiah Harden also will compete for the starting role.
• New offensive coordinator Scott Satterfield will be happy to see star receiver T.Y. Hilton back after he struggled with knee injuries most of last year. Hilton is one of the most dynamic receivers in the conference and having him healthy should give the offense confidence.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com’s Graham Watson

1. Staying focused, undefeated: Boise State and TCU don’t have tough games this weekend, but they do have games to look forward to next weekend. The key will be playing focused like they have all season and staying undefeated for a pivotal Week 11 matchup.

2. Wynn is now: Quarterback Jordan Wynn appears to be taking the reins of Utah football this week after leading the Utes to a come-from-behind win against Wyoming. The Utah offense has struggled of late and perhaps Wynn can be that spark coach Kyle Whittingham hopes he can be.

3. Let’s make it two: Miami-Ohio earned its first win of the season this week and has really played well during the last two weeks. A red hot Temple team isn’t exactly an easy opponent to establish a winning streak against, but at least the Owls give the RedHawks a glimpse of what their program can become.

4. Breaking out of the funk: After losing to TCU a year ago, BYU went into a funk for the rest of the season and won games based more on talent than inspiration or execution. That can’t happen this year, especially since there’s still a lot to play for, including another 10-win season, a win over rival Utah and an outside shot at the Mountain West title.

5. The replacement: Florida Atlantic quarterback Jeff Van Camp is in an unenviable position of filling in for injured starter Rusty Smith for the rest of the season and trying to win out to get his team a bowl berth. The Owls have played better of late, but this is definitely a monumental task.

6. Backs against the wall: Both UNLV and Colorado State are fighting for their postseason lives when they play each other this weekend. The winner still has a outside shot at a bowl game. The loser is playing the rest of the season for pride. If that loser happens to be UNLV, coach Mike Sanford could be in trouble.

7. Win one for the…: Rice, Eastern Michigan, New Mexico and Western Kentucky would like to win one for self esteem. These are the only four winless teams in the FBS and they're starting to run out of chances to get that win to build on for next season. Unfortunately, all of those programs play teams this week that are at or near the top of the divisions or conferences.

8. Another chance for the CIC: The second leg of the Commander-in-Chief Trophy is underway this weekend when Air Force and Army meet in Colorado Springs. Air Force already has lost to Navy and needs a win to be in the hunt for a tie. This is Army’s first CIC game and there still hope for their first CIC trophy since 1996.

9. Stopping another skid: In 2007, Navy stopped a 43-game losing streak against Notre Dame with a thrilling 46-44 triple overtime win. That joy lasted just one season and a new losing streak began in 2008. However, similar to 2007, the Midshipmen are coming off a tough loss and this week starting quarterback Ricky Dobbs returns from a two-game absence because of injury.

10. Running away with it: If Houston can defeat Tulsa this weekend, it will be in prime position to lock up Conference USA West. However, the Golden Hurricane are going to be out for revenge after Houston's 70-30 beatdown a year ago.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Graham Watson

Florida Atlantic senior quarterback Rusty Smith will miss the rest of the season with a sprained AC joint he suffered during the final offensive play against Middle Tennessee last weekend.

The injury ends Smith’s career with the Owls and he will decide Thursday whether to have surgery to repair the injury. If Smith does go ahead with surgery, it’s scheduled for Friday.

Smith, who despite the Owls' struggles the past two seasons, is considered a potential NFL draft pick and selection to the NFL scouting combine. Regardless of whether he has surgery, Smith told local media that he plans to be ready for the combine in February.

Smith had initial tests on the injury on Monday, but sought a second opinion Tuesday and said he was surprised that the injury ended his college career.

"I can pretty much tell by the pain if it's serious or not," Smith said. "I did not expect to play anytime soon, but the fact that I wouldn't be able to finish my career, that was a little bit of a shock."

Smith, the most decorated player in Florida Atlantic history, has started 36 consecutive games and is the Owls’ and Sun Belt Conference’s all-time leader in career and single-season passing yards and touchdown passes.

He finishes with 10,112 passing yards and 76 touchdowns. In 2007, his best season, he was the Sun Belt player of the year and MVP of the New Orleans Bowl. Last season, he was the MVP of the Motor City Bowl. He was 19-18 as a starter.

Fourth-year junior Jeff VanCamp will replace Smith and try to salvage the Owls' 2-5 season. The Owls are out of the race for the conference title, but could still make a bowl if they sweep their final five games. The Owls were selected as an at-large team last year with a 6-6 record.

Smith told media that he’s come to terms with the injury and is now focused on moving forward.

"I really have a good peace of mind about it because I know that God has plans for everything and everything in life happens for a reason," Smith said. "A lot of people would think I'd take it pretty harshly and maybe it would jeopardize my future, but I'm not worried about all of that."

Posted by ESPN.com’s Graham Watson

Jeff Van Camp might be charged with jump-starting Florida Atlantic run to bowl eligibility.

The redshirt junior is the likely starter against UAB this week after senior starter Rusty Smith suffered an injury to his non-throwing shoulder against Middle Tennessee last week.

Smith’s initial prognosis was a sprained left AC joint, but he was re-examined Monday and a full report will be released Tuesday.

"At this juncture, we will proceed as if Jeff Van Camp will be this Saturday's starter," coach Howard Schnellenberger said in a statement.

Van Camp already has shown he can work under pressure. He replaced Smith for the Owls' final drive in a 27-20 loss to Middle Tennessee and nearly led them to the game-winning score. On fourth-and-4 with about a minute remaining, Van Camp found receiver Cortez Gent at the 8-yard line. However, Gent was ruled out of bounds.

Van Camp completed 5-of-9 passes for 73 yards against Middle Tennessee. This season he is 14-of-31 for 197 yards.

The Owls are 2-5 this season, but not yet out of a possible at-large playoff berth. If they win out, they could earn a place in one of the Sun Belt’s secondary bowls. Or, at 6-6, FAU could be picked up as an at-large somewhere else. Last season, the Owls went to the Motor City Bowl with a 6-6 record.