Coast to coast: 10 college football storylines to watch across the country this season

Alabama and Clemson have faced off in three of the past four College Football Playoff title games and they’re favored to meet again.

The Tigers have won two of the past three titles and return 11 starters from a 2018 squad that went 15-0.

Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray won the 2018 Heisman Trophy, left school early and became the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.

That’s a tough act to follow. But his successor is among the favorites to strike the pose this season.

Mark your calendar: Here’s a week-by-week look at some of the most intriguing games during the regular season.

WEEK 1

One spot in the postseason format that includes six major bowl games is reserved for the top-rated team from the “Group of Five,” which includes the AAC, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West and Sun Belt.

Central Florida has represented the group the past two seasons, beating Auburn in the Peach Bowl and losing to LSU in the Fiesta Bowl.

After more than two decades on the sidelines, former UW athlete Mel Tucker (above) finally gets a chance to call a program his own.

Tucker, 47, inherits a Colorado outfit that has finished with a losing record in 12 of the past 13 seasons. He takes over for Mike MacIntyre, who went 30-44 in six seasons.

When Gary Andersen (above) was named UW’s coach late in 2012, he talked about how hard it was to leave Utah State.

Now, Andersen has come full circle, returning for a second stint with the Aggies after a six-year journey that was, well, interesting.

Three other coaches at new places to keep an eye on this season:

Les Miles (above), Kansas: The Jayhawks are a dreadful 23-97 over the past decade, so Miles has his work cut out for him. Miles didn’t exactly sprint to the finish during an otherwise successful run at LSU, but he at least gives Kansas fans some hope.

After going 13-23 in Lance Leipold’s (above) first three seasons, Buffalo went 10-4 last season and won the MAC East Division.

Following up that breakthrough season won’t be easy for Leipold, who led UW-Whitewater to six NCAA Division III national titles.

Three coaches outside the Big Ten Conference who might get a pink slip if they don’t have a successful 2019 season:

Clay Helton (above), USC: The Trojans began last season No. 15 in the country but finished 5-7, their first losing campaign in 18 years.