Forty names, games, teams and details making the news in college football, where Nevada has gone nine games without a fumble yet: First quarter: Twelve (or more) angry people. Second quarter: Announcement of each conference for CFP.

Among teams experiencing breakthrough seasons, some things have changed from year to year to allow for improvement. Dash focuses on some of them, from the obvious to the more subtle.

Texas A&M Aggies (21)

Mike Elko inherited a soft team up front, and that clearly wasn’t going to last long. At the SEC spring meetings in May, he hinted at what was to come with A&M’s offensive line: “I don’t think they’re very excited about the reputation they have in the Texas A&M community from last year. I think they’re very hungry to change that narrative.” Consider it changed.

Despite losing potential feature back Rueben Owens to an injury in the preseason, the Aggies lead the SEC in rushing yards per carry (5.31) and are second in rushing yards per game (221.5). Offensive line coach Adam Cushing did a great job under Elko at Duke and that carried over to this unit. And freshman quarterback Marcel Reed is a better running threat than Conner Weigman.

Tennessee Volunteers (22)

This is a much-improved defensive team, ranking third nationally in both yards allowed per game (259) and points allowed per game (11.6) — and they have yet to have the pleasure of facing the No. 1 offense. 15 in the SEC (Kentucky). this week) or no. 12 (Mississippi State next week). The Vols have yet to allow 20 points in a game this season.

Coordinator Tim Banks, who should get some head coaching looks on the job market this offseason, has added some key pieces to the secondary. Oregon State transfer Jermod McCoy has a pair of interceptions, five pass breakups and is fourth on the team in tackles. Freshman Boo Carter had a big impact in a close win over Florida. Middle Tennessee transfer Jakobe Thomas made some disruptive plays in the win over Alabama.

Arkansas Razorbacks (23)

Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino arrived in the offseason to bail out Sam Pittman and has done his job so far. Petrino has always been an underrated running back, and the Hogs back up his acumen in that area with a two-pronged transfer attack. Running back Ja’Quinden Jackson (Utah) and running back Taylen Green (Boise State) combine for 134 rushing yards per game. Overall, the Hogs improved their rushing yards per game by 60 from last year and their yards per carry by 1.73.

Indiana Hoosiers (24)

Curt Cignetti’s passing legion runs the ball, stops the run and gets into the opposing backfield. Indiana leads the Big Ten in both sacks and tackles for loss, with the Hoosiers’ top eight players in TFLs all transfers from Group 5 conference schools. No one in the Big Ten ran the ball more than Indiana’s 391 carries, their top four running backs and all the transfers — either from the ACC or Cignetti’s old school, James Madison. But the offensive line is largely a collection of leftovers that just got better.

Penn State Nittany Lions (25)

James Franklin has had a succession of tight ends at the NFL level, from Pat Freiermuth to Brenton Strange and Theo Johnson, and has often used them as versatile players. But new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki took it to a mad scientist level with Tyler Warren, the biggest star at that position in the country. Warren caught four touchdowns, ran for a TD and threw for a score while lining up all over the field (including memorably under center on a scoring drive against USC). The amount of time opposing defenses have to spend preparing for Where’s Warren? weekday scenarios — and then factoring him in on every play — has to be tough.

Miami Hurricanes (26)

The arrival of transfer quarterback Cam Ward produced a massive improvement in pass efficiency for the Hurricanes, from a 140.52 rating last year (52nd nationally) to 175.92 this year (sixth). Ward has made up for his mistakes recently, throwing zero interceptions and no fumbles in the last two games after five fumbles in the last three contests. In recent years, Miami has been a place for quarterbacks to briefly thrive and then wither; so far Ward is making everything work splendidly. The ‘Bastis might have the cleanest path to 12-0 of any remaining undefeated.

Pittsburgh Panthers (27)

During last season’s 3–9 record, Pitt was an even team in the fourth quarter – the Panthers scored 58 points and allowed 58 points. So far this year, Pitt is outscoring opponents 83–23 in the fourth – an increase in scoring average in that quarter from 4.8 points to 11.9. Quarterback Eli Holstein was a scrimmage wizard, posting his highest efficiency rating this season in the fourth quarter (a blistering 212.23). Pitt will sweat Holstein’s availability this week for a back-to-back game at SMU; left the blowout of the undefeated Syracuse Panthers last week after hitting his head on the turf in a scramble.

Iowa State Cyclones (28)

Coordinator Jon Heacock’s traditionally good defense stepped up this year, leading the nation in passing efficiency allowed and ranking ninth in points allowed. Typical of a Matt Campbell team, the undefeated “Clones” are largely without transfers on the defensive end, with players moving up the depth chart and excelling when given the opportunity. The breakout star is defensive back Jontez Williams, who has interceptions in four straight games, most recently in a dramatic win against Central Florida. Iowa State is also getting early production from a pair of freshmen, Rylan Barnes and Cael Brezina, who have only been part-time players thus far.

BYU Cougars (29)

They’re better in almost every area, but pass defense stands out so far. The undefeated Cougars are third nationally in interceptions with 14, with at least one in every game and at least two in each of the last five games. Eleven different players caught passes through eight games. Five percent of opposing passes are intercepted by BYU, which is allowing 10 fewer points per game than both of the last two years.

Colorado Buffaloes (30)

Their evolution into a more solid all-around team in their second season under Deion Sanders is most notable defensively. Sanders reached out to the NFL to hire new coordinator Robert Livingston away from the Cincinnati Bengals and, of course, shuffled the roster a bit. The result so far has been a reduction in points allowed from 34.8 to 22 per game. Third-down conversion defense is better for the Buffs 6–2, sacks are up, tackles for loss are up, explosive plays surrendered are down. Colorado still has plenty of offensive weapons, but they no longer need to score 35 points every game to have a chance to win.