Adams, who played the past three seasons at FCS Eastern Washington, needed only two weeks to win Oregon's starting job after arriving to preseason camp late. His first start will come in Saturday night's opener against his former team.
Golson, who transferred from Notre Dame this summer, has the unenviable task of replacing 2013 Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston. Golson has to take better care of the football after throwing 14 interceptions and losing eight fumbles in 2014.
Smith played quarterback at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College last season, but he'll play slot receiver for the Tigers. His speed and athleticism might make him one of Jeremy Johnson's favorite targets.
The former Virginia starter arrived on Georgia's campus about seven weeks ago and then beat out two other candidates for the starting job. At 6-foot-5, he's Georgia's tallest quarterback in quite a while.
Fields, a former Big 12 defensive player of the year at TCU, will start at outside linebacker for Louisville in Saturday's opener against Auburn in Atlanta. Fields, who was dismissed from TCU following his arrest on domestic violence charges, might be an elite pass-rusher in Todd Grantham's 3-4 defense.
The picks
American Athletic Conference
East Division winner: Cincinnati
West Division winner: Houston
Conference champion: Cincinnati
Team poised to surprise: Temple
Team poised to disappoint: USF
Coach of the year: Tom Herman, Houston
Offensive player of the year: Keenan Reynolds, QB, Navy
Defensive player of the year: Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple
Freshman of the year: Jae'lon Oglesby, WR, Memphis
ACC
Atlantic Division winner: Clemson
Coastal Division winner: Virginia Tech
Conference champion: Clemson
Team poised to surprise: NC State
Team poised to disappoint: Miami
Coach of the year: Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech
Offensive player of the year: DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson
Defensive player of the year: Kendall Fuller, DB, Virginia Tech
Freshman of the year: Mitch Hyatt, OT, Clemson
Big 12
Conference champion: TCU
Team poised to surprise: Kansas State
Team poised to disappoint: Oklahoma
Coach of the year: Bill Snyder, Kansas State
Offensive player of the year: Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU
Defensive player of the year: Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor
Freshman of the year: Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma
Big Ten
East Division winner: Ohio State
West Division winner: Wisconsin
Conference champion: Ohio State
Team poised to surprise: Northwestern
Team poised to disappoint: Iowa
Coach of the year: Urban Meyer, Ohio State
Offensive player of the year: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
Defensive player of the year: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Freshman of the year: Jabrill Peppers, DB, Michigan
Conference USA
East Division winner: Western Kentucky
West Division winner: Louisiana Tech
Conference champion: Western Kentucky
Team poised to surprise: UTEP
Team poised to disappoint: North Texas
Coach of the year: Jeff Brohm, Western Kentucky
Offensive player of the year: Brandon Doughty, QB, Western Kentucky
Defensive player of the year: Xavier Woods, S, Louisiana Tech
Freshman of the year: Shuler Bentley, QB, Old Dominion
MAC
East Division winner: Bowling Green
West Division winner: Toledo
Conference champion: Toledo
Team poised to surprise: UMass
Team poised to disappoint: Northern Illinois
Coach of the year: Mark Whipple, UMass
Offensive player of the year: Kareem Hunt, RB, Toledo
Defensive player of the year: Jatavis Brown, LB, Akron
Freshman of the year: Gus Ragland, QB, Miami
Mountain West
Mountain Division winner: Utah State
West Division winner: San Diego State
Conference champion: Utah State
Team poised to surprise: Colorado State
Team poised to disappoint: Air Force
Coach of the year: Rocky Long, San Diego State
Offensive player of the year: Rashard Higgins , WR, Colorado State
Defensive player of the year: Kamalei Correa, DL, Boise State
Freshman of the year: Cory Young, RB, Boise State
Pac-12
North Division winner: Oregon
South Division winner: Arizona State
Conference champion: Oregon
Team poised to surprise: Cal
Team poised to disappoint: USC
Coach of the year: Mark Helfrich, Oregon
Offensive player of the year: Cody Kessler, QB, USC
Defensive player of the year: Scooby Wright III, LB, Arizona
Freshman of the year: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
SEC
East Division winner: Georgia
West Division winner: Auburn
Conference champion: Auburn
Team poised to surprise: Texas A&M
Team poised to disappoint: South Carolina
Coach of the year: Gus Malzahn, Auburn
Offensive player of the year: Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
Defensive player of the year: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
Freshman of the year: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Sun Belt
Conference champion: Georgia Southern
Team poised to surprise: Appalachian State
Team poised to disappoint: Texas State
Coach of the year: Willie Fritz, Georgia Southern
Offensive player of the year: Matt Breida, RB, Georgia Southern
Defensive player of the year: Gerrand Johnson, DL, Louisiana-Monroe
Freshman of the year: Garrett Smith, QB, Louisiana-Monroe