College football inches closer and closer, but not fast enough. National Signing Day, Spring Practices, and the NFL Draft have officially passed, and now all that’s left are summer practices to help teams sort out their final question marks before they begin their 2014 campaigns.

Because of events like those previously mentioned, some teams have been left with some holes they need to fill. The Pac-12 is no exception. While many of the major names, like Marcus Mariota, Brett Hundley and Taylor Kelly, are all returning, there are a few postion battles that have become wide open because of departures.

Here is a look at some of the big position battles that will take place over the course of the summer in the Pac-12.

Oregon Running Backs: Byron Marshall, Thomas Tyner, and Royce Freeman

The Ducks love to use all of their backs, and they will often split carries. Last season, Marshall led the team with 168 carries, but Tyner ran the ball 115 times as a true freshman, so he could be handed a larger role. Then, insert top recruit, Royce Freeman, who dominated in the Army All-American game back in January, and will have an opportunity to compete for carries, especially with DeAnthony Thomas leaving for the NFL.

This isn’t a positional battle in it’s truest form, as all three will see carries, but the competition to see who will receive the most is on. Marshall has the leg up, due to leading the team in 2013 in carries, yards and touchdowns, but the hype for Tyner has been built up since he arrived in Eugene. Tyner impressed in the Spring Game, with his biggest moment being a 22-yard touchdown reception. He has the skills to fill the role that Thomas left behind. Oregon’s offense will be fun to watch, regardless of who lines up in the backfield, but it gives an interesting storyline entering 2014, as the Ducks are once again in the National Title conversation.

Stanford Running Backs: Remound Wright, Barry Sanders Jr.

With the graduation of Stepfan Taylor and Tyler Gaffney over the past couple seasons, the Stanford running back position is up for competition. In one corner, is Remound Wright, a 5’9”, 200 pound senior. He is the bigger of the two backs, but not by any significant margin. He saw a few more carries in 2013, but again, not by a significant margin. In the other corner, is the son of arguably the greatest running back of all time, Barry Sanders, Jr. Sanders hasn’t seen any significant time in the backfield since he’s been in Palo Alto, but he has contributed on punt returns. Sanders is an electric playmaker. I know, shocking.

Early edge goes to Sanders because of his special abilities, as well as Wright getting suspended during spring practices due to an “undisclosed disciplinary violation.”

USC Wide Receivers: Darreus Rogers, George Farmer

There will be no competition for the top receiver position; that spot belongs to junior Nelson Agholor, the Trojan’s leading receiver last season. However, the second spot is open. Right now, Darreus Rogers is projected to start in the role, after a decent freshman season, where he caught 22 passes for 257 yards. However, George Farmer, originally projected to have a big role in 2013 before suffering a torn ACL in spring practices in 2013, is back and ready to go. Coming from the same high school as former Trojans Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, both now in the NFL, Farmer had high expectations, but he has been unable to live up to them to this point. And the knee injury certainly didn’t help.

Farmer has unlimited potential, but he has been unable to scratch the surface of it. Under new coach Steve Sarkisian, and with some consistency at quarterback this season, Farmer may have an opportunity to finally breakout.