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Now, West Virginia University football fans wait.
Saturday's Gold-Blue Spring Game marked the end of a progressive session of spring ball for the Mountaineers, one that saw the team embrace a somewhat new offense, a lack of experience in the defensive secondary and many other adjustments.
With Week 1's kickoff against Pitt set for Sept. 1, much of what the team will look like then is still inconclusive. But, at the very least, coach Neal Brown and company have reached the first checkpoint in a long offseason as the climb continues.
Offensively, new coordinator and quarterbacks coach Graham Harrell has brought a welcome mindset to a group that needed revamping. He also brought a keen eye as three vied for the title of starting quarterback in the spring - with another contender coming soon.
"What Graham's done, he's brought a confidence, he's got good swagger, but he's humble," Brown said. "I think that's been really effective in that room."
Quarterbacks Will "Goose" Crowder, Garrett Greene and Nicco Marchiol have been working with the team this spring, each experiencing ups and downs in a battle that appears somewhat close. J.T. Daniels, a former five-star quarterback prospect from Georgia, complicates things as he expects to join the fold this summer after committing to WVU earlier this month.
At running back, position coach Chad Scott has been impressed by the depth of the group as he eyes the replacement for Leddie Brown. Scott said earlier in the spring that he would likely turn to two different running backs at the same time -- giving him a full deck as Tony Mathis, Lyn-J Dixon, Justin Johnson and Jaylen Anderson have very unique skill sets.
Elsewhere, the offensive line returns all five starters, while the wide receivers room keeps two of its top three pass catchers from 2021.
"I feel good about where we're at offensively as we hit the summer," Brown said. "Do we have to get better? Yes. We need some depth at some positions, probably so. But I do like our mix, and I think we made strides on those explosive plays and our consistency running the football."
Defensively, a lack of depth in the secondary has been the biggest concern. With a handful of last season's starters leaving the program, young players such as Davis Mallinger, Hershey McLaurin and Aubrey Burks have quickly been thrust into considerable playing time.
At linebacker, the addition of transfer Lee Kpogba provides much-needed experience in the middle, while Lance Dixon has continued to grow with more time in defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley's system. The lone question mark is currently at bandit, as Lanell Carr and Jared Bartlett are battling for the starting spot.
The loss of Akheem Mesidor on the defensive line, while demoralizing to Brown and some inside the program, has allowed for Justin Jefferson -- arguably the strongest player on the entire roster -- to see increased reps.
"I feel like we just improved every day," defensive lineman Dante Stills said about the defense's spring performance. "That was kind of the main goal going into it, just make sure we take one step every day. I feel like, overall, we improved in many ways. Our aggression, just the way we play, stuff like that."
The Mountaineers will take a break until Memorial Day, returning for eight practices over nine weeks during the summer.
"I think the summer is going to be really important for us," Brown said. "We're gonna add, I think, 18 more people to the mix on scholarship, another 15 or so that are gonna be preferred walk-ons. We gotta get them acclimated, and we've got some guys that are younger players that must continue to develop as we go through the summer."