By Steven Lassan (@AthlonSteven on Twitter)

The journey to claim the 2012 national title begins in February, March and April, as 124 college football teams open up spring practice over the next three months. Athlon will preview some of the top teams and storylines across the nation, as the countdown to 2012 inches closer.

-by Patrick Snow (@AthlonSnowman on twitter)

No. 10: USC Trojans (16 total signees)

Pac-12 Rank: 2nd
Athlon Consensus 100 Signees: 7
National Signees: 10

-by Braden Gall (@BradenGall on twitter)

This was easily one of the more entertaining National Signing Days in history.

By Patrick Snow (@AthlonSnowman)

By Braden Gall (@BradenGall on twitter) and Steven Lassan (@AthlonSteven)

Very Early 2012 Pac-12 Predictions

Pac-12 North

-by Braden Gall (@BradenGall on twitter) and Mark Ross

The BCS just finished its 14th season of action, and has for the most part, been a major improvement on the previous bowl system. How do each of the 14 official champions stack-up against each other? Who has the most talent? Who had the best resume? Who played the toughest schedule? And who performed the best on the biggest stage?

-by Braden Gall (@BradenGall on twitter)

-by Braden Gall (@BradenGall on twitter)

With the BCS National Championship in the rearview, recruiting now takes center stage for the next three weeks.

-by Braden Gall (follow at @BradenGall)

There is no doubt this is the Era of the Quarterback.

-by Braden Gall (follow at @BradenGall)

National Signing Day 2012 is just over one month away.

With 11 of the top 20 players in the 2012 Athlon Consensus 100 — and exactly one-third of the entire list — still left uncommitted, the furious finish to the 2012 recruiting cycle could be one of the more memorable in history.