I love adventure racing.

Not the kind involving hokey obstacle courses and smile-for-the-camera selfies. The type that require ultra-marathons through the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Or Scott Jurek’s recent speed record of the Appalachian Trail.

Distance running — especially the kind that plays out for hours — is a gratifying spectator sport because it’s different. Follow a race in person or online and, inevitably, updates and results come in the form of startling bursts that interrupt long periods of silence.

It reminds me of the college football offseason. We fill the empty spaces by debating and dissecting the small bits of information that seep out between January and September.

For months, we’ve talked about how good Auburn’s pass offense should be with quarterback Jeremy Johnson throwing to receiver D’haquille Williams — and then the latter gets suspended from practice indefinitely. Surely Williams will play for Auburn this year. But it underscores how fast the bedrock of the last seven months of SEC discussion can shift.

We should finally get those oft-craved glimpses of where each team stands in the next several weeks. If you’re an optimist, hoping to catch a snapshot of improvement from your favorite team, here’s a good place to find it:

Alabama: Secondary

The Crimson Tide won’t be able to win back-to-back SEC championships without better play from the pass defense. Luckily, Bama features a quartet of five-star cornerbacks — and that’s excluding Cyrus Jones. Departed safeties Nick Perry and Landon Collins were run-first players, while Geno Smith and Eddie Jackson are converted corners, so there’s hope for improved pass coverage.

Arkansas: Receiver

Hunter Henry is one of the most reliable tight ends in the conference and Keon Hatcher provides steady production at receiver. But, to this point in Bret Bielema’s Arkansas tenure, the offense lacks a playmaker who can stretch a defense downfield. The Razorbacks hope JUCO transfer Dominique Reed provides that element.

Auburn: Secondary

The return of Carl Lawson and the addition of Byron Cowart should boost the pass rush and alleviate pressure on the secondary. But Auburn allowed 44 passes of at least 20 yards last season, tied with Texas A&M for second-worst in the SEC. A slew of offseason transfers jumbled the roster as well, with three players transferring out of the program. The Tigers hope former Georgia safety Trey Matthews and former Michigan cornerback Blake Countess can improve the pass coverage.

Florida: Offensive line

Everyone focused on the team’s inexperience and the potential impact of five-star tackle Martez Ivey is missing a major thread to this story. The Gators lost a first-round tackle (D.J. Humphries), a third-round tackle (Chaz Green), a fourth-round center (Max Garcia) and a seventh-round tackle (Trenton Brown) to the NFL draft. Then lost tackle Rod Johnson to a career-ending spinal injury. That’s tough for a unit with an inexperienced quarterback.

Georgia: Defensive line

The Bulldogs lost Ray Drew, the best member of last year’s line. The unit features plenty of veterans, but the most talented players (like Trenton Thompson) haven’t played a college snap. Coordinator Jeremy Pruitt has the secondary trending up, and the team’s linebackers are as deep and threatening as any in the SEC. But players like Sterling Bailey, Josh Dawson, John Atkins and Thompson must ensure opposing linemen don’t blast those ‘backers with numbers.

Kentucky: Offensive line

The outlook with new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson is good. UK has potential to finish in the top five in the SEC in scoring offense. Patrick Towles, Boom Williams and Ryan Timmons make an exciting trio. But for those players to bloom, the offensive line has to offer more push and protection than it did against the SEC’s best in 2014.

LSU: Quarterback

There’s still time for him to relinquish the job, and it remains close. But Brandon Harris looks more like the starter every practice, hogging the repetitions with the first-team offense. LSU is invested in Harris (or Anthony Jennings) to improve at quarterback. The defense, especially in the back seven, is as loaded as always. The running game is punishing. The receivers are electric. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is one of the richest in the country. It’s imperative the team gets much better play at quarterback in 2015.

Mississippi State: Offensive line

The Bulldogs fielded a competitive defense in ’14, but still finished 12th in the SEC in yards allowed per game. That’s before losing three NFL draft picks and coordinator Geoff Collins. It’s tough to expect Mississippi State to do anything more than maintain last year’s play there. So the Bulldogs will need another big season from Heisman Trophy candidate and quarterback Dak Prescott. He, Josh Robinson and De’Runnya Wilson were so good last year because of the team’s offensive line. And the soul of that incredible line is gone: Ben Beckwith, Blaine Clausell and Dillon Day. Whether the Bulldogs maintain a high level of play at offensive line is the crux of Mississippi State’s season.

Missouri: Receiver

The attrition rate is staggering, as Mizzou lost its three starting receivers in 2013 and 2014. That’s not to mention a few dismissals at the position. The story is similar on the defensive line. But the Tigers can’t afford to be one-dimensional on offense. Last season, when Bud Sasser, Jimmie Hunt and Darius White weren’t all on the field, Maty Mauk couldn’t scratch out 200 yards passing against good SEC defenses. It’s time for Nate Brown and J’Mon Moore to grow up fast.

Ole Miss: Running backs

Part of this is on the offensive line. But, excluding sacks, the Rebels got tackled behind the line of scrimmage 67 times in 2014. That’s an unbelievable number for a team that featured one of the best defenses in college football and held a lead almost the entire first half of the season. Jaylen Walton, the team’s leading rusher, couldn’t crack the SEC’s top 20 last year, averaging 45.1 yards per game. With a new starting quarterback and designs on an SEC West title, Ole Miss must run the ball better.

South Carolina: Secondary

Much like Auburn, South Carolina’s entire pass defense was rancid in 2014. And much like the Tigers, the Gamecocks should benefit from an influx of good defensive linemen set to boost a non-existent pass rush. Transfer safety Isaiah Johnson (Kansas) should provide a lift, but the young coverage guys thrown into action last season must exhibit growth.

Tennessee: Offensive line

The Vols believe the team’s skill players match up favorably with most every team in the SEC now. But that won’t matter if the line fails to protect quarterback Joshua Dobbs and forces running backs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara to gain too many yards after first contact. The interior seems to be at least trending in the right direction, but concerns remain at both tackle spots.

Texas A&M: Linebacker

Was there a bigger talent gap within any SEC team last year than existed between the Aggies’ pass-catchers and the team’s linebackers? Talk about a ball and chain. New coordinator John Chavis inherited a very good defensive line and some interesting players at safety. But the run defense will continue to plague this unit unless it gets much better in the middle.

Vanderbilt: Quarterback

It’s not the only place the Commodores slipped in 2014 after James Franklin’s departure. But it’s glaring. The team never settled on a starter last season, rotating players ad nauseam based on injuries and effectiveness. New coordinator Andy Ludwig all but identified Patton Robinette as the starter out of spring practice, only for Robinette to retire to pursue medical school. It’s a tall task, but Vandy must get better play — and consistency — from the position somehow.