The Alabama Crimson Tide moved up one place from No. 3 to No. 2 in PFF’s updated preseason top 25.
This of course comes after the Big 10 and Pac 12 backed out of playing this fall, leaving the SEC, ACC, and Big 12 fighting for a season this fall.
Here’s what PFF has to say about the Crimson Tide:
“Most programs would struggle significantly with having to replace the production lost from two wide receivers who were taken in the first round of the NFL Draft, but not Alabama. The Crimson Tide still have college football’s best wide receiver duo in DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. The two rank first and second, respectively, among FBS wideouts in percentage of targets to result in a 15-plus yard play since 2018 (Waddle 33%, Smith 32.9%). That dynamic duo, in addition to running back Najee Harris, makes life much easier for quarterback Mac Jones.
On defense, Alabama has a rising star in Christian Barmore, who looks like the next great interior defensive lineman to come out of the program, as well as a great outside cornerback duo in Patrick Surtain II and Josh Jobe. And don’t forget about linebacker Dylan Moses, either, as he makes his return after missing all of 2019 due to injury (racked up 48 stops and missed just five tackles on 107 attempts in his career prior to). We just don’t have many bones to pick with the Crimson Tide, despite them losing a plethora of talent.”
Ahead of Alabama is Clemson, who has their star quarterback Trevor Lawrence returning.
But don’t count the Tide out.
Alabama’s conference only schedule was released 10 days ago, and if Alabama finds a way to win the SEC West, and the SEC Championship, there’s no way anyone can argue against Alabama being back in the College Football Playoff.
When you take a moment to think about the SEC teams already on Alabama’s schedule: Georgia, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Tennessee, LSU, Texas A&M, and Auburn, Alabama will truly have one of, if not the hardest, schedule in the country.
5 of the teams on Alabama’s schedule now were ranked in the top 25 of the The Amway Coaches Poll.
This season has alot of unknowns, but one thing is for sure: Alabama is going to prove all season that they deserve to be back in the College Football Playoff.
Here’s PFF’s entire preseason top 25:
- Clemson
- Alabama
- LSU
- Georgia
- Florida
- Oklahoma
- Notre Dame
- Auburn
- Texas A&M
- Texas
- Tennessee
- Kentucky
- Memphis
- Baylor
- Mississippi State
- Iowa State
- Kansas State
- Miami Hurricanes
- UCF
- Oklahoma State
- Appalachian State
- Virigina
- Florida State
- Virginia Tech
- North Carolina
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