Tier 1: Ohio State, Clemson, and Alabama
What Hummer says
“This tier accounts for five of the six national titles of the CFB Playoff era. These teams are talented, deep and consistent. Alabama and Clemson have reached the playoff in five of the last six seasons. Ohio State has cleared the 11-win barrier for eight straight seasons and it has finished in the top seven of the CFB Playoff voting each year of the format’s existence. These are college football’s constants, and nothing changes in that regard entering 2020.”
“Clemson (Trevor Lawrence) and Ohio State (Justin Fields) claim the best two quarterbacks in the sport. Both of those QBs are surrounded by deep and talented rosters with future first-round picks scattered across the board. Clemson’s schedule, even with a November trip to South Bend, is more favorable than any other contender. Ohio State does have difficult road games with Oregon and Penn State. But given that many stadiums must limit capacity due to COVID-19 concerns, those previously intimidating road games look far less daunting. Besides, Ohio State avoids the Big Ten West’s best teams in cross-division play.”
“As for Alabama … the Tide will be just fine with Mac Jones or Bryce Young under center. The offensive pieces around whoever plays quarterback (four returning o-linemen, two elite receivers, an elite RB) are among the best in the country. The defense should improve with Dylan Moses returning at middle linebacker along with stars like Christian Barmore and Patrick Surtain.”
“History tells us that at least two of these three teams will reach the playoff. There’s nothing to indicate that pattern changes entering 2020.”
History would say that this is probably correct until there’s a shift in the balance of power. Maybe more than ever, the best programs continue to dominate in recruiting and results on the field. Alabama and Clemson have both made the College Football Playoff five times, and Ohio State has gotten in three. Each has won the whole thing, with LSU the only other team to hoist the national championship trophy.
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