The Alabama Crimson Tide finished the 2020 college football season as national champions after a 52-24 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes.
While Alabama will lose several starters to the NFL, the Crimson Tide keep on rolling. Erick Smith of USA TODAY Sports recently released an early look at the Top 25 for the 2021 season, and Alabama comes in at No. 1.
The Georgia Bulldogs come in at No. 2, Oklahoma at No. 3, Clemson at No. 4 and the Buckeyes at No. 5.
While two SEC teams made Smith’s top five, Texas A&M came in at No. 7 and Florida at No. 10.
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The next SEC team to make it into Smith’s poll was the LSU Tigers at No. 15.
After winning the national championship in 2019, LSU lost a record number of players to the NFL draft. And, when the 2020 season began, the Tigers saw several key players opt out due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To make matters worse, Joe Burrow’s replacement at quarterback, Myles Brennan, went down with an injury in October, and the Tigers were forced to go with a pair of true freshmen under center.
The results weren’t good, as LSU finished the season with a 5-5 record. However, the Tigers did win their final two games when Max Johnson took over at quarterback.
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Heading into 2021, there is optimism in Baton Rouge again. Jake Peetz is the new offensive coordinator, while the Tigers continue their search for a new defensive coordinator after firing Bo Pelini after just one season.
The Tigers signed a top-five recruiting class and will return virtually their entire offensive and defensive lines.
LSU should bounce back in 2021 with so many talented players returning to school.
The biggest question facing Peetz is who will start at quarterback for the Tigers in 2021?
That will remain to be seen.
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