Can Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban win the CFP Championship trophy again? (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
There were no real surprises when The Associated Press released its Top 25 poll today. Defending champion Alabama ranked No. 1, followed by Clemson, Georgia, Wisconsin in the top four.
The closest thing to a surprise was Wisconsin, ranked fourth ahead of Ohio State (5), but perhaps not even that was shocking considering the turmoil surrounding the Buckeyes and their coach Urban Meyer, whose fate could be decided Wednesday. The remainder of the top t0 featured Washington (6), Oklahoma (7), Miami (8), Auburn (9) and Penn State (10).
Under coach Nick Saban, it’s the same thing every year: a national championship is the only goal, made easier by a favorable schedule with eight of their 12 games at home, including their last three with a tomato can match-up against The Citadel the week before playing Auburn. This is the third straight year in which Alabama was ranked first by The Associated Press in its preseason poll.
Alabama enters with a question at quarterback between Jalen Hurts, who led the Tide to the title game the past two seasons, and Tua Tagovailoa, who came off the bench to lead them past Clemson for the championship last season. Alabama’s strength is its defense, but this year there’s a new secondary and it could be without linebackers Christopher Allen and Terrell Lewis for the season with knee injuries.
"It's unfortunate we've got two of those at the same position – both guys who would have made a contribution on our team," Saban said late last week.
Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers are loaded again, especially with defensive linemen Christian Wilkins and Clelin Ferrell (126 tackles and 14.5 sacks between them) skipping the NFL draft to get another shot at a title.
Georgia at No. 3 could fall as it has to replace Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Roquan Smith and Lorenzo Carter, who are in the NFL, and running back Zamir White who will miss the season because of a torn ACL.
Wisconsin should win the Big Ten West for a third straight season and could compete in the playoffs if its offense can match the production of its defense, which lost seven starters.
Ohio State has as much talent as anybody, but expectations are cloudy with the investigation of Meyer. The Ohio State Board of Trustees announced today it will meet Wednesday to discuss the investigation, and there is not a deadline to make a decision.
"The board will not deliberate or discuss any public business or make any decisions today based on the information presented during the session," the University said in a statement. "Today's briefing is to ensure that board members are adequately prepared to discuss this matter at Wednesday's meeting."
Ohio State placed Meyer on paid administrative leave, Aug. 1 after the ex-wife of a former assistant coach Zack Smith, Courtney Smith accused Meyer and others mishandling allegations of domestic abuse she made several years earlier.
Fortunately for Ohio State, the Buckeyes’ first four games are at home, with only their third game against TCU against a ranked team (16).
Washington (6) is the Pac-12’s best hope to qualify for the final four, with fourth-year starter Jake Browning at quarterback. We should know about the Huskies on Sept. 1 when they open the season against Auburn at home.
No. 7 Oklahoma will replace Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield with Kyler Murray. No. 8 Miami lost its last three games, but the program is on an upward trend. Unlike the Tide, Auburn has a brutal schedule with road games at Washington, Mississippi State, Georgia and Alabama.
The season for No. 10 Penn State could be determined in the season’s fifth week when the Lions host Ohio State. A loss for either team could drop them out of the top ten. Penn State is without running back Saquon Barkley, but does have the Big Ten’s best quarterback in Trace McSorley.
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