College Football: Preseason Top 25 Projections

Naturally, Alabama is going to start the 2018 season right where they ended it last year. The Crimson Tide are the constant in the equation that will undoubtedly sit atop the AP Top 25 when it is released on August 20.

Nick Saban has two potential starters at quarterback. Jalen Hurts spent most of the season leading the offense, while Tua Tagovailoa came in as a closer to seal the national championship against Georgia.

Damien Harris returns to the backfield after a 1000-yard season. Joshua Jacobs and Najee Harris also return to spell Harris in a multifaceted and incredibly talented group of runners. Hurts was the second-leading rusher last season, but Tagovailoa brings a similar skill set if he wins the quarterback battle.

The defense lost eight starters, but it is hard to imagine that Saban will allow the unit to slip. Alabama has ranked in the top 10 in points allowed every season since 2008, and at this point it would be hard to bet against the streak continuing for an 11th year in a row.

Alabama has rarely finished a season undefeated, pulling it off only once in Saban’s tenure so far. This will probably not be the year it happens again, but for the third straight season Alabama will open the season atop the AP Top 25.