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5 reasons Alabama will win the 2018 National Championship

By Connor Muldowney

Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough (9) runs past Clemson Tigers safety Van Smith (23) in the 207 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mickey Welsh/Montgomery Advertiser via USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough (9) runs past Clemson Tigers safety Van Smith (23) in the 207 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mickey Welsh/Montgomery Advertiser via USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 7, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and his team prepare to do drills during the Alabama Crimson Tide practice at Frank Morsani Football Complex. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and his team prepare to do drills during the Alabama Crimson Tide practice at Frank Morsani Football Complex. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Recruiting class is ranked No. 1 — again

If you think recruiting doesn’t have much to do with on-field results, then you haven’t seen what the Crimson Tide’s continual top-tier talent can do. Alabama is bringing in yet another No. 1 recruiting class, according to Scout.com, in 2017 which is following its No. 1 group from 2016.

Nick Saban knows how to reel in the big fish, and he did so with the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect, Najee Harris, who was also considering Michigan. For what the Tide will be losing on both sides of the ball, they’ll make up for with an elite recruiting class.

The Crimson Tide currently have eight of the top 100 prospects in the country committed in 2017 as well as 15 of the top 200 and two of the 10 best JUCO transfers. This class is loaded from top to bottom and these guys are going to come in and pick up right where the 2016 team left off.

Add the No. 1 class in 2017 to the top group in 2016 and the second-best class in 2015 and you have the best team in college football. There’s no doubt that the returning talent mixed with the nation’s best recruiting classes will open the 2017 season ranked No. 1 in the country.

Saban has shown he’s not afraid to play these guys early on, either. If they’re good enough to contribute, they’ll play. Just ask Bo Scarbrough, Calvin Ridley, Jalen Hurts, Da’Ron Payne, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ronnie Harrison, who all started as freshmen or sophomores in 2016.

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