College Football Playoff: 5 reasons Alabama wins 2017 national championship

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 09: Quarterback Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a pass during the second half against the Clemson Tigers in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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4. Best offensive line/defensive line combo in the nation

Offense wins games, defense wins championships and common football wisdom (and clichés) tells us games are won in the trenches. Well, no body is better at the line of scrimmage than Alabama.

Offensively, Alabama ranked second in the SEC in rushing offense (245.0 yards per game) and yards per carry (5.75) last season. Much of the credit belongs to an offensive line, which returns three starters. Also, the Tide allowed 24 sacks in 265 pass attempts – a respectable 8.6 percent sack rate.

In preseason unit rankings, Phil Steele pegged the Crimson Tide offensive line as the second-best in the nation behind Oklahoma, and Athlon Sports also considers it the best in the SEC.

On the other side of the football, the Alabama defense recorded 54 sacks in 273 pass attempts, a 16.5 percent sack rate. The Tide also held opponents to 63. 9 rushing yards per game and 2.01 yards per carry – both of which were the best in the nation by a wide margin.

Only one starter returns from last season (headliner and potential first round pick Da’Ron Payne), but Steele ranks Alabama’s defensive line as the best in the league and No. 6 in the country. Athlon also ranks the unit as the best in the SEC.

There was also a bit of uncertainty surrounding defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand earlier in the week after a DUI arrest. However, Saban told the media Thursday if Hand meets guidelines set forth by the coach, he would not be suspended for any portion of the Week 1 showdown with Florida State.

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