College Football Playoff: 5 reasons Alabama wins 2017 national championship

1. Alabama is the most talented team in the country

We’ve touched on it in each of the previous four reasons Alabama will win the 2017 national championship, but simply put, the Crimson Tide is the most talented team in the nation.

Recruiting rankings may or may not be overrated, but it’s hard to argue there is another more talented group of players anywhere in the nation. Alabama has had the No. 1-ranked recruiting class in the nation every year since 2011, according to the 247Sports Composite – meaning every current Crimson Tide player was part of a top-ranked recruiting class. Sure, 10 of those players were selected in the NFL Draft last spring, but there’s still a cupboard full of four-and-five-star players available at every position.

Looking at other talent evaluators, other than special teams, Alabama ranks in the top 12 in each of Phil Steele’s 2017 Top Individual Units. Steele ranks Bama’s running backs and linebackers as the best in the nation, and lists the offensive line No. 2. In a closer look, Steele ranks the Tide first in the SEC in every position group by receivers (No. 2) and special teams (No. 7).

Athlon Sports ranked the Crimson Tide No. 1 in the SEC at the quarterback and running back positions, as well as offensive line, defensive line, and secondary. ESPN ranks six Tide players among its Top 50 in the preseason #CFBRank. NFL Draft Scout ranks nine Alabama players among its Top 100 2018 NFL Draft prospects – more than any other program.

It’s universal. From high school recruiting rankings to college football preseason magazines to NFL talent evaluators, everyone knows Alabama is the most talented team in the country. And when the nation’s most talented team is also experienced and plays for an all-time great head coach, there’s no better pick for preseason No. 1.