College Football Rankings 2017: Projected Top 25 after Week 1

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

Ranking coming into Week 1: No. 1

Death.

Taxes.

Nick Saban beating his former assistant coaches.

Alabama’s 24-7 victory over the No. 3 Florida State Seminoles on Saturday night marked the 11th time that Saban has coached against one of his former assistant and for the 11th time, Saban’s team was the one that came away victorious.

It wasn’t a dominant performance from the Crimson Tide, leading by just a 10-7 score at the break after a blocked field goal to end the half. But, a couple of miscues from the Seminole offense and special teams unit gave the Tide all it needed to put the game out of reach for the ‘Noles.

Even though the Tide faced a strong defense, including one of the nation’s best players in FSU defensive back Derwin James, it was an encouraging performance from the Alabama offense outside of a second-quarter strike from sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts to Calvin Ridley.

Still, it would feel foolish to worry about the Tide’s inefficiencies in the first week of the season in a neutral site game against one of the better teams in America.

Next: 50 best college football programs of all time

If the past has taught us anything, it’s that you can expect Alabama to make the necessary adjustments to maintain their status as the best team in college football.