College football 2018: Biggest X-factor on every Top 25 team

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Miles Sanders (24) of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs for a gain in the game between the Washington Huskies and the Penn State Nittany Lions on December 30, 2017 at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, AZ. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide passes against the Georgia Bulldogs in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama Crimson Tide

After struggling during last year’s National Championship game, Jalen Hurts was replaced by freshman Tua Tagovailoa. He made the most out of his opportunity and won the Crimson Tide another National Championship going 14-of-24 for three touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime.

Now Saban has a legitimate quarterback controversy on his hands. Does he ride it out with Hurts or turn the offense over to now sophomore Tagovailoa? A case can be made for both options, Hurts has more experience and has proved to be sufficient enough to get Alabama to the big game while Tagovailoa is raw with untapped potential.

Tagovailoa is the leader in the competition right now as summer camp gets underway. A broken hand kept him out of the Spring game where we could have seen Hurts and Tagovailoa go toe-to-toe for the starting job. He brings a better passing attack option to the Alabama offense than Hurts so that is a plus.

Assuming Tagovailoa does win the job he will get a tough test in Week 1 against Louisville, sure the Cardinals are not as threatening but it is a much tougher challenge than their Week 2 matchup against Arkansas State.

The Crimson Tide are locks to be in the conversation as the top team in college football every year. The competition is slowly closing the gap. The emergence of Tagovailoa will help restore that cushion, an early stumble could mean they pull the plug and give the ball back to Jalen Hurts which makes their overall offense less dynamic.