College Football Rankings: Way-too-early Top 25 for 2019

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Clemson Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during the second half of the Alabama Crimson Tide's game versus the Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 7, 2019, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by David Dennis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 29: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks to pass against the Oklahoma Sooners during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Key returners: Tua Tagovailoa, Najee Harris, Joshua Jacobs, Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle, Henry Ruggs III, Dylan Moses, Patrick Surtain II, Jalen Hurts
Key departures: Damien Harris, TBD
Coaching change: None

Oh, how the mighty have fallen — for now. Alabama was the favorite to win the national title over Clemson, but the Tigers came up and bit the Tide for the second time in the playoff era. This has been a rematch that some have groaned about but has live up to the hype.

Unfortunately for Nick Saban and the Tide, there was no comeback in this year’s title game as Clemson got ahead early and just extended it, even topping out at 44-16. Clemson’s offense and defense were just too much for the Tide and they didn’t expect the kind of attack the Tigers led with.

Alabama will be right back up there in the top-two to start the 2019 season with top NFL draft prospect Tua Tagovailoa returning for his junior year and Najee Harris and Joshua Jacobs in the backfield. The receivers he has returning around him, led by Jerry Jeudy, will be scary, too, and the Tide bring in the No. 1 recruiting class in the land — no surprise there.

Also, if you’ve paid any attention to the Crimson Tide over the years, the defense will always reload, no matter who departs.

As long as Saban is in charge, the Tide will be SEC favorites, national title contenders and near playoff locks.

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