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College football rankings: Post-spring Top 25 – Clemson, Alabama vie for top spot

By Cody Williams

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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PISCATAWAY, NJ – NOVEMBER 10: Shea Patterson #2 of the Michigan Wolverines looks to pass against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the third quarter at HighPoint.com Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan won 42-7. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – NOVEMBER 10: Shea Patterson #2 of the Michigan Wolverines looks to pass against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the third quarter at HighPoint.com Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan won 42-7. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /
  • Notable Losses: Rashan Gary, Chase Winovich, Karan Higdon, Devin Bush, David Long, Juwann Bushell-Beatty, Zach Gentry, Grant Perry
  • Notable Returners: Shea Patterson, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Nico Collins, Lavert Hill, Josh Uche, Kwity Paye, Khaleke Hudson, Josh Metellus
  • 2019 Recruiting Class Ranking: 8th

Everything had lined up for Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines to finally get over the hump in 2018. After losing to Notre Dame in the opener, the Wolverines were 10-1 entering their rivalry matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Instead of stepping up to the plate, they got run off the field by allowing 60+ points in a loss that took them out of the Big Ten title game. To make it worse, the Wolverines might as well have not even shown up in the Peach Bowl as they were embarrassed by the Florida Gators.

Now as they look to 2019, Michigan is going to have to replace three stars in their front seven with Rashan Gary, Chase Winovich and Devin Bush all making their way to the pro ranks. However, they have a strong recruiting class ranked in the top 10 in the country that is loaded with defensive studs that could help them tremendously right away.

On top of that, there is reason to be excited about the Michigan offense. Not only did Shea Patterson show flashes in Year 1 in Ann Arbor, but now the Wolverines have former Alabama man Josh Gattis at offensive coordinator. With the weapons around Patterson on this group, the hope is that, if the defense does have some minor growing pains, that the offense takes a step forward to counteract that and keep the Wolverines in the national mix.

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