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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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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 01: Head coach Pat Fitzgerald of the Northwestern Wildcats looks on against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ohio State won 45-24. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 01: Head coach Pat Fitzgerald of the Northwestern Wildcats looks on against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ohio State won 45-24. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
  • Notable Losses: Clayton Thorson, Jordan Thompson, Nate Hall, Flynn Nagel, Blake Hance, Montre Hartage, Jared McGee
  • Notable Returners: Isaiah Bowser, Cameron Green, Paddy Fisher, J.R. Pace, Ben Skowronek, Blake Gallagher, Joe Gaziano
  • 2019 Recruiting Class Ranking: 51st

After winning the Big Ten West last season, we should never underestimate Pat Fitzgerald and his Northwestern Wildcats again. They’ve made a habit out of coming out of nowhere and making serious noise under the head coach’s tenure, and they’re not likely to stop. The only thing is, they won’t come out of nowhere in the 2019 college football season because this team could be quite dangerous from the get-go.

While the Wildcats are losing veteran quarterback Clayton Thorson heading into 2019, they’re set to be able to start one of the best quarterbacks to ever don a Northwestern uniform: Hunter Johnson. The former 5-star recruit for Clemson transferred to the Wildcats in June 2018 and had to sit out last season. But with Thorson gone, Johnson is now eligible and set to take over the reins of this team.

Moreover, the Northwestern defense, despite some losses, will be strong as star linebacker Paddy Fisher returned to school for another season, along with six other starters from the 2018 season on that side of the ball.

Northwestern’s recruiting class is certainly not much to speak of coming into the 2019 season, though some wide receiver help and depth could be coming with a pair of 4-star players. That causes them to drop slightly in the rankings, but make no mistake that this team is in a good spot to once again be heard from in the Big Ten in 2019.

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