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Way-too-early 2020 college football rankings: Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama vie for No. 1

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Trevor Lawrence, Clemson Tigers. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Trevor Lawrence, Clemson Tigers. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 07: Ja’Marr Chase #1 of the LSU Tigers catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs during the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 07: Ja’Marr Chase #1 of the LSU Tigers catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs during the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

6. Penn State Nittany Lions, 11-2 (7-2)

Had wide receiver K.J. Hamler opted to return to Penn State, the Nittany Lions might have entered the 2020 season with 10 starters on the offensive side of the football. Even without Hamler, who led the team with 56 receptions, 904 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, and was also a weapon as a returner, James Franklin’s squad is in great shape offensively. Quarterback Sean Clifford showed growth, the running back room may be the deepest in the country, and four starters return up front for new offensive line coach Phil Trautwein.

There’s a great chance we spend the bulk of 2020 talking about linebacker Micah Parsons with the admiration we reserved for Chase Young in 2019 – though Jayson Oweh, who will fill the pass-rushing shoes of Yetur Gross-Matos, could have more of a Young-like impact. Depending on any late NFL Draft entries, five or six defensive starters are expected to return for the Nittany Lions.

5. LSU Tigers, 14-0*, (8-0)

Heisman winner Joe Burrow is off to the NFL, which leaves Myles Brennan as the favorite to become the starting quarterback for LSU in 2020. However, there’s a chance Ed Orgeron and his staff could dip into the transfer portal again given the success it produced in 2018-19.

Biletnikoff Award winner Ja’Marr Chase will be back, as will fellow receiver Terrance Marshall, but there’s a good chance other offensive weapons like running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, wideout Justin Jefferson and tight end Thaddeus Moss test the professional waters. At least three offensive line starters from the Joe Moore Award-winning unit will be gone as well.

Only three of the Tigers’ full-time defensive starters are seniors, and though junior safety and Thorpe Award winner Grant Delpit will almost certainly turn pro, there’s a chance the rest of the unit returns intact. All-American cornerback Derek Stingley, Jr. is the perfect piece to build a defense around. Also, defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, who received some interest in the head coaching carousel, is also expected to return.

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