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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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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Justin Fields #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes scrambles with the football during the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Clemson Tigers at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tigers defeated the Buckeyes 29-23. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Justin Fields #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes scrambles with the football during the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Clemson Tigers at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tigers defeated the Buckeyes 29-23. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

2. Ohio State Buckeyes, 13-1 (9-0)

Head coach Ryan Day and quarterback Justin Fields – the two biggest question marks for the Ohio State Buckeyes heading into the 2019 college football season – return as two of the biggest assets for any team in 2020. However, much of the high-profile talent around them is off to the NFL.

Chase Young, J.K. Dobbins and Jeff Okudah have already announced their intentions to leave school early, and others could join before the Jan. 21 deadline. Plus, a combined nine starters on both sides of the ball were seniors in 2019. The secondary was hit particularly hard – though the return of Shaun Wade (the potential first-rounder who announced his 2020 plans last week) is huge.

Also, the Buckeyes have long been heavyweights in recruiting, so the cupboard is well stocked. And there’s still plenty of veteran leadership, including a couple of seniors expected to return in 2020 after injury-plagued seasons: Jonathon Cooper and Justin Hilliard.

1. Clemson Tigers, 14-0* (8-0)

There’s no clear-cut No. 1 in the way-too-early offseason. Ohio State could make a case, and it would be unwise to count Alabama out but Clemson is our pick.

Trevor Lawrence should enter the 2020 season as the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy (with Justin Fields close behind) and he’ll have two of his three favorite receivers (Justyn Ross and Amari Rodgers) to work with. Though the offensive line will be very young, there’s plenty of talent available.

The Clemson defense is in a similar position to the Buckeyes and expects to lose four of its top five tacklers when All-American linebacker Isaiah Simmons declares for the draft. But head coach Dabo Swinney is recruiting like a national championship head coach and has closed the talent gap with Alabama and Ohio State in recent years – including the top-rated 2020 class.

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