College football rankings: Preseason top 25 – Clemson at No. 1, SEC owns half of top 10

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

It’s an unfamiliar air in Tuscaloosa as the Crimson Tide come into 2020 after having not made the College Football Playoff last season. The reasons as to why are obvious with Tua Tagovailoa’s injury and a defense that was certainly not up to the standard set by Nick Saban. But now that the quarterback is gone, we should see an Alabama football team that much more closely resembles teams of old.

That starts with a defensive unit that is hoping to find new life. They have the horses on this roster to do so and the most vital piece might be returning linebacker Dylan Moses. He missed all of last season after tearing his ACL in the preseason and, considering his role as the defensive quarterback, that may have contributed heavily to the defensive decline last year. But with him and a litter of NFL-caliber talent, as per usual, the Tide should rebound in a big way there.

As for the offense, Mac Jones will likely be tasked with stepping into Tua’s shoes. Yes, they landed 5-star recruit Bryce Young but, with continuity being so critical in this COVID-altered season, Jones is the logical choice to start. He’ll have plenty of weapons still as DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle are back to lead the wide receiver room.

Even if Jones isn’t Tagovailoa — which he definitively isn’t — the Crimson Tide still has bread and butter to rely on with running back Najee Harris and an elite offensive line group. Throw in a depth chart including Brian Robinson Jr. and Trey Sanders and the rushing attack should be both dangerous and reliable.

It’s crazy to think that Alabama could be better after losing Tua. But with the sum of all their parts this season, that may well be the case for the Crimson Tide in 2020.