If Alabama doesn’t win the national championship, then it’ll be because of these 3 reasons
By John Buhler
The Alabama football team should be good once again, but maybe not good enough to repeat as national champions.
After winning the 2021 College Football Playoff, the Alabama football team must once again climb up the mountain this fall.
This was the sixth national championship of the Nick Saban era in Tuscaloosa. Despite having to navigate a global pandemic, Alabama went 10-0 in SEC-only play before throttling Florida in the conference title bout, pulverizing Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl and handling Ohio State in the National Championship Game. Unfortunately, the cards are not in Alabama’s favor to repeat this season.
Here are three reasons why it will not be the Crimson Tide who wins the College Football Playoff.
Alabama football: Why Crimson Tide will not repeat as national champions
3. Why Alabama won’t repeat: Crimson Tide lost so much talent to the NFL
This is commonplace when it comes to national championship-winning teams. Top performers from that team will leave school early to pursue their NFL dreams. While the 2020 Crimson Tide got major contributions from seniors Najee Harris, Alex Leatherwood and Heisman Trophy winner, DeVonta Smith, juniors Mac Jones, Patrick Surtain II and Jaylen Waddle all entered the draft a year early.
Those were the record-tying six first-round picks from the 2020 Crimson Tide roster. Not only that, but Alabama lost major award winners from a year ago. Alabama must replace winners of the Heisman, Doak Walker, Davey O’Brien and Outland, among others. Though the Crimson Tide do a great job of reloading annually, this is too much attrition for even a blue-blood to overcome.
Can we expect players like quarterback Bryce Young and offensive tackle Evan Neal to rise to the occasion of their predecessors in Jones and Leatherwood? Yes, but not every emerging player will match what guys like Harris, Smith and Surtain did a season ago. There will be a major drop-off somewhere on the roster. Unfortunately, it gives a more seasoned contending team an advantage.
Overcoming major attrition will not be the only issue the 2021 Crimson Tide have to face this year.