2021 College Football Playoff predictions: Can Alabama repeat as national champions?

1. Alabama

Recruit. Win a National Championship. Repeat. That about sums up Nick Saban’s past decade-plus in Tuscaloosa.

Remember the days when Alabama had a run-heavy offense, questionable quarterback and wide receivers, and an elite defense to carry the way? Lane Kiffin’s influence changed that, and now the Crimson Tide can recruit the most talented players at any position from anywhere in the country. Their top recruits go multiple players deep at all spots on the depth chart, and most of them are selected high in the NFL Draft, making it that much more enticing to take the plunge into Bryant-Denney Stadium.

After winning yet another title on Saban’s watch, Alabama lost Mac Jones, Najee Harris, Devonte Smith, Jaylen Waddle and Alex Leatherwood all from the offense in the first round of the draft. Any school would take years to replace these players. Bryce Young will say otherwise as he replaces Jones. John Metchie will say the same in compensating for Smith and Waddle’s departures. Brian Robinson is an above-average replacement for Harris, too, running through lanes created by tackle Evan Neal. That’s without mentioning Jase McClellan and Rydell Williams behind Robinson to share carries. This group, again, is just ridiculously talented at starter, backup and reserve on the depth chart.

The defense has just as many future NFL stars, even without Patrick Surtain II, Dylan Moses and Christian Barmore. The laundry list of talent is led by Josh Jobe and Malachi Moore in the secondary, who will shut down any and all offenses that try to stand in their way. Big, superb studs along the defensive front will close the opposition’s run game.

No one is getting in their way.

Florida, Texas A&M and LSU are all on the schedule, but each of them has drawbacks that Alabama does not. A non-conference game against Miami could prove difficult in spurts if D’Eriq King is in form, but an upset possibility is at 0.01 percent.

Basically, to fall off the map the Crimson Tide falters by self-inflicted mistakes. Not every team will be a pushover, so taking care of the aforementioned trio of teams and the SEC title game (likely Georgia) will take Saban’s squad to the promised land, where they are favorites to win it all for yet another College Football Playoff. Oklahoma, Ohio State and Clemson are very good, but they all pale in comparison to the alpha of college football.

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