College football: 1 if-then conditional for every national championship contender

Clemson: If Clemson’s offensive line is adequate, then the Tigers can challenge for the national championship again

Obviously, D.J. Uiagalelei has to come into the full-time starting quarterback job at Clemson and be the player he has all the tools to be. He flashed his potential in two games as the starter last season but now he needs to put that over a full season. But more important will be the performance of the offensive line protecting him.

The Tigers have never been elite on the line but they were questionable there last season and now have to replace Jackson Carman, a stalwart up front. With questions at who steps up at running back, with Uiagalelei being less mobile than Trevor Lawrence and with the quarterback depth chart being quite worrisome behind the starter, Clemson’s O-line must be at least solid for the rest of this team’s talent to fully shine.

Oklahoma: If the Sooners defense keeps ascending, then Oklahoma will legitimately challenge for the title

Since Alex Grinch arrived in Norman, Oklahoma’s defense has been consistently improving. They moved up to being slightly below average in 2019 but were legitimately good, though not great, in the 2020 season. Now comes the task of keeping that group at that level or perhaps improving upon that growth on that side of the ball.

There are no worries on offense for the Sooners. Spencer Rattler is a stud and the weapons around him are staggeringly good. But that has never been the issue. While this team has made the College Football Playoff under Lincoln Riley, their lack of defense has held them back. If the most talented defensive group Riley has coached since taking over can stay on the rise, the ceiling for Oklahoma will be raised, meaning they can not just win a Playoff game but also win a title.

Alabama: If Bryce Young is as advertised, then the College Football Playoff is Alabama’s party

Shockingly enough, Alabama’s roster is loaded. Look on either side of the ball and you’ll see another slew of future NFL stars and high draft picks at multiple positions. There is no concern that this team has the talent to win another title and add to Nick Saban’s already crowded trophy case. Bryce Young, however, is the key to making that happen.

Young possesses otherworldly talent with his combination of arm strength, precision and athleticism. If he hits the ground running in this offense, then there’s no looking back for the Crimson Tide. But this is an inexperienced young quarterback and that often means growing pains. If any of those pains are substantial, the top of the SEC behind Bama is good enough that it could make the Tide’s path to back-to-back championships much more difficult.

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