Safe to predict Clemson-Alabama V
The 2018 season ended emphatically on two levels.
Clemson dominated Alabama, and Clemson and Alabama dominated the field — the best teams in the land, by far.
Will that change in 2019? Is anyone capable of preventing the Tigers and Crimson Tide from meeting for the title a year from now and ending their four-year (combined) hold on the national championship?
Both teams are loaded with underclassmen at key spots, from the quarterbacks (Trevor Lawrence and Tua Tagovailoa) to the tailbacks (Travis Etienne and Najee Harris) to the never-ending talent on the lines of scrimmage.
Before we get to the Hotline’s ridiculously-early top 25 for next season, a few themes to ponder through the offseason:
• Which transfer quarterback will have the greatest impact on his team and his conference. Washington, Missouri, Northwestern, USF, Ohio State are among those expected to rely on newcomers.
• Which Group of Five team, if any, will threaten to complicate the playoff selection process dominated by the Power Five? Is UCF equipped for a third consecutive run, or might it be a team from the Mountain West?
• Will the Pac-12’s best team be worthy of consid-
eration for the semifinals? Not only has the conference missed the playoff each of the past two seasons, but it hasn’t produced a serious CFP candidate.
• Will Urban Meyer’s retirement spark a power shift in the Big Ten? In his seven years, Meyer won seven division titles and never lost to Michigan.
• Will Miami or Florida State return to national prominence and challenge Clemson for the ACC title?
Also considered (in no particular order): Kentucky, Miami, Penn State, Minnesota, Michigan State, Virginia, Stanford, USC, Mississippi State, Cincinnati, Fresno State and Appalachian State.
25. NORTHWESTERN >> Veteran quarterback Clayton Thorson departs after what felt like a seven-year career. But the Wildcats have a replacement ready in Clemson transfer Hunter Johnson. Defensive playmakers Paddy Fisher and Joe Graziano are back.
24. BOISE STATE >> We never got a final verdict on the Broncos because of the canceled bowl game, but their prospects for 2019 are bright thanks to a loaded defense. They would be several slots higher if not for quarterback Brett Rypien’s departure.
23. WISCONSIN >> A major disappointment in ’18, the Badgers should stabilize on defense next season and welcome back tailback Jonathan Taylor. If quarterback Alex Hornibrook is healthy, the Big Ten West title is well within reach.
22. ARMY >> The Black Knights won 11 games and came close to beating Oklahoma. Don’t expect a reversal of fortune in 2019, as coach Jeff Monken has the majority of starters back on both sides of scrimmage.
21. AUBURN >> The Tigers are one of the toughest teams in the FBS to decode, regularly producing elite seasons when mediocrity is expected … and vice versa. With the hype likely limited in 2019, that’s just the time to hop on.
20. WASHINGTON STATE >> The plug-and-play Air Raid should remain effective without Gardner Minshew, and most of the line returns to protect the new starter. The Cougars lose loads of leadership on defense, however.
19. MISSOURI >> Gifted quarterback Drew Lock is off to the NFL, but the Tigers shouldn’t backslide thanks to Clemson transfer Kelly Bryant. Their larger problem: The SEC East is on the uptick.
18. UCF >> Tough to disregard the Knights after all the victories over the past two years, but it’s equally difficult to envision another season of 12+ wins unless quarterback McKenzie Milton fully recovers from a November knee injury that has required four surgeries.
17. WASHINGTON >> Heavy attrition on defense points to a less-than-dominant unit, but the Huskies will remain relevant nationally if quarterback Jacob Eason, the heralded transfer from Georgia, adds a bigplay dimension to the aerial game.
16. FLORIDA STATE >> Coach Willie Taggart looked lost for most of his first year, but there’s more than enough talent in place for a bounceback season. Feels odd to call the Noles a sleeper, but that’s the reality after a 5-7 season.
15. TEXAS A&M >> Meanwhile, Florida State’s former coach, Jimbo Fisher, should have a first-rate season in College Station, thanks in part to the return of quarterback Kellen Bond. The Aggies’ greatest obstacle is their division.
14. UTAH >> With two options at quarterback (Tyler Huntley and Jason Shelley), plenty of skill talent and a veteran defensive line, the Utes look like the best team in the Pac-12 South. If the retooled offensive line coalesces, they could be the best team in the Pac-12.
13. SYRACUSE >> One of the top turnaround stories of 2018 should continue its success next season despite the loss of quarterback Eric Dungey. There are a slew of returning playmakers and many wins available in the ACC.
12. IOWA STATE >> The Cyclones’ annual victory total under third-year coach Matt Campbell (three, eight, eight) speaks to his acumen. Freshman quarterback Brock Purdy’s emergence, combined with returnees across all positions, should fuel a next-level season.
11. TEXAS >> The hype machine will be in full force after the Longhorns’ Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia. The Hotline has been high on UT the past two seasons but is a tad skeptical given the attrition on the offensive line and throughout the defense.
10. FLORIDA >> The Gators improved by six victories under first-year coach Dan Mullen. The return of quarterback Feleipe Franks and a stocked defense put UF in range of the division title if Georgia experiences the slightest slip.
9. OREGON >> Combine Justin Herbert’s return with a veteran offensive line and playmakers on all levels of defense, and you’ve got the potential for a championship season. But at this point, there’s no reason to think the best team in the Pac-12 is one of the best half-dozen in the country.
8. NOTRE DAME >> At first glance, the return of quarterback Ian Book seemingly positions the Irish for another playoff berth. But the losses on defense are heavy (Julian Love and Jerry Tillery, to name two), and the schedule, which includes Georgia, Michigan and Stanford on the road, is daunting.
7. OHIO STATE >> Per usual, the Buckeyes will lose plenty of talent to the NFL but have a load returning. The difference is the man in charge of the talent: Ryan Day takes over for Meyer and will have a new quarterback with Dwayne Haskins off to the NFL.
6. GEORGIA >> The roster churn is approaching Ohio State and Alabama levels. But with top-three recruiting classes as their foundation and quarterback Jake Fromm in his third year as the starter, the Bulldogs remain the clear favorite in the SEC East and a playoff threat.
5. OKLAHOMA >> We’ll assume Kyler Murray doesn’t return. No matter, the skill positions are stocked, and the defense should be markedly improved. Alex Grinch, who worked wonders with Washington State before joining the Ohio State staff, takes over as the Sooners’ coordinator.
4. MICHIGAN >> Easy to be a seller after the Wolverines’ dreadful end to the 2018 season, but we’re buying. We’re buying because of Shea Patterson’s return and a ferocious offensive line and the opportunity presented by the coaching change in Columbus.
3. LSU >> The Tigers don’t need an elite offense for an elite season; they simply need competence. With Joe Burrow returning, next fall should reach that threshold. The third-best team in the country is the second best in its own division.
2. ALABAMA >> Slotted here, and not on top, because of Monday’s result. Clearly, the Tide has the personnel to dominate 2019, regardless of NFL draft decisions.
1. CLEMSON >> Easy call here and now, but the Tigers will lose their awesome defensive line and could experience more attrition than Bama. Flip a coin, throw a dart ... whatever. Until proven otherwise, the Tigers and Tide are clearly the top two.