| NEWS Projecting college football's Top 10 offenses in 2020- 247Sports

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t's terrifying to even think about if you're a defensive coordinator tasked with stopping Alabama's ability to press the issue offensively. Is there really a chance the Crimson Tide could be better without Tua Tagovailoa when they have the football next season?

Those among the nation's elite hoping Nick Saban's team would suffer a mass exodus were disappointed last month when Devonta Smith and Najee Harris, two All-SEC players, announced they'd return for their senior seasons. Couple those two with now seasoned passer Mac Jones and the arrival of five-star freshman Bryce Young and Alabama again has necessary the ingredients to be one of the SEC's leaders in production.

Jones threw 13 touchdown passes last season in four starts, winning the team so to speak during Tagovailoa's absence due to injury.

“Those guys see (Mac) go in there and make plays in critical moments," Alabama OC Steve Sarkisian said about Jones. "So I think that’s where he’s grown, translated the practice to the games, built confidence in himself, and that’s built his teammates confidence in him.”

Par for the course, several of college football's most-talented teams will reside in the SEC this season, which means the league could tout a couple potent offenses as a result.

Per ESPN national analyst Bill Connelly's Preseason SP+ ratings, here's a look at which teams his data projects will be the nation's best on offense next fall. We've paneled many of our team-site experts with boots on the ground for their take within respective programs included, here:

10. NEBRASKA HUSKERS

Can the Huskers field one of the nation's most high-powered offenses this fall after their second consecutive disappointing campaign under Scott Frost? If there's a time to get things fixed, it's now, says Huskers247 insider Michael Bruntz. Giveaways were an issue that plagued Nebraska's offense last season and need to be corrected with a core of veterans back.

"Nebraska returns almost all its production on offense in 2020, but the group needs to be much better in the coming season," Bruntz says about Nebraska's chances this fall. "That’s especially true at the quarterback position where two-year starter Adrian Martinez battled injury and inconsistency last season as a sophomore."

9. USC TROJANS

USCFootball.com's Chris Trevino believes the Trojans bring back their most important piece to the 2020 puzzle after play-caller Graham Harrell turned down multiple coaching offers to stay put in Los Angeles.

"Graham Harrell’s Air Raid offense set a high bar after USC finished Year 1 with the No. 6 passing offense (335.8 ypg), 32.5 points per game (No. 35) and the No. 20 total offense (454.0 ypg). The expectations should be higher in 2020 with eight returning starters, including the Pac-12 Freshman Offensive POY and FWAA Freshman All-American QB Kedon Slovis," Trevino says. "The offense says goodbye to leading receiver and three-year starter Michael Pittman Jr. (101 receptions, 1275 yards, 11 TDs) but USC returns more than enough firepower in redshirt senior Tyler Vaughns, junior Amon-Ra St. Brown and breakout freshman Drake London to field one of the best receiver units in the nation.

"This year will also be the debuts of former five-star prospect receivers and redshirt freshmen Bru McCoy and Kyle Ford. Freshman and spring enrollee Gary Bryant Jr. and his 4.4 speed also figure to be a impactful weapon in 2020. The offense also returns all four running backs, including USC’s future Thunder & Lighting duo of Markese Stepp and Kenan Christon (680 combined rushing yards, 8 TDs). The biggest question mark will be on the offensive line where USC loses both tackles, including former five-star prospect Austin Jackson."

8. NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS

Preseason ACC Coastal favorites? We won't see the media's official projections until July, but we've got the Tar Heels ranked in our preseason Top 25, as do other national outlets. The big reason is the potential for fireworks offensively with Sam Howell, who broke several single-season freshman records in Chapel Hill as the ACC's most decorated passer — high praise since that group included Clemson's Trevor Lawrence and Wake Forest's Jamie Newman, who has since transferred to Georgia.

"The North Carolina offense returns all of its major skill players from 2019 including freshman All-American quarterback Sam Howell. Michael Carter and Javonte Williams will hold down the run game while the Tar Heels also bring back 1,000-yard receivers in Dazz Newsome and Dyami Brown," Inside Carolina's Ross Martin says.

7. TEXAS LONGHORNS

With multi-year starter Sam Ehlinger returning at quarterback and the Longhorns looking to make their move into the national title picture during Tom Herman's fourth season, this could be a special campaign for one of the Big 12's favorites.

"After Tom Herman revamped his offensive staff, including hiring a new OC and play-caller in former Ohio State passing game coordinator Mike Yurcich, there’s no excuse for the Texas offense not to improve in 2020," Horns247 analyst Taylor Estes says. "The Longhorns return quarterback Sam Ehlinger for his senior season, and have a lot of weapons coming back in the running back room and at wide receiver. But the way the offense goes is going to be dependent on how well Ehlinger carries the load. The soon-to-be senior QB has proven to be a difference maker during his first three seasons playing at Texas, and has the chance to take this team to the next level during his final year as a Longhorn."

6. MINNESOTA GOPHERS

GopherIllustrated.com's Ryan Burns says picking Minnesota to have one of the nation's top offenses is a safe bet given the two-deep and likelihood signal caller Tanner Morgan flourishes with another season of experience under his belt.

"Minnesota returns nine starters from a 2019 offense that produced more than 34 points a game in Big Ten play. That includes second-team all-Big Ten quarterback Tanner Morgan and their entire offensive line," Burns said. "When looking at that returning production, which includes the best quarterback that Minnesota's had in decades, the trajectory is certainly looking up for the Gophers offense in 2020."

5. LSU TIGERS

Seven months out from LSU officially taking the field as the defending national champions, the Tigers are going to look very different offensively — not schematically, but personnel-wise. LSU welcomes back Jamarr Chase as the clear-cut WR1, but replacing Joe Burrow and Clyde Edwards-Helaire is going to be a chore. Ed Orgeron tabbed Scott Linehan as Joe Brady's replacement on staff and hopes the NFL assistant can help the Tigers on third down without shifting much of the pass-heavy game plan.

Paul Finebaum liked the hire of Linehan, saying, "I thought it was a very good hire. I don't know Scott, but I know his reputation. It's very good. I think what (Orgeron's) doing is continuing with the same philosophy."

4. CLEMSON TIGERS

With spring ball around the corner for the five-time defending ACC champs, Clemson247's Anna Hickey recently predicted Trevor Lawrence would win the Heisman this fall. Her projected starting 11 on a talent-rich offense looks like the following: Lawrence, RB Travis Etienne, WRs Amari Rodgers, Justyn Ross, Joe Ngata, TE Braden Galloway, OL (left to right) Jackson Carman, Matt Bockhorst, Cade Stewart, Will Putnam and Jordan McFadden.

"Last year he experienced multiple career lows, including his first loss — in a game in which he did not play well, plus injuries, criticism from all directions," Hickey writes. "He also self-admittedly being somewhat affected by last offseason's press clippings exiting a blemish-free freshman campaign."

3. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

Bucknuts analysts Dave Biddle and Pat Murphy both point to Justin Fields as Ohio State's most important player next season, a guy who could lead the Buckeyes' offense to program records as a potential Heisman winner.

"Ohio State’s offense will be explosive and among the country’s best in 2020. Led by quarterback Justin Fields, a powerful offensive line that includes three returning starters, and talented skilled position players, the Buckeyes could be even better offensively than they were in 2019," Biddle said.

"The biggest question this offseason is who will fill in the shoes of record-setting running back J.K. Dobbins," Murphy said. "But redshirt sophomore Master Teague got his feet wet as the backup last year and he, redshirt freshmen Marcus Crowley and Steele Chambers, along with do-everything senior Demario McCall, provide the Scarlet and Gray with a number options."

2. OKLAHOMA SOONERS

247Sports national analyst Kevin Flaherty, who has covered the Big 12 extensively during his career, believes Oklahoma — upon closer inspection — could be better offensively than what the Sooners showed during the 2019 campaign.

"Oklahoma has all the pieces to once again rank at the top of the nation's best offenses. Spencer Rattler — should he beat out Tanner Mordecai — is a dynamic talent capable of making the most of an army of targets, and the Sooner offense is loaded around him, from an intact offensive line from last year to multiple excellent running backs capable of ripping off 1,000 yards apiece to what could be an excellent receiving corps," Flaherty said.

"The top weapon from that group, CeeDee Lamb, is gone, but former 247Sports Composite five-star Jadon Haselwood may be the next receiver star in Norman. And don't sleep on Oklahoma's returning group of H-backs and tight ends—it could be as talented and deep a group as Oklahoma has had since the Sooners used auxiliary pieces like Dimitri Flowers and and Mark Andrews to carve up defenses that couldn't match up. Lincoln Riley once again boasts an embarrassment of riches to play with."

1. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

Surprised to see Alabama here? We are too ... a little. Despite a new starter at quarterback and the void left by two first-round wideouts in Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy, Steve Sarkisian's unit welcomes back several All-SEC caliber talents on his side of the football. And whether Mac Jones or Bryce Young starts at quarterback, there's plenty of potential stars around both players that will make the signal caller's job that much easier.

"Even with losing four starters to the NFL draft, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the Alabama offense should keep rolling in 2020," BamaOnline's Charlie Potter said. "The Crimson Tide saw key players return in left tackle Alex Leatherwood, wide receiver DeVonta Smith and running back Najee Harris when they could have joined the others in the draft. Leatherwood is one of four starters returning on the offensive line, and Smith and Harris were the team’s leading receiver and rusher in 2019, respectively. Plus, Mac Jones showed he can run this offense when he stepped in for Tagovailoa last year. The redshirt junior quarterback will be challenged by 5-star signee Bryce Young, which will only make Alabama’s offense better."
 
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