📡 Sports Illustrated releases preseason top 25 featuring half of the SEC- Alabama leads the poll

[SEC Sports]

SI's Preseason Top 25: Alabama Edges Clemson Atop the Year's First Ranking

Alabama and Clemson are once again sitting atop the college football world heading into 2019, but they're not lacking worthy challengers.

www.si.com

We're less than a month out from Week 1 of the 2019 college football season, and it already feels like one thing is sure: Alabama and Clemson are once again atop the sport, just as they have been when they've faced off in three of the last four national championship games.

But SI’s preseason Top 25 is designed to set the expectation for the title chase ahead, so while the Tigers are the reigning champs, it's the Crimson Tide we have in the No. 1 spot. That's thanks to their elite collection of returning talent led by junior QB Tua Tagovailoa, who will be throwing to the likes of top receivers Jerry Jeudy and Jaylen Waddle. Clemson, of course, will again counter with its own wunderkind under center, Trevor Lawrence, but questions on defense after massive departures on the defensive line leave room for 'Bama to reclaim its throne—for now.

How do we think the 2019–20 season will end? With Alabama and Georgia meeting in the national championship game for the second time in three years, where the Tide will again get the better of their SEC foe. How will we get there? That’s anyone’s guess. Read on for our full 2019 preseason Top 25:

1.

Alabama Crimson Tide
Last year: 14–1 (8–0 SEC); Lost to Clemson in College Football Playoff national championship

SI Top 100 players: 10: QB Tua Tagovailoa (No. 2), WR Jerry Jeudy (No. 4), DL Raekwon Davis (No. 10), LB Dylan Moses (No. 16), CB Trevon Diggs (No. 24), OL Alex Leatherwood (No. 32), WR Jaylen Waddle (No. 39), Edge Anfernee Jennings (No. 61), RB Najee Harris (No. 71), S Xavier McKinney (No. 86)


Bottom line: Clemson may stake a claim as the top program in the country today, but only one team has made the playoff in all five years since its inception: Alabama. The Tide are still the standard.

 

[TerryP]

One of SECN's resident LSU fans didn't take too kindly to this ...

 

[OldPlayer]

I don't see Alabama meeting in the NC game. It was luck a few years ago that helped Alabama get into the playoffs after the loss to Auburn. If Alabama and Georgia play in the SECCG, the loser is out of the playoffs.

 

[planomateo]

I don't see Alabama meeting in the NC game. It was luck a few years ago that helped Alabama get into the playoffs after the loss to Auburn. If Alabama and Georgia play in the SECCG, the loser is out of the playoffs.

Considering an SEC vs SEC National Championship game has happened 2 of the last 8 years, it's certainly possible. Way too early to predict this one.

 

[OldPlayer]

Considering an SEC vs SEC National Championship game has happened 2 of the last 8 years, it's certainly possible. Way too early to predict this one.

The first was under the BCS formula which made it easier. When UGA and Alabama met, we squeeked in over tOSU as the 4th ranked team and people had a fit. I don't think most want a non-conference champion to be in the playoffs. It's early, but if I was a bettin' man...

 

[TerryP]

When UGA and Alabama met, we squeeked in over tOSU as the 4th ranked team and people had a fit.

Yesterday, on College Football Live, they mentioned what would keep Clemson out of the playoffs if they had one loss. The answer? A loss like Ohio State suffered that season. Here we are a few years removed and they are still pointing out that loss as the reason OSU didn't make the playoffs.

I don't believe there was a "squeaked" in that year anymore than I believe Bama squeaked in for the 2011 BCSNC. We're looking at two instances where the losses mattered; as they should.

You're right that some people had a fit. But whom? The vast majority...fans of a team that lost a game by five touchdowns (or what ever the differential was that season.) It's my opinion that those cries fell on the same deaf ears in the committee as you found in SEC country.

(As soon as I get over to Twitter I'll forward a link over here to Greg's opinion on this. Coincidently, matches mine. )

 

[RTB X Bot]

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Clemson has a schedule not much different than a cusa team
2 biggie teams and rest. Well let's say acc quality.....
Lucky for Clemson both syracuse and AnM are early

 

[TUSKtimes]

The first was under the BCS formula which made it easier. When UGA and Alabama met, we squeeked in over tOSU as the 4th ranked team and people had a fit. I don't think most want a non-conference champion to be in the playoffs. It's early, but if I was a bettin' man...

But how do you complain as a conference when Ohio State got into the playoffs over B1G champ Penn State just the year before?
Bama didn't get in the playoff at the expense of the SEC champ. I don't think the playoff committee is frightened of the non-conference winner formula in that they've now done it twice in the first 5 years.

I also think the committee was about to put a 2 loss barner team in the playoffs in 2017 for the first time had they finished Georgia off. The SEC is a bad conference.