🏈 The "Way too early pre-season poll" is out from Athlon for 2018 .

[TerryP]

The start of college football's 2018 season is still several months away, but it's never too early to look ahead and predict how the top 25 could look by next year. While there will be many personnel changes and coaching moves prior to spring practice that will have a major impact on this list, the top of the rankings has a few familiar faces in the mix. Alabama tops the way-too-early rankings, with Clemson, Ohio State and Georgia rounding out the top four. The next group of teams is headlined by Miami and Oklahoma, with Michigan, Auburn, Wisconsin and Michigan State rounding out the top 10.



Expect several tweaks to this NCAA football top 25 ranking between January and August or before the 2018 officially starts.



Here is Athlon’s very early look at the top 25 teams in college football for 2018, followed by a handful of other teams to watch this offseason:



Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 for 2018


1. Alabama

Nick Saban’s team will lose a handful of key contributors from its 2017 team, but this program is still one of the favorites to win it all and tops Athlon's early college football rankings for 2018. The offense will be led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, and an offensive line that’s expected to return four starters. Left tackle Jonah Williams and guard Ross Pierschbacher will be among the SEC’s top returning linemen, but center Bradley Bozeman must be replaced. The skill positions could take a hit in early entrants to the NFL Draft. Receiver Calvin Ridley and running backs Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough are all candidates to make the jump. Alabama’s defense will have a new play-caller after Jeremy Pruitt left to take the top spot at Tennessee. However, don’t expect the standard of performance to change much on the Crimson Tide defense. End Da’Shawn Hand, linebackers Rashaan Evans and Shaun Dion Hamilton and defensive backs Tony Brown, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Levi Wallace must be replaced. This unit could lose a couple of players early to the NFL. But as expected in Tuscaloosa, the next wave of stars is ready to step up. Lineman Raekwon Davis and linebackers Mack Wilson and Dylan Moses are the leaders for the defense next fall. Former LSU cornerback and junior college recruit Saivion Smith is expected to play a major role in the secondary. The Crimson Tide also have a favorable crossover schedule in SEC play (no Georgia) and its toughest road date is at LSU on Nov. 3. Auburn has to come to Tuscaloosa next season. One potential wild card storyline: Will Tua Tagovailoa push Hurts for snaps at quarterback this offseason?

OF NOTE:

#2 Clemson
#3 Ohio Sate
#4 Georgia
#5 Miami
#6 OU
#7 Michigan
#8 Wisconsin
#9 Auburn
#10 Michigan State

#19 LSU
#21 Mississippi State
#26 Florida

Mentioned:
FAU, Louisville, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas A&M, and ..............

UCF.

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/early-college-football-top-25-2018

 

[bama alum]

The barn's best juniors have all declared they're going pro. The only running game Gus has is a seldom used RB and a true frosh. No Hollland or C. Davis on D either. I guess Stidham is just thaaaaat good of a QB.

 

[TUSKtimes]

The attrition doesn't look nearly as devastating for us on paper as the actual headcount will probably get. I do wish we could keep Harrison and Payne but I doubt it. On the bright side, if we win the natty, it will be a lot less painful.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

My biggest interest will be at RB....
Bo going?
Damian going?
Neither have really produced "high grade" numbers...
But our backfield is a little to crowded now...

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Bo may want to go before another injury. I thought he was going to be The Man but he was for only a couple of games. He really hasn't shown much to enhance his draft stock this season and I hate that for him.

 

[TheChief]

My biggest interest will be at RB....
Bo going?
Damian going?
Neither have really produced "high grade" numbers...
But our backfield is a little to crowded now...

Damien's average yard per carry is crazy good. Not producing good numbers? Whose fault is that?

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Damien's average yard per carry is crazy good. Not producing good numbers? Whose fault is that?

Well...mostly crowded backfield fault...
Was saying about "NFL" grading....
O both will be RBs at the next level...
But a lot of money difference between round 1 or 2 and later rounds..