Crimson Tide Tops ESPN’s Post-Spring Top 25

Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Cam Robinson (74) and linebacker Reuben Foster (10) celebrate after defeating the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Cam Robinson (74) and linebacker Reuben Foster (10) celebrate after defeating the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Alabama Crimson Tide tops ESPN’ Way-Too-Early Post-Spring Top 25 rankings just ahead of last season’s CFP opponent, the Clemson Tigers.

ICYMI: Alabama Football Representing on Kiper’s Big Board

This is getting to be a thing. All of the preseason polls start to come out and the Crimson Tide is always well-represented. You will always find them at or near the top in most every one of them.

ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Post-Spring Top 25 released earlier this week is no different. The good guys grabbed the number one spot on the list, just ahead of the Clemson Tigers and the Michigan Wolverines. I don’t know about the last one, but I digress.

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Here is what they had to say about Alabama:

"For the third season in a row, Alabama exited spring practice with an unresolved quarterback competition. Of course, the Crimson Tide eventually found answers the past two seasons, reaching the inaugural College Football Playoff in 2014 (with Blake Sims) and winning their fourth national title under coach Nick Saban in 2015 (with Coker). Junior Cooper Bateman might have the edge heading into preseason camp, but he’ll continue to be pushed by Blake Barnett, Jalen Hurts and David Cornwell."

I’m usually the pessimistic Alabama fan. Not a severe one. Maybe reasonable is the right answer. You can decide that. In the past few seasons, I’ve always picked one loss each year. The SEC West is just too touch of a league to get through unscathed year after year.

With that being said and at first glance, I figured Alabama would be ranked a few spots lower. The questions at quarterback have always concerned me the past few seasons but as we like to say, “just trust Saban”. We’ve been in pretty good shape before with first-year starting quarterbacks. Five starters return on defense and that’s not even factoring in the ones that saw playing time as subs last season. We could be sitting prettier than we thought.

If you look at number two Clemson, they are replacing their whole defense if you don’t count the three returning starters.

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Another Clemson and Alabama matchup for the title would be awesome. If it does happen, let’s just hope the Tide puts it away early. I don’t think my heart is up for too many close games next season.