As important as it is to have a capable coaching staff, Alabama football coach, Nick Saban knows well that no staff can excel without a requisite level of top talent.
Teams can’t, as the old saying goes, win without the right ‘Jimmys’ and Joes.’ And more than good players or even great players are needed. Championship rosters must have firsts unit heavily populated with play-makers, on defense as well as offense. In this case the term play-maker is used not as a team leader who keeps an offense or defense organized. Instead, it refers to guys who consistently make the plays they are supposed to make based on their team roles.
Among a team’s play-makers, there must also be players so elite that against top foes, with the outcome of games on the line – they become game-changers.
In the Nick Saban era of Alabama football, the Crimson Tide has been blessed with game-changers. There have been so many, that any attempted list would be too long for this post format.
What matters now is whether the 2022 Alabama Crimson Tide has enough play-makers and game-changers. When I say the Crimson Tide does has enough, most Alabama fans will agree.
But other teams have the same qualities in their rosters. How many varies, from basically none on some of the weakest teams to as many as a few dozen. for championship contenders.
Identifying top players is not difficult by mid-season. It is not so easy in a preseason. Sure, there are no-brainers. Alabama football has two. Last season’s Bronko Nagurski Award winner in Will Anderson Jr. and last season’s Heisman Trophy Award winner in Bryce Young. Beyond maybe a top 10, any list is up for debate.
The main question for this post, is which teams have enough truly elite players to realistically contend for a National Championship. Seeking a guide, a recent Top 100 players ranking by ESPN is used.
Before any reader clicks on the link, I’ll remove some of the suspense. Will Anderson Jr. is No.1 and Bryce Young is No. 2.
Alabama Football leads the way
Alabama Football leads all other teams with eight players on ESPN’s Top 100 list. In addition to Anderson and Young, there are Jahmyr Gibbs (No. 20), Jordan Battle (No. 23), Dallas Turner (No. 24), Eli Ricks (No. 45), Henry To’o To’o (No. 54) and Emil Ekiyor Jr, (No. 96).
The Georgia Bulldogs had seven players selected from Jalen Carter at No. 3, to Arik Gilbert at No. 85. Clemson also had seven players selected, followed by Ohio State with five and both USC and Notre Dame with four each.
Drawing a National Championship Contender conclusion
Based on elite player talent discussed above, I conclude only Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State, USC and Notre Dame have enough top talent to contend for a National Championship.
History has shown there are almost never more than half-a-dozen contenders in any season. A strong added hunch is Clemson, USC and Notre Dame are more Pretenders than Contenders.
Even if Lincoln Riley is a great coach (we’ll see), he will not turn the Trojans around in one season. The Irish are perennially overrated. Clemson does not have top talent in all its position groups. Half of the Clemson players selected are defensive linemen.
So that leaves the Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia and Ohio State.
It can be argued considering just supposed elite players is not fruitful. It takes around 50 players, doing their jobs to win games. Luck, both good and bad is another factor.