1
Clemson
There's a reason
Kelly Bryant was expendable. Theoretically,
Trevor Lawrence gets two more shots at Alabama. Yes, that's how far the top two have separated themselves.
2
Alabama
How can you not pick the Tide again? An educated guess (depending on early NFL exits) looks like about 13 starters will be back. That list includes
Tua Tagovailoa, rising star
Dylan Moses at linebacker and all three starting receivers.
3
Georgia
In what figures to be
Jake Fromm's final season, the Dawgs will be loaded again.
D'Andre Swift will be a Doak Walker Award (best running back) candidate. The offensive line will be among the best.
4
LSU
Yes, that's right. We have three SEC teams in the top four. We'll let the CFP Selection Committee figure that one out. Meanwhile, an improving
Joe Burrow is back giving the Tigers a legit threat at quarterback.
5
Oklahoma
It will difficult to replace
Kyler Murray. Ever. But the Sooners will once again be the class of the Big 12. Watch that quarterback battle between incoming recruit Spencer Rattler, junior
Austin Kendall and redshirt freshman
Tanner Mordecai. Kendall was neck-and-neck with Murray last August.
6
Ohio St.
This is assuming
Justin Fields indeed does get a waiver to become immediately eligible. If it works out that way, Fields will be the next trigger man on an explosive offense.
7
Oregon
Mario Cristobal landed a top five recruiting class topped off by No. 1 recruit (lineman Kayvon Thibodeaux). The return of quarterback Justin Herbert makes the Ducks the Pac-12 favorite and an outlier playoff contender.
8
Florida
Dan Mullen's impact was felt immediately. The offense jumped from averaging 22 points to 35. Mullen absolutely milked the most out of quarterback
Feleipe Franks.
Emory Jones may upgrade the position in 2019, if he wins the job. Three starters are lost on the offensive line.
9
Notre Dame
In the last two seasons Brian Kelly has won 22 of his last 26 games and taken the Irish to the CFP.
Notre Dame shouldn't fall off that much. Watch
Jafar Armstrong and
Tony Jones take over for
Dexter Williams, who felt five yards short of 1,000 rushing.
Ian Book will benefit from an offseason working as the quarterback starter.
10
Michigan
Such a dichotomy for Jim Harbaugh. He has won 10 in three of his four seasons at
Michigan but hasn't delivered so much as a division title. That could change with the departure of Urban Meyer, but the offense has to get more creative and more productive.