Is this the year that Alabama gets knocked off the top of the recruiting mountain?

The Crimson Tide has been on a remarkable run, landing the nation’s top recruiting class in each of the last five seasons, according to 247Sports. But just under seven months away from the 2016 national signing day, it appears that streak is in serious jeopardy.

Among the contenders to remove Alabama from the top spot is fellow SEC West powerhouse LSU, who has been making some serious noise on the recruiting circuit in recent months.

The Tigers find themselves at the top of the year-to-date rankings with 12 of their 17 commitments being of the four or five star variety, including standout CB Saivion Smith and DT Edwin Alexander.

According to The Advocate’s Ross Dellenger, there are five more regarded in-state prospects that could commit to LSU in the near future. If the Tigers are able to reel in those remaining Louisiana prospects, or at least most of them, it could be a truly special class.

“I think coming in we expected LSU to contend for the No. 1 class,” 247Sports national recruiting analyst Barton Simmons told The Advocate. “The pieces were coming into place — both regionally and the new coaching hires they’ve had. It’s not surprising, but it’s still impressive.”

Alabama, also carrying 17 commitments, finds itself in fourth place, trailing both Florida State and Ohio State.

The Seminoles are nipping at the heels of LSU with three five-star commitments of their own and an 18-player class that grades very close to that of the Tigers.

With Urban Meyer, who twice landed the country’s top recruiting class at Florida, recruiting for the defending national champions, there is a good chance that the Buckeyes could find themselves atop the rankings by February. Ohio State already has 13 four-star commitments, but has yet to land a five-star player.

With 48 of 247Sports’ top 100 players still without a commitment, there is plenty of opportunity for teams to move up or down the rankings in the coming months.

Among those still up for grabs is DT Rashan Gary, who is 247Sports.com’s No. 1 player for the 2016 class. Alabama is considered one of the leading candidates for his services.

A dark horse for a strong finish in the 2016 recruiting cycle is Georgia. The Bulldogs, who only have 12 commitments to this point, have already landed verbals from five-star recruits QB Jacob Eason and DT Julian Rochester.

247Sports’ Top Recruiting Classes since 2006

2015: Alabama
2014: Alabama
2013: Alabama
2012: Alabama
2011: Alabama
2010: Florida
2009: LSU
2008: Notre Dame
2007: Florida
2006: USC