Ad Disclosure
6 SEC teams headline ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2018
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Alabama’s dynasty under Nick Saban notched another championship Monday with an incredible comeback win over Georgia, and the Crimson Tide lead six SEC teams on ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings for next season.
Alabama will have to replace a number of contributors in 2018, but that is nothing new for Saban and the Tide. A number of key defenders are leaving while Alabama may have to replace its entire starting secondary if star DBs Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ronnie Harrison leave for the NFL.
WR Calvin Ridley and RB Damien Harris, star offensive weapons in 2017, may also leave early, but the Tide look well prepared to move forward on the offensive side of the ball. Returning QBs Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa, RB Najee Harris, and WR Jerry Jeudy should provide Alabama a strong core to carry the team forward.
Georgia, who spent a number of weeks as the No. 1 team in the Playoff rankings this season, came in at No. 5 and just outside of the Playoff in the early rankings for 2018. The losses of star RBs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, LB Lorenzo Carter, and S Dominick Sanders provides a number of holes that Kirby Smart will have to plug in order to maintain impressive results. Star LB Roquan Smith also faces the decision on whether or not to leave early for the NFL.
While Smart is building an impressive recruiting class with the Dawgs, there is no denying that Georgia does not quite have the type of depth that Saban has built in Tuscaloosa. That doesn’t mean Georgia cannot make it back to the Playoff and should be the favorites in the SEC East next season, but it would be understandable if the Bulldogs take a minor step back in 2018.
Auburn (No. 12), Mississippi State (No. 19), LSU (No. 23) and South Carolina (No. 25) are also featured on the early rankings for 2018, but each of these teams have much bigger question marks than Georgia and Alabama. With that being said, the SEC certainly looks to have the depth to continue being the dominant conference in all of college football.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
