It’s never too early to start building a strong College Football Playoff case for yourself, and the top programs in the country will get that opportunity right out of the gate.

Alabama will open their season against Miami at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday. Meanwhile, the big game is in Charlotte as Georgia and Clemson meet in a Top 5 battle at Bank of America Stadium. Meanwhile, Ohio State has a little less difficult of a matchup against Minnesota.

On Thursday’s edition of his radio show, Dan Patrick asked Sports Illustrated college football reporter Pat Forde if he would take Alabama, Ohio State and Clemson to win the College Football Playoff National Championship, or another team outside of that group.

“I would probably take those 3 since my top 2 going into the season were Alabama and Ohio State,” Forde said. “That said, I don’t think they’re way above Georgia and Oklahoma. But [considering] past history [and] recruiting…if you were to give me those 3, I’d take them.”

While Jan. 7’s championship game in Indianapolis seems like a long way off, it will be here before you know it.