Alabama proved its dominance in the SEC and across the national football landscape with a 59-0 spanking of Vanderbilt in Nashville. However, ESPN still believes there are two teams that could make the Crimson Tide "lose sleep" if they were to play this season.
Those two teams are the reigning champs in Clemson and Oklahoma. Here's what ESPN said about the Tigers:
Clemson is probably the second-best team in the country, but I'm not sure they're as good as they were last season. I still don't think you replace a once-in-a-generation player like Watson overnight. Quarterback Kelly Bryant has been pretty good so far, but the offensive line has to do a better job of protecting him. The line struggled against Auburn and Boston College, which have great pass rushers, and so does Alabama.
And here's what they said about Oklahoma:
Don't forget: The Sooners will have a chance to win every time they take the field, as long as quarterback Baker Mayfield stays healthy. Just ask him. Mayfield is the kind of quarterback that has beaten Alabama before (remember Johnny Manziel?), at least stylistically. Mayfield has that irrational confidence that you need to not beat yourself before you get off the bus.
Both of those teams have looked good so far this year with Clemson already nabbing two top-15 wins against Auburn and Louisville while Oklahoma scored a huge upset of then-No. 2 Ohio State early in the season. Clemson's offense hasn't fallen off even after losing quarterback Deshaun Watson while the Bob Stoops-less Sooners seem to be doing just fine despite his unexpected retirement.
[h/t The Spun]
