As long as the the Alabama Crimson Tide take care of business during the final two games of the regular season and in the SEC Championship against the Georgia Bulldogs, they will once again earn a College Football Playoff berth. The odds are definitely in their favor, too.
So while we watch Alabama destroy college football as we know it with their dominance, according to some, a serious question arises: Is there any team out there that can be a real threat to the Crimson Tide's perfect season?
Don't think for a second Alabama doesn't have any competition out there because they do. But in order to defeat the Tide, teams must have these three things: a playmaker at quarterback, a solid defense, and a good head coach.
Here are five teams that could knock Alabama off their throne this season:
5. Oklahoma Sooners
Outside of Alabama's offense, Oklahoma has one of the best offenses in the country with star quarterback Kyler Murray. The Sooners could be a huge threat. The problem with OU is they have a terrible defense. The Sooners can't stop anyone. Want proof of that? They almost got knocked off by their unranked rival Oklahoma State. If they ever decide to play defense in Norman and make the CFP, they could be a real threat to the Crimson Tide.
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes already knocked off Alabama four years ago en route to winning the national championship. That was then, of course, and this is now. Since then, the Buckeyes have struggled even getting out of their own way. Since defeating Alabama in 2014-15 CFP, the Buckeyes last appearance in the College Football Playoff was a beat down by Clemson in 2016-17. And since then, they have lost to two unranked times in the Big Ten and have missed the playoffs. So, why are they are threat? Because they still have lots of talent and they still have Urban Meyer. As long as they have those two things, and the Buckeyes make the CFP, they will always be a threat.
3. Auburn Tigers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB8rFnjNmjM
Auburn? Could the Tigers really pull of an upset again? Yes, really. Gus Malzahn is one of the few coaches that has beaten Nick Saban multiple times and, every once and awhile, as he did last year, he puts together a great team that challenges Alabama.
2. Clemson Tigers
Aren't we all just preparing ourselves to see these two battle it out again for the national championship game? Dabo Swinney has built his team based on the best way to beat Alabama. One reason Kelly Bryant is no longer with the Tigers is because he wasn't an elite passer and Swinney changed that when he put star freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence ahead of Bryant on the depth chart. Now, they are a threat at passing the football and they have one of the top defenses in the country once again. Watch out, Nick Saban!
1. Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia is tops on this list not only because they have all the elements listed to beat Alabama, but they also are all set to face each other in the SEC Championship Game on December 1, which gives them they best chance of knocking off the Tide. Kirby Smart is trying to build a dynasty at Georgia with Nick Saban's philosophies and it is working. Smart had the Bulldogs playing for a national championship in his second year as head coach and if they knock off Bama in the SEC Championship game, it may be the beginning of the end for the Tide.
Of course, we've heard that before...