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College Football Playoff: Top Legitimate Contenders

By Eric Robinson

Nov 21, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) waits for a play to begin during the first quarter of the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi won 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) waits for a play to begin during the first quarter of the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi won 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Calvin Ridley (3) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Michigan State Spartans in the third quarter in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Calvin Ridley (3) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Michigan State Spartans in the third quarter in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

                                                Alabama Crimson Tide

At some point, you have to wonder if Alabama head coach Nick Saban is getting bored. Season after season, Saban seems to unload players to the NFL and reload once again. Saban will break in a new quarterback for the third straight year, this time in Cooper Bateman.

Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama Crimson Tide /

Alabama Crimson Tide

He’ll also taking the chains off 228 pound running back

Bo Scarborough,

who will attempt to fill the shoes of last year’s Heisman winner, Derrick Henry. Bateman does have an ace in the hole in second team All-SEC receiver

Calvin Ridley

, who hauled in 89 catches for 1,045 yards and seven touchdowns. The true sophomore has striking similarities to former Bama wide out Amari Cooper and will more than likely be a first team honoree in 2016.

Having a 6’6 326 pound left tackle in Cam Robinson will also make things a little smoother for Bateman as well.

New defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt inherits arguably the most talented front seven in college football and that begins with DE/OLB Jonathan Allen, who led the team with 12 sacks. His decision to withdraw from the NFL Draft helped the Tide tremendously.

Athletic linebacker Reuben Foster (73 tackles, eight TFLs, seven pass breakups) is one of the best linebackers in the entire nation and will carry the torch for middle linebacker position with Saban’s long line of MLBs over the years. Edge rushers Tim Williams (18 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, nine sacks) and Ryan Anderson (37 tackles, 11.5 TFL, six sacks) along with Allen will make life hectic for opposing offensive lines.

NCAA Football: CFP National Championship-Alabama vs Clemson
NCAA Football: CFP National Championship-Alabama vs Clemson /

Alabama was third in the nation in scoring defense last season (15.1 ppg) and the gluttony of talent in the front seven will more than likely guide the defense to dominance in 2016. Of course, having a ballhawk free safety in

Eddie Jackson

(46 tackles, six INTs, two pick-sixes) will allow Pruitt to be ultra-aggressive with his scheme.

Bama will get several tests this season, starting with the USC Trojans to kick off the season on September 3rd. The Tide has lost two straight to Ole Miss and will have to take on the Rebels on the road two weeks after facing USC.

The most important stretch of the season pits Bama at Arkansas, at Tennessee, vs Texas A&M, and at LSU in four consecutive weeks. Their College Football Playoff hopes will probably hinge on their performance during that critical stretch.

Next: Contender #4

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