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#2 Clemson
While I think Bama is in a class by themselves, the Tigers have their own tier behind those guys. It took a while for the coaches to hand the reigns to their freshman quarterback, but now they are the national contenders everybody knows they should be.
Trevor Lawrence makes them so much more dangerous with the explosive passing game. However, it is running back Travis Etienne that is mentioned as a Heisman candidate due to his 8.6 yards a carry and 15 touchdowns on the ground.
I like their mix of playmakers on the perimeter and when you need to convert on third downs you know you have this guy Hunter Renfrow in the slot that will get the job done for you. Defensively, they have been ridiculous in recent weeks.
Overall they are fourth in points allowed with 13.3 and they hold opponents to just 28 percent on third downs. The Tigers defensive line now is the undisputedly best in the country with Nick Bosa preparing for the draft and they will likely have three first round picks on that unit themselves.
Early on in the year I thought their secondary had some holes and I still see those elite QBs having some success against them, but when they play zone and the passer has to identify the coverage first and gives the pass rush a chance, those guys get home.
They are second in the nation in sacks as well as tackles for loss, which explains why they hold opponents to 2.24 yards per rush attempt. The Tigers travel to Boston College this weekend, but I don’t see any real challengers in the ACC and they should have this number two spot firmly wrapped up.
#3 Notre Dame
This is where we start with four to six teams, depending on how you see it, that are very comparable. I have the Irish at number three because they are undefeated and they beat the next team head-to-head in the season-opener.
I applaud Brian Kelly for inserting Ian Book into the starting lineup despite being 3-0 at that point. Since he has been under center for them, Notre Dame is averaging 38.9 points per game (15 more than before). And Book himself is completing just under two thirds of his passes with an average of 8.9 yards per attempt.
Despite the difference the aerial attack has made for them, the basis of this team has stayed the same – they are big and mean up front. On offense they move people off the line in the running game and have Dexter Williams going wild when he gets to the second level. However, they have some stars on defense.
Jerry Tillery is a disruptive force on that D-line, Te’Von Coney is punishing people coming into his area and Julian Love is the best cornerback in college football that nobody is talking about. I love that guy’s attitude and overall game. With that being said, the loss of guard Alex Bars was a big one, because he was their leader and best player up front until he got hurt.
Why do I not think the Irish are as good as Clemson or Alabama? They won by one score against Ball State, Vanderbilt and Pittsburgh. Those other two teams would have beat all of them by at least 30 and 40 respectively.
