USA Today releases Way Too Early Top 25 for 2019

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Alabama and Clemson have already staked claim for being college football's best teams of 2018. For the rest of the Bowl Subdivision, attention has already shifted to next season.

An early Top 25 for 2019 begins with the Crimson Tide and Tigers before following through a run of elite programs, including Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas and Ohio State. There's also room in this early glance for a handful of newcomers, led by Southern California and Nebraska teams coming off a losing season.

It's never too early to start thinking about what's next. Here's the USA TODAY Sports preview of what's ahead for college football in the fall.

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25. Baylor
24. Boise State
23. Wisconsin
22. Syracuse
21. Nebraska
20. Army
19. Penn State
18. Stanford
17. Iowa State
16. Iowa
15. USCw

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14. Florida

How far the Gators go in Dan Mullen's second season depends on whether an offense that brings back starters at quarterback, running back and receiver can find the explosiveness that was elusive in 2018. If so, Florida could make a serious run at Georgia in the SEC East.

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13. Notre Dame
12. UCF
11. Oregon

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10. Texas A&M

The Aggies seem ready for takeoff after a very solid debut under Jimbo Fisher and his staff. After going 9-4 and reeling in a top-five recruiting class, A&M will begin 2019 expecting to crack double-digit wins and challenge for a New Year's Six bowl coming out of the SEC.

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9. Washington

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8. LSU

Question marks may abound on offense, as always, and the loss of standout defenders will make it even harder to run with Tagovailoa and Alabama. But the Tigers will return a starting quarterback, most of its rotation on offense and many starters from a defense that leaned toward youth in 2018.

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7. Michigan
6. Ohio State
5. Texas
4. Oklahoma

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3. Georgia

Georgia still has an Alabama-size hurdle to overcome before winning a national championship. But the Bulldogs' recruiting has been outstanding, quarterback Jake Fromm will contend for All-America honors and the road through the SEC East isn't overly intimidating.

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2. Clemson

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1. Alabama

The Crimson Tide will have a Heisman Trophy favorite in quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, an outstanding collection of skill players and enough returning talent to overcome what should be another exodus of starters to the NFL. There's no reason why Alabama can't be the nation's most dominant team during the regular season.

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44-16.