How each AP Top 25 team makes the College Football Playoff

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2. Alabama Crimson Tide

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Get ready to hear how easy Alabama has it this year. Getting Duke without a returning starting quarterback and South Carolina as the cross-division draw is a gift.

As is getting LSU at home. The first real test isn't until mid-October at Texas A&M. And even then, they go on the road with a Heisman runner-up at quarterback (Tua Tagovailoa) and the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner at receiver (Jerry Jeudy).

But this team isn't without at least some question marks. The return of Steve Sarkisian as offensive coordinator is a real wild card, as is the elevation of Pete Golding to defensive coordinator.

More than half the staff is new. What's more, on the defensive side of the ball, Alabama has to replace perhaps the most dominant player in college football last season, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.

-- Alex Scarborough

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3. Georgia Bulldogs

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Is this the year the Bulldogs break through? All they have to do is get past Alabama, a thorn in their side the past two seasons, first in the CFP National Championship Game and then in the SEC championship game last season.

Both times you could argue they've been the better team only to lose in come-from-behind fashion.

There's hope now, though. The quarterback-running back tandem of Jake Fromm and D'Andre Swift is one of the most underrated in the country. And while the loss of Jeremiah Holloman at receiver hurts, the way Kirby Smart and his staff have recruited should more than make up for it.

As long as the defense matures in a timely fashion, replacing veterans like Deandre Baker and D'Andre Walker, nothing should stand in the way of Georgia playing Alabama to get in the playoff. -- Scarborough

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6. LSU Tigers

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The biggest roadblock for LSU making the College Football Playoff is an all too familiar one for those on the Bayou. The Tigers have to play at Alabama in 2019 and have lost eight straight to the Crimson Tide, managing just 73 points in those eight losses.

That's where it has to improve for LSU, being more explosive and more consistent offensively, and there's real hope with quarterback Joe Burrow returning and Ed Orgeron vowing that the Tigers will spread it out on offense that they will be more equipped to win high-scoring affairs.

Defensively, the Tigers are as talented as anybody with the likes of future NFL players Grant Delpit at safety and Kristian Fulton at cornerback, not to mention pass-rushing phenom K'Lavon Chaisson healthy after missing almost all of last season with a knee injury.

-- Low

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8. Florida Gators

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Not many pegged the Gators as a 10-win team a year ago. But here they are, with growing preseason expectations making it feel like this program is getting closer to the days when it competed for championships on an annual basis.

Whether quarterback Feleipe Franks truly has turned a corner will be put to the test in the opener against Miami.

If he has, then watch out for the Gators, who return their top six receivers and top rusher from a year ago. The biggest question mark on offense is not even about Franks -- it's about whether the revamped offensive line, with four new starters, will be able to protect Franks and open up holes in the run game.


Defensively, Florida has one of the best secondaries in SEC plus a defensive line that should continue to wreak havoc with Jabari Zuniga back and Louisville transfer Jon Greenard. If Franks shines and the defense builds depth among its defensive backs,

Florida will put itself in position for a playoff run. Especially since one loss with this schedule could be forgiven. -- Andrea Adelson

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12. Texas A&M Aggies

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The Aggies' schedule-makers did them no favors this season. Clemson is the out-of-conference draw. Georgia is the cross-division draw. And then there's the old standbys of Alabama and LSU.

The saying "Win and you're in" certainly applies here, but it's going to take a lot of wins to clear a path to the playoff.

But ... there's hope. Jimbo Fisher's results in Year 1, going 9-4, instilled some confidence in College Station. Quarterback Kellen Mond is back after seeing his passer rating skyrocket by roughly 30 points.

Retaining defensive coordinator Mike Elko was a big win during the offseason, and in tackle Justin Madubuike, he has a centerpiece to build around.

-- Scarborough

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16. Auburn Tigers

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Gus Malzahn can go from the hot seat to next in line for a contract extension in no time. Win the season opener against Oregon and the entire outlook for the Tigers changes.
Suddenly we'll be talking about what they have on both sides of the ball and how this year they get Georgia and Alabama at home, where anything can happen.

Here's the problem when you start talking about the return of Derrick Brown and how good that defense can be, or how promising young up-and-comers like Seth Williams, JaTarvious Whitlow and Anthony Schwartz are on offense: Who's the quarterback? Is it Bo Nix or Joey Gatewood? And seeing as both are freshmen, can they be depended on? If one emerges and plays beyond his years, then this team could come together in a hurry.

-- Scarborough

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