Take Two: Can Clemson topple Alabama?
MORE TAKE TWO: Can Alabama bring five-star RB Trey Sanders back into the fold?
Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling an issue in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and a local expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.
THE STORYLINE
Alabama is No. 1 in all the polls and the Crimson Tide have obliterated every one of their opponents this season, including a 29-0 decision at LSU this past weekend which was supposed to be the team's first serious competition.
Look at the stats and they’re just hard to believe. Alabama is outscoring opponents about 51-14 on average. The Crimson Tide have rushed for 23 scores and allowed just three all season. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the Heisman favorite, has thrown for 27 touchdowns and one interception.
The defense continues to be arguably the best in the country and Alabama’s offense has explosive players all over the field whether with Tagovailoa or the running back triumvirate of Najee Harris, Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs or at receiver with Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, Irv Smith or others.
A few states away, No. 2 Clemson has hit its stride with Trevor Lawrence at quarterback and has been destroying opponents lately. The Tigers have beaten its last four ACC opponents by an astonishing score of 240-36.
If the College Football Playoff was played today, Alabama would face Notre Dame and Clemson would play Michigan in the national semifinals. If Clemson and Alabama advanced, would we have a good game on our hands in Santa Clara a week later?
FIRST TAKE: LARRY WILLIAMS, TIGERILLUSTRATED.COM
“I can't take my eyes off Alabama this year. Where before they just sort of squeezed the life out of people with a recipe of dominant defense and a plodding offense that didn't have great flash, now they are full of pyrotechnics on offense thanks to Tagovailoa. It is a beautiful thing to watch for a connoisseur of great football.
"But here's the thing: So is Clemson. Lawrence has been the catalyst for this offense shifting into a high gear, and the defense is at its marauding best. I don't know if I'd pick Clemson to beat Alabama right now. But it could be a different story in January after even more growth from this offense.
"Bottom line to me: People who are saying Alabama will win another national title with little resistance need to take a closer look at Clemson. What the Tigers are doing is pretty darned special, too.”
SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, RIVALS.COM
“Alabama is too tough to beat, but there are two teams that can give them a game. Clemson is one one of them. Michigan is the other.
"When we’re talking about Clemson specifically, they look great, they’re dominating, but it’s the ACC and they’re dominating pretty bad opponents. Michigan has that defense that could keep them in the game for a little while but the way Alabama’s offense is clicking, I don’t see either of those defenses being able to keep them in check whatsoever.
"Alabama had a couple of miscues against LSU and they still beat them by almost 30 points. Who is going to stop that offense? I just don’t know if there is a team that can do that.”
