After two years of not winning a national championship, one ESPN insider knows the program to not bet against.
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Should we have a college football season, Phil Steele is banking on the University of Alabama under Nick Saban to return to the College Football Playoff and win a national title.
The Crimson Tide has won the big prize five times under Saban and he carries six title rings to his own credit. He is one away from surpassing the legendary Paul W. “Bear” Bryant and Steele sees Saban capturing the title, barring any foreseen circumstances.
Social Distance: @philsteele042 thinks Alabama football will “come back with a vengeance” this year https://t.co/EKOBvyk70P pic.twitter.com/A90WMERyXG
— 247Sports (@247Sports) July 21, 2020
“I think Alabama comes back with a vengeance this year,” Steele said. “Twelve returning starters and I remember last year, they lost Dylan Moses at linebacker prior to the season and Joshua McMillon. They had to throw two true freshmen into the mix. Well, McMillon and Moses are back along with those true freshmen. They have one of the best linebacking corps in the country, one of the best defensive lines in the country, they always reload at defensive back, and special teams are solid.”
Steele mentioned the quarterback position as the Tide’s biggest question mark; however, he feels that the talent around either Mac Jones or Bryce Young is more than enough to win a championship. He even has Alabama’s offensive line, which returns three former five-stars (Alex Leatherwood, Evan Neal and Landon Dickerson) as his No. 1 rated group heading into the season.
With the work he has been doing on the recruiting trail, Saban has the fire back in his eyes.
Some analysts believe the time has run out or the window has closed on Saban’s run of championships, but he is prepared to show he still the bad man on the block of college football.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
