Preseason College Football Top 25 Countdown - #1 Alabama

The college football season begins tonight and I can't wait for the gridiron action to get started. So, if we can't watch college football (for a few more hours), we're going to talk football. So let's continue the Preseason College Football Top 25 Countdown with the top team.

- #1 Alabama Crimson Tide - After watching a few college football preview shows I noticed that Alabama certainly isn't the en vogue national championship pick that some might think they would be. Sure, almost everyone has the Crimson Tide pegged as the preseason #1 but they don't have Bama finishing in the same place as they start. But I do. What astounds me about Alabama is that they had arguably the best defense in the nation in 2009 and they have arguably the best defense in the nation in 2010. That's what I call balance. And as for talent - how about losing the defending Heisman Trophy winner for Week 1 and replacing him with a player many consider to be more talented? Sure, the SEC is tough and there hasn't been a TRUE repeat champion since Nebraska in the mid 90's but I think Bama is the team to buck that trend.

Obviously the offense has to start with the aforementioned Mark Ingram. The junior rusher will miss Saturday's game but should return Week 2 on a mission to be the first player to hoist the Heisman Trophy in consecutive seasons since Archie Griffin. The player that might stand the best chance of stopping him won't be playing defense against the Tide, he'll be spelling Ingram in the backfield. Trent Richardson is an explosive back who should show the nation what Crimson Tide fans already know. So does that mean the Tide have the best offensive player in the nation? Maybe, but his name could be Julio Jones, the dynamic wide receiver for Bama. If QB Greg McElroy can become more a down the field passer in his senior season then Jones may finally have his breakout year and stand a chance at the Heisman himself. And to add the talent smorgasbord the WR on the other side of the field Marquis Maze could contend for all SEC honors as well. The whole group will be benefited by a great offensive line led by OT James Carpenter and OG Barrett Jones.

Defensively the Tide took a hit with the loss of Rolando McClain and Terrance Cody to the NFL and the loss of DE Marcell Dareus to suspension. Bama will need a big year and a step up in leadership from safety Mark Barron and LB Dont'a Hightower. The Tide will also need a lot of young defenders to prove their mettle right away.

The schedule obviously isn't easy with a Week 2 home showdown with Penn State and road games at Arkansas and LSU but the Tide will be helped by a relatively light home schedule. Obviously theat doesn't include Florida which comes to town Oct. 2 in what could once again be the game of the year in college football. If the Tide take care of PSU and Florida they could very well find themselves finishing undefeated and playing for it all.