Way-too-early Top 25 CFB rankings released for 2019

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Clemson vs. Alabama IV hasn't even started yet, and we already have one of the first way-too-early preseason rankings for 2019.

Athlon Sports has Alabama ranked No. 1 next season followed by Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Texas, Florida, Michigan, LSU, and Texas A&M.

Clemson and Alabama appear to be the mega powers in college football for the foreseeable future.

"Alabama and Clemson were college football’s best teams in 2018 and that’s unlikely to change next fall," Athlon Sports said. "Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is only going to get better as a sophomore in 2019, Travis Etienne is one of the nation’s top running backs, and there's no shortage of talent and depth at receiver. Left tackle Mitch Hyatt is the biggest personnel departure on offense. With Lawrence and Etienne leading the way, Clemson has plenty of firepower to ease the pressure on a rebuilding defense. The Tigers will lose tackle Christian Wilkins, end Austin Bryant and linebacker Kendall Joseph, and there could be a couple of early departures to the NFL. Even with those personnel losses, coordinator Brent Venables will keep this unit performing at a high level. Also, it certainly helps to have talent like defensive end Xavier Thomas waiting on the wings for a bigger role in 2019. The schedule features road trips to Syracuse, NC State, Louisville and South Carolina but Florida State and Texas A&M come to Death Valley. Clemson should be favored in all 12 games next fall."

In case you were wondering, in-state rival South Carolina was not mentioned in the article's listing of the top 35 teams for next season.

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