Alabama completed its fifth national championship run in nine years under coach Nick Saban with a 26-23 victory against Georgia on Monday.
That begs the question heading into the 2018 season. "Who really wants Bama now?"
MORE: Saban's message brings Tide another title
Alabama opens at No. 1 in Sporting News' Way Too Early Top 25 rankings, and the list of schools that could seriously challenge the Crimson Tide next season is short. Saban will surely call this "rat poison," but let's break down some teams that might get a shot in 2018.
Teams that beat Bama in Playoff once
Clemson
The Tigers beat the Crimson Tide 35-31 in the 2016 College Football Championship game, but Alabama returned the favor in a 24-6 beatdown in the Sugar Bowl this year. The Tide won two of three in this playoff trilogy. How will Clemson adjust if there is a fourth installment?
Ohio State
The Buckeyes beat Alabama 42-35 in a thrilling 2015 Sugar Bowl, but Ohio State's lone playoff appearance since then resulted in 31-0 shutout against Clemson in 2016. From a talent perspective, the Buckeyes still match up best against Bama, especially if Dwayne Haskins and J.K. Dobbins emerge as big-time playmakers in 2018.
Teams that beat Bama in a bowl game once
Oklahoma
The Sooners did beat Alabama 45-31 in the 2014 Sugar Bowl, but they missed an opportunity to have Baker Mayfield go up against that Crimson Tide defense. Lincoln Riley might get a shot down the line, but they have to win a playoff game first.
Utah
The Utes beat the Crimson Tide in the 2009 Sugar Bowl, but that was a long time ago. Hey, the Utes were the only Pac-12 team to win a bowl game this season. That counts for something.
Team that beat Bama in the Iron Bowl this year
Auburn
The Tigers have beaten Alabama in the Iron Bowl three times this decade (more than any other team), and did represent the SEC West in Atlanta. Auburn, however, travels to Tuscaloosa in 2018. The Tigers also lost several key pieces to the 2018 NFL Draft. Gus Malzahn has a lot of work to do.
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Teams that lost to Bama in Playoff/BCS games
Texas
Saban won his first BCS championship at Alabama when the Crimson Tide beat the Longhorns 37-21 in the 2010 Rose Bowl. Tom Herman has Texas on the way back up, but it might take another cycle or two before they are ready for the big time.
LSU
LSU beat the Crimson Tide 9-6 in the legendary No.-1-vs.-No. 2, regular-season showdown in 2011. Alabama has won the last seven meetings, however, including the 2011 BCS championship. It's on Ed Orgeron to change that before we believe in the Tigers again.
Notre Dame
Alabama beat Notre Dame 42-14 in the 2012 BCS championship, and the Irish haven't done enough to close the gap under Brian Kelly since.
Michigan State
Alabama has outscored Michigan State 87-7 in two bowl games, including a playoff matchup in the 2015 Cotton Bowl. Quarterback Brian Lewerke leads an exciting Spartans team into next season, but they would be heavy underdogs against Alabama.
Washington
Alabama beat Washington 24-7 in the 2016 College Football Playoff semifinal at the Peach Bowl. Would the return of Jake Browning be enough for Chris Petersen's team to close that gap? We don't think so.
Georgia
Georgia is the best bet to dethrone Alabama in the SEC, given how the Bulldogs played in a 26-23 loss to the Crimson Tide on Monday. Kirby Smart is building a program that's going to be a "force to be reckoned with." We believe that, too.
Teams that lost to Bama in openers
Florida State
Alabama beat up on the Seminoles 24-7 in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game this season, and the Seminoles are making a transition under first-year coach Willie Taggart.
Wisconsin
Alabama beat Wisconsin 35-17 in the season opener in 2015. The Badgers are inching closer toward a breakthrough in the Big Ten, but few teams can "out-Bama" Alabama. The Badgers are no exception.
Michigan
Alabama beat Michigan 41-14 in the 2012 season opener. That was the beginning of the end of the Brady Hoke era. Saban vs. Jim Harbaugh would be a highly entertaining matchup, but the Wolverines lost five games in 2017. It's on Michigan to make this happen, not Alabama.
West Virginia
Alabama beat West Virginia 33-24 in the 2014 opener. The Mountaineers will have a pass-happy offense with Will Grier, but they have to win the Big 12 before we even think about this matchup.
USC
Alabama beat USC 52-6 in the 2016 opener, the Trojans' worst lost in 50 years at the time. USC won't have it easy without Sam Darnold next season.
Virginia Tech
Alabama beat Virginia Tech twice in openers when Frank Beamer was still coach, but Justin Fuente has the Hokies moving in an upward trajectory. Virginia Tech has to win the ACC before we have this discussion.
Team that gets Bama next
Louisville
The Cardinals draw Alabama in the opener Sept. 1 in Orlando, Fla., and quarterback Jawon Pass will likely make his starting debut for Bobby Petrino.
MORE: Ranking Nick Saban's Alabama teams
The rest of the SEC
Six schools are breaking in new coaches, including traditional powers Florida and Tennessee. Dan Mullen and Jeremy Pruitt have a lot of cleaning up to do before they can challenge at Saban. Jimbo Fisher is at Texas A&M now. Will somebody in the SEC West please stand up?
Anybody else left?
Miami
The Hurricanes and Crimson Tide will meet in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game in 2021. Will Mark Richt get a swing at Alabama on the big stage before then?
Penn State
Alabama swept the teams' home-and-home in 2010-11, but the Nittany Lions have been close to the playoff the last two seasons. Trace McSorley could lead a playoff run in 2018.
UCLA
How long will it take to get the Bruins moving at hyper speed? We've been waiting to see that Saban vs. Chip Kelly matchup for years.
UCF
If the Knights can go undefeated again under new coach Josh Heupel, then maybe we won't have a dispute in 2018.
South Carolina
Will Muschamp is another former Saban assistant. Could he break that 12-0 spell?
Florida Atlantic
Go get it, Lane.
...Anyone else?
TCU or Oklahoma State? Stanford or Washington State? Nebraska and Scott Frost? Anybody else in the Big Ten? It's easy to say, "We want Bama." It's another thing when you see it first-hand. It will be interesting to see if one of the teams on the list stems the Tide next season.
Until then, we'll be waiting.
