SEC Power Rankings: Alabama, Texas A&M, Florida, South Carolina and Georgia All in the Title Hunt

Jan 7, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; BCS chief executive officer Bill Hancock (right) presents Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban with the Coaches Trophy after the 2013 BCS Championship game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Sun Life Stadium. Alabama won 42-14. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

Last Season: 13-1 (7-1)

Key Addition: A number one ranked recruiting class

Key Word: Three-peat

Outlook:

Winners of three of the last four national championship, Alabama looks for the three-peat this season with yet another stacked roster. Even though they lost nine players to the NFL last season, Alabama is still returning several key players in quarterback AJ McCarron, T.J. Yeldon, C.J. Mosley, and Amari Cooper.

If there is a weakness to the Crimson Tide it is their secondary, which lost Dee Milliner and Robert Lester from last year’s team. Finding replacements will be key given the strength of the quarterback position in the SEC, and since a trip to play against Johnny Football is their second game of the season.

Speaking of their schedule, it is quite favorable given the circumstances. They avoid playing Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida, and have just two preseason ranked teams on their schedule in Texas A&M (road, Sept. 14) and LSU (home, Nov. 9).

As things stand now, Alabama has a clear path to their third-straight NCAA title.