Keep in mind that last year's way-too-early top 25 had all four College Football Playoff teams — and four New Year's Day Six teams — in the top 10. With that said, here's a look at Sporting News' updated preseason top 25 rankings for 2018:

1. Alabama Crimson Tide
Yes, we put Alabama at No. 1 again. Chances are it will be atop the preseason polls that come out in August. Nick Saban may have a quarterback controversy between Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa, but he's working with the same talented stable of skill position players. One possible concern: Saban will be working with his third different defensive coordinator in four seasons, after Jeremy Pruitt left for Tennessee.

2. Clemson Tigers

3. Georgia Bulldogs
The Bulldogs were one of the big winners at the NFL Draft entry deadline last year. The defending SEC champions now have holes to fill, but the offense can build around sophomore Jake Fromm. Kirby Smart has an all-time recruiting class coming in, and the Bulldogs are in great position in the SEC East.

4. Ohio State Buckeyes

5. Oklahoma Sooners

6. Wisconsin Badgers

7. Washington Huskies

8. Auburn Tigers
Gus Malzhan opted to stay at Auburn, and with good reason. There's enough talent on both sides of the ball to repeat as SEC West champions, and perhaps finish the job this time around. Jarrett Stidham is back, but leading rushers Kerryon Johnson and Kamryn Pettway are gone, as are Jeff Holland and Carlton Davis on defense. The Tigers also have to travel to Tuscaloosa and Athens this time around.

9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

10. Penn State Nittany Lions

11. Miami Hurricanes
Mark Richt and the Hurricanes arrived earlier than expected this year, and — despite three losses to end the season — should be back in ACC contention with Malik Rosier and a core that includes running back Travis Homer and a strong defense. Miami's nonconference schedule features a monster opener against LSU at Jerry World and a road trip to Toledo.

12. Michigan Wolverines

13. Michigan State Spartans

14. Stanford Cardinal

15. USC Trojans

16. UCF Knights

17. Virginia Tech Hokies

18. LSU Tigers
Ed Orgeron led the Tigers to a January bowl game, and the quarterback competition among Myles Brennan, Lowell Narcisse and Justin McMillan looks promising. Still, the Tigers have a rough schedule that sees them open against Miami in Jerry World, face East opponents Florida and Georgia in consecutive weeks and take on always-tough division rivals Alabama and Auburn. We'll know enough about this team before the Tide comes to Baton Rouge on Nov. 3.

19. TCU Horned Frogs

20. Florida State Seminoles

21. Oklahoma State Cowboys

22. Texas Longhorns

23. South Carolina Gamecocks

24. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Gone is Dan Mullen, though the Bulldogs have more than enough offensive weapons to succeed in 2018, starting with Nick Fitzgerald at quarterback and Aeris Williams at running back. Bringing in former Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead — the architect of the Nittany Lions' high-flying offense the past two years — as head coach can only mean good things on offense.

25. Boise State Broncos

Others receiving votes: Texas A&M, Memphis, Louisville, Florida Atlantic, Arizona

Sporting News has updated its way-too-early preseason top 25