Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1159352
1. IS IT AN NCAA RULE THAT ALABAMA HAS TO PLAY IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF? No, it's not a rule. It just seems that way. Alabama is the only team that has played in the first five playoffs, and the Crimson Tide are favored to make it six in a row this season. No team that plays in the SEC West can be said to have an easy schedule, but Alabama's certainly is manageable. First and foremost, Alabama doesn't have to play itself. The Tide also get LSU — projected as Alabama's main competition in the West — at home. Alabama's toughest road games figure to be at Texas A&M and Auburn. The big nonconference game for the Tide is against Duke in Atlanta, which is essentially a home game for Alabama. If this were basketball, we'd like Duke's chances a whole lot more. David Cutcliffe, the former Ole Miss coach and Ten- nessee offensive coordinator, has built a nice program at Duke, but not one that can challenge Alabama. And if the Tide somehow stumble, lose an SEC game and don't win the conference title, that doesn't mean Alabama won't win the national championship. Twice Alabama has won national titles without win- ning the SEC title — in 2011 and 2017. Both times the Tide beat the SEC champion in the national title game — LSU in 2011 and Georgia in 2017. 2. ARE WE GOING TO GET ALABAMA- CLEMSON V? It looks like a distinct possibility that the Tide and Tigers will meet in the College Football Playoff for the fifth consecutive year after Alabama and Clemson took turns winning the past four national titles. There doesn't seem to be an ACC team capable of challenging Clemson, and as mentioned above, Alabama is the heavy favorite to win the SEC cham- pionship. 3. WHO ARE THE TOP CANDIDATES TO WIN THE HEISMAN TROPHY? The list includes Alabama's current quarterback, the Tide's former quarterback, Georgia's current quarter- back and the Bulldogs' former quarterback. Alabama junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is the favorite after finishing second in the Heisman balloting last year to Kyler Murray, the Oklahoma quarterback who is now a rookie with the Arizona Cardinals after becoming the NFL's No. 1 overall pick. Jalen Hurts — who was Alabama's starter in 2017 and backed up Tagovailoa last season — is hoping to For over 100 years, the sisco Family has taken special care to honor your loved ones with a celebration oF LiFe. SISCO FUNERAL CHAPEL OVER 100 YEARS OF FAMILY VALUES. FAMILY CARE. FAMILY SUPPORT. Celebrate Memories. Celebrate Love. Celebrate Legacy. Celebrate LiFe. 705 W. MEADOW • SPRINGDALE • 479-751-4577 • siscofuneral.com DIVORCE • CUSTODY • ADOPTIONS • BANKRUPTCY • PERSONAL INJURY • REAL ESTATE • BUSINESS • CRIMINAL • PROBATE ROBERT TEAGUE, ATTORNEY AT LAW 479.531.2785 Teague-Law.com 700 N 13th Suite D • Rogers, AR 72756 TEAGUE LAW FIRM Sunday, August 25, 2019 35 NWA College Football Preview 2019 College football FAQ By Bob Holt AP File Photo Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney (left) and Alabama head coach Nick Saban talk Jan. 1, 2018, before the Sugar Bowl semifinal playoff game for the NCAA college football national championship in New Orleans. There is a distinct possibility that the Crimson Tide and Tigers will face off in the College Football Playoff for the fifth consecutive year. See FAQ, Page 36