ESPN Has A New Preseason No. 1 Team For 2018

The Worldwide Leader has a new No. 1 team for 2018.

ESPN updated its preseason top 25 poll for the 2018 season earlier Wednesday. The new rankings feature a new team at No. 1.

Alabama was ranked No. 1 in the initial preseason top 25 poll, but that's changed due to some NFL Draft decisions. Clemson, which is getting back several of its potential NFL Draft entrants, has taken over the top spot.

ESPN college football writer Mark Schlabach thinks Clemson benefited as much as any team in the country during this early entrant period. The Tigers are returning basically their entire defensive front, which boasts four potential first-round picks on the defensive line.

Here's what ESPN is saying about Clemson:

Clemson's chances received a major boost when a handful of underclassmen -- defensive linemen Austin Bryant, Clelin Ferrell and Christian Wilkins and linebacker Kendall Joseph -- decided to return to school. Ferrell and Wilkins were considered probable first-round selections if they entered the NFL draft.

The Tigers had one of the most dominant defenses in the FBS this past season; they were tied for the FBS lead in sacks (46), sixth in tackles for loss (109) and eighth in yards allowed per rush (3.1). They also signed two of the top three defensive linemen prospects in the 2018 class in Xavier Thomas and K.J. Henry.

Much of the Tigers' offense returns in 2018. One burning question: Can quarterback Kelly Bryant hold off incoming freshman Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 pocket passer and No. 2 player overall in the ESPN 300?

Clemson is a worthy No. 1, but I'd still go with Alabama. The Crimson Tide are the reigning national champions and return a ton of young talent on offense.

You can view the entire top 25 here. It features a decent amount of changes.