Someone posed the question not too long ago: when is the last time a defending national champion returned its starting QB and was not ranked #1. Here's the last few times that has happened:
Clemson: Won in 2018, started 2019 #1
Alabama: Won in 2017, started 2018 #1
Ohio State: won in 2014, started 2015 #1
FSU: Won in 2013, started 2014 #1
Bama: won in 2012, started 2013 #1
Bama: Won in 2011, started 2012 #2 behind USC
Bama: won in 2009, started 2010 #1
Florida: won in 2008, started 2009 #1
USC: won in 2004, started 2005 #1
USC: won 1/2 a title in 2003, started 2004 #1
Basically, the last 20 years, every defending national champion with its starting QB returning has been #1 in the next preseason poll save for Bama in 2011/2012 (side note: USC went 7-6 in 2012).
I didn't go back that far, but I'm going to hazard a guess that the last defending champion with a returning QB that was ranked lower than #2 is...1981 Georgia. That year, we started tenth
Clemson: Won in 2018, started 2019 #1
Alabama: Won in 2017, started 2018 #1
Ohio State: won in 2014, started 2015 #1
FSU: Won in 2013, started 2014 #1
Bama: won in 2012, started 2013 #1
Bama: Won in 2011, started 2012 #2 behind USC
Bama: won in 2009, started 2010 #1
Florida: won in 2008, started 2009 #1
USC: won in 2004, started 2005 #1
USC: won 1/2 a title in 2003, started 2004 #1
Basically, the last 20 years, every defending national champion with its starting QB returning has been #1 in the next preseason poll save for Bama in 2011/2012 (side note: USC went 7-6 in 2012).
I didn't go back that far, but I'm going to hazard a guess that the last defending champion with a returning QB that was ranked lower than #2 is...1981 Georgia. That year, we started tenth
