Let this be my bold prediction: Bama won't have a chance to play USC, because they're not making the NC game. I know Saban is there and Bama seemingly reloads every year. But, they lost a franchise RB and a ridiculous amount of talent on defense this year. The margin for error to make the NC game in CFB is so small that I just don't think Bama is going to do it.
I don't think it will be due to the running back, but I'm more concerned about the Secondary. I don't like that they have two games against Top 10 teams (Mich and Ark) in the first three games as they are trying to break in 3 out or 4 CB and Safeties.