Individual college football players can be remarkable, but it's often the positional units that separate good teams from great ones.
Ohio State's defensive line, Clemson's rushing attack, Oklahoma's passing game and LSU's overall offensive onslaught were the biggest reasons those teams reached the College Football Playoff last year.
Most of the teams expected to contend for a spot in this year's CFP boast a particular unit that should rank among the best in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Potential, while important, was only a small factor in this list because of its subjective nature. This ranking is predominantly rooted in returning production and the preseason All-American types of honors and awards that come with it.