The Texas Longhorns don’t have fond memories of former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy. The last time many saw him on a football field came in the 2009-10 BCS National Championship game. Colt McCoy was injured and McElroy would lead the Crimson Tide to the National Championship. Now McElroy is talking about the Big 12, just not in a very positive manner.
During a telecast, he had some interesting comments about the American Athletic Conference over the Big 12 Conference. The Big 12 has come under criticism following the performances of Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Iowa State and Kansas the last two weeks. While he makes the case about the middle of the pack, it is all about the top of the conference. That is where the group is judged but he thinks there is an argument.
“Tell me the American, right now, isn’t deeper than the Big 12, perhaps,” McElroy said during the UCF/Georgia Tech game. “I think the American — you could make a case, based on the first couple of weeks here out in the 2020 season — it’s early but I’ve been far more impressed with the quality of play at the top right now. Of course, Oklahoma, Texas, they’re excellent. But those next teams, three, four, five — Oklahoma State struggled today, Iowa State lost to Louisiana, we know Kansas State struggled last week against Arkansas State, losing that game.”
One could point out that the Big 12 Conference is an easy target at this point. It is for good reason, as a Power Five conference, you don’t expect that a Group of Five conference to give you so much trouble, but here we are.
| Navy | 1-1 |
| SMU | 2-0 |
| Cincinnati | 1-0 |
| Memphis | 1-0 |
| Central Florida | 1-0 |
| South Florida | 1-1 |
| East Carolina | 0-0 |
| Houston | 0-0 |
| Temple | 0-0 |
| Tulsa | 0-1 |
| Tulane | 1-1 |
It is really a silly argument to try and make after just three weeks of the season. Sure has the Big 12 Conference looked bad through the first couple weeks of the season? Sure. Given how the season has come together with so many concerns about the health and safety of those involved, many should have known it would be slow going.