Former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Greg McElroy released his SEC football power rankings. McElroy, who is an ESPN college football analyst, ranked every SEC team into five tiers on his “Always College Football with Greg McElroy” podcast.
McElroy thinks the SEC has four national championship contenders. He included six SEC teams in his preseason top 10, but he does not think that every team in his top 10 is capable of winning a championship.
The Georgia Bulldogs are the No. 2 team in McElroy’s preseason rankings, the highest of any SEC football team. McElroy thinks Georgia has its fair share of weaknesses, but considers the Bulldogs to be the best team in the SEC.
Tier One (National Championship Contenders)
1. Georgia
“Carson Beck is the best quarterback that George has had in quite some time,” said McElroy. The media has predicted Georgia to win the SEC and has Beck as the conference’s preseason All-SEC first-team quarterback.
2. Texas
“Texas, they’re a national championship contender, especially with what they bring back on the offensive side,” said McElroy. Texas is ready to make some noise in its first season in the SEC.
3. Alabama
Alabama returns elusive quarterback Jalen Milroe and a great deal of talent from the Nick Saban era. McElroy does not think Alabama will have much of a drop-off to start the Kalen DeBoer era.
“Alabama is maybe slightly thinner as far as depth is concerned, but their best is still as good as anybody else in the entire conference,” said McElroy.
4. Ole Miss
McElroy tabbing Ole Miss as a championship contender will surprise some folks, but the Rebels return much, including quarterback Jaxson Dart.
“We need to wake up and get on board with the possibility that Ole Miss could win the whole dang thing,” said McElroy. McElroy likes how the Rebels improved in the trenches this offseason.
Tier Two (College Football Playoff Contenders)
6. Missouri
Tier Three (Spoilers)
Greg McElroy puts three SEC teams in the spoilers category. Spoilers are capable of beating pretty much any team in the league, but he does not expect them to make the playoff. “The floor should be eight wins,” said McElroy on spoiler teams, “But there’s a possibility you could rally up.”
Tier Four (Bowl Game Bound)
“Teams that are almost guaranteed to go to the postseason, but their ceilings at about eight wins,” said McElroy on teams that are in his fourth tier.
13. South Carolina
Tier Five (Work In Progress)
McElroy thinks if Tier 5 teams make a bowl game that “would be a remarkable achievement.”
14. Arkansas
15. Mississippi State
16. Vanderbilt