Greg McElroy – Page 3 – Syndication Server

ESPN CFB expert has ‘big question’ for Georgia football

Former Alabama football quarterback Greg McElroy has a major concern for the Georgia defense ahead of the 2024 college football season

ESPN college football expert and former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Greg McElroy has a big question for Georgia football entering the 2024 college football season. McElroy highlighted his top concerns for Georgia on his podcast, “Always College Football with Greg McElroy.”

“The big question is will they be able to step up and play as well at the line of

scrimmage this upcoming year? As they did in 2022 and 2023, because that was ultimately their downfall there in the biggest game of the season last year,” said McElroy. The former Alabama quarterback has expressed a lot of confidence in Georgia quarterback Carson Beck and the UGA offense, but he has doubts about the Georgia defense and if it is championship-caliber.

“When I watched the SEC Championship game last year, I don’t remember a time in five, six, seven years where I saw Georgia getting mowed off the football,” said McElroy of the Georgia defense against Alabama. “I mean just absolutely mowed off the football. I mean defensive lineman six, seven yards down field with an offensive lineman engaged.” McElroy adds, “They also were not great on the edges.”

Georgia’s rushing defense finished the 2023 college football season ranked as the No. 18 run defense in the country. The Bulldogs allowed 13 rushing touchdowns and 113.6 rushing yards per game, which is not up to Georgia’s lofty defensive standard in the Kirby Smart era.

Former Alabama QB, current ESPN football analyst believes in USC

ESPN’s Greg McElroy seems to have noticed USC’s defensive staff changes, unlike many other analysts.

Former Alabama quarterback and national champion Greg McElroy said this week on the “Always College Football” podcast that USC’s month of October will be the most important in the Trojans’ upcoming college football season.

McElroy broke down USC’s schedule this fall during a recent episode of “Always College Football.” To him, their year will come down to the four-game stretch in the midst of conference play from October 5 through October 26.

“I think the second part of the schedule for ‘SC is more manageable than even the first month of the season,” said McElroy. “In October, you have at Minnesota That’s a game you can absolutely and, hopefully for ‘SC fans, you do win. You got Penn State at your place. That’s a game that I think that can be won. I would lean Penn State at the moment but I think that is a game that can absolutely be won. You’re at Maryland– going to be a tough road trip, for sure, but one that can be won without question. Rutgers comes to you – another game that can be won.

“Those, to me? October is going to define USC’s season because there are winnable games on that part of the schedule,” McElroy said.

“It felt like rock bottom for SC there at the end of the regular season. They had a good bowl performance, and now they’ve fortified their defensive staff,” McElroy said. “So, I’m feeling like the arrow is pointing up for the Trojans.”

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Greg McElroy says Kentucky football is being slept on in 2024

ESPN analyst Greg McElroy think Kentucky football is being underrated going into 2024.

The new look SEC is going to be a gauntlet in 2024. If the Kentucky football team wants to finish with a better record than last year, they’ll need to beat the teams they’re supposed to beat, and pull an upset or two. It won’t be easy.

However, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy thinks the Wildcats could surprise some people in 2024. In particular, he mentions the expected strength of the offensive and defensive lines.

Related: Ranking all 16 helmets of the SEC teams

Kentucky will have a lot of veteran leadership on both lines, and that’s always an advantage. McElroy had this to say:

If you think about what Kentucky has done in the last five years under Mark Stoops, they’ve been excellent along the offensive line, not all the time because two years ago wasn’t good. Last year, it was just okay. That has been a position group that has dipped drastically, and they’ve been really solid on the defensive side. Well, last year defensively, they just weren’t as consistent as they’ve been in the past.

He also added that new quarterback Brock Vandagriff should be an improvement over last season, and that the Reds are being “slept on” going into the season.

The 2024 season is an interesting one, and will certainly be a tough one for Kentucky. Analysts like McElroy believe the Wildcats are equipped to be competitive.

Where Clemson ranks in Greg McElroy’s preseason Top 25

Clemson the No. 3 team in the ACC heading into the 2024 season?

The 2024 college football season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory.

College football is changing fast, with big impacts expected this season. The transfer portal is reshaping many top teams, and the expansion of the College Football Playoff is creating more opportunities for programs. While there are some worries about where college football is headed, the excitement for this season is real.

For Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program, the 2024 season is an opportunity to prove that their brand of football still gets the job done. This year, things feel different, too, as the Tigers aren’t only considered to not be the top dog in the ACC anymore, but some see two teams ahead of them now: Florida State and Miami.

Clemson ranked No. 15 for McElory, with Miami ranking No. 12 and Florida State No. 13.

“We’re going to find all that we need to find out about Clemson Week 1. They play Georgia,” McElroy said. “I think sometimes when we evaluate quarterbacks like Cade Klubnik – we anticipate way too much. The guy has only started 13-14 games in his career. And the expectation level is for him to become the second coming of Deshaun Watson – for him to be the second coming of Trevor Lawrence. That is not fair, nor is it reasonable, but I look at Cade Klubnik, and I look at his skillset; I look at what he played like at times last year – do you know who he reminded me of? Auburn’s version of Bo Nix.”

A lot of it comes down to Cade Klubnik and Clemson’s offense. If he and the offense take the next step, with how good Clemson’s defense is, this team can be a contender.

“The skillset is comparable. He’s got some twitch – he can run around, create – he’s got some athleticism, but sometimes you’re kinda left scratching your head. Then Bo Nix went to Oregon and became the player he was always poised to become. 12th overall pick (in the NFL draft), it just took time. And I think Cade Klubnik might have needed some time. Now he has that entering into Year No. 2 with Garrett Riley his offensive coordinator — I feel pretty optimistic about what he’s going to be able to achieve this year.

“I look at last year and it was very inconsistent. I’m hoping this upcoming year there will be more consistency and more predictability at the quarterback spot because (a) No. 80 ranking in QBR in this style of offense is not going to be a long-term solution.”

Clemon’s offense will make or break this team in 2024.

College Football analyst Greg McElroy is confident in Texas A&M’s chances in 2024

Greg McElroy is very high on what Mike Elko can accomplish in College Station ahead of his first season

It’s no surprise that Texas A&M’s 2024 season expectations are less than clear. First-year head coach Mike Elko isn’t feeling any pressure ahead of his inaugural campaign but knows that the roster is much too talented not to compete as soon as the Aggies hit the field.

For those of us who cover the program, Elko’s impressive offseason moves have dispelled any mainstream notions that a “rebuild” is in the works. A significant part of this optimism stems from the return of redshirt sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman, who is finally healthy after missing the final eight games of the 2023 season. His return is a beacon of hope for the team’s future.

Elko’s work in the transfer portal and cementing several key commitments in the 2024 recruiting class has been instrumental. It’s these efforts that make it okay to have higher expectations for the Aggies this season. Notably, one of the weaker groups on the roster, cornerback, has been completely rebuilt through the portal, reassuring the defense’s vast improvement.

SEC Network/ESPN analyst Greg McElroy is much higher on the Aggie’s chances, referencing Elko’s two-year turnaround of Duke’s football program before making his way back to College Station:

“You’re gonna probably laugh at my expectations for Texas A&M, because they are higher than most,” Greg McElroy stated. “I look at their roster and I look at the structure, the way Mike Elko was able to organize Duke and create problems for the opposition the last couple of years. I don’t think this is going to be some rebuild.”

However, any, and I mean any, potential success will be based on A&M’s improvement along the offensive line. New O-line coach Adam Cushing has his work cut out for him after Weigman and former backup quarterback Max Johnson sustained injuries due to poor interior blocking last season.

So, what would define a “successful” season for Mike Elko in Year 1? McElroy is right on point:

“You look at their schedule, it’s a whole heckuva lot more manageable than you might assume,” McElroy stated. “An incredible season would be 10-2. Flirt with an at-large Playoff spot. I think that’s an incredible year for Texas A&M and I think it can be done.”

Texas A&M will open the 2024 season by hosting Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31, at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC.

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Greg McElroy calls Notre Dame’s secondary best in college football

Do you believe this to be true?

Notre Dame is spoiled with some future NFL talent in its secondary. [autotag]Benjamin Morrison[/autotag] widely is projected to be picked early in the first round of the 2025 draft, and [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag] currently figures to be picked on the second day. All of this and more is why ESPN’s Greg McElroy thinks the Irish have the best secondary in the country.

Speaking on the ESPN College Football YouTube channel, McElroy justified his feelings this way:

“They have, I think, one of the best corners in the country. Maybe the No. 2, maybe the No. 3, depending on what the pecking order looks like in Benjamin Morrison. You have one of the best safeties in the country in Xavier Watts, who brought home the Bronko Nagurski (Trophy) last year. Best defensive player in college football. That’s what some people would say. I don’t know if I would put him at the top, frankly, as the best defensive player in college football, but from an opportunistic standpoint, seven interceptions that did not allow a touchdown in coverage last year. Two pretty good spots to start.

You also have the addition of [autotag]Rod Heard[/autotag], which I think was massive coming over from Northwestern. And I think he is a guy that people don’t know right now, but should factor in there at the safety spot as another guy that can potentially impact the game.

So if you look at what they have at both corner spots, one of the best tandems in the sport, one of the best safety tandems in the sport, assuming that Rod Heard is as advertised. I think they’re in a great spot. Couple that with the great front seven, Notre Dame brings home the title for the best defensive secondary.”

If you want to see McElroy’s complete list, you can watch the video here:

So needless to say, the secondary will be a unit to watch for the Irish in 2024. Let’s hope the reality matches the preseason expectations.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

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LSU-USC among Greg McElroy’s best non-conference games in 2024

LSU will open its season against a power conference team in a standalone Labor Day weekend game for the third year in a row.

For the third season in a row, LSU will open its season in a standalone Labor Day weekend game against a power conference opponent.

The Tigers are heading to Las Vegas to face Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans in a matchup that will put two teams with a lot of new pieces against each other. It will also be USC’s first game as a member of the Big Ten.

That game is highly anticipated by fans of both teams and outsiders alike, and ESPN analyst Greg McElroy ranked it as the No. 7 non-conference matchup of the 2024 season on his “Always College Football” podcast.

McElroy thinks it’s an intriguing matchup given the fact that both teams have new starting quarterbacks after losing Heisman winners this offseason, and both also have new coordinators on the defensive side of the ball.

He doesn’t think a loss would necessarily spell catastrophe for either team, however.

LSU is hoping to compete for a spot in the 12-team playoff this season, and while it’s going to be a long season against a tough SEC schedule, a win in Week 1 could go a long way toward accomplishing that goal.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

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Greg McElroy ranks Tiger Stadium as college football’s most hostile environment in 2024

Greg McElroy, a former starting quarterback at Alabama, knows better than most how tough it is for opposing teams to play in Death Valley.

With one of the highest capacities in the country at over 100,000, LSU’s Tiger Stadium is widely considered to be one of the toughest venues for opposing teams to play in college football.

ESPN analyst Greg McElroy, a two-year starting quarterback at Alabama, knows that better than most. On his “Always College Football” podcast, McElroy ranked the most hostile environments in the country for the 2024 season, and LSU topped his list.

“This year, I’m buying stock on LSU,” McElroy said. “Their fans are going to be engaged. Their fans are going to be energetic. Their fans are going to be well lubricated to go into the stadium and to make life extremely difficult for the opposing team.”

The Tigers enter a big Year 3 under [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag], and despite needing to replace quite a few pieces on both sides of the ball, they enter the season with optimism.

They’ll hope an environment like McElroy describes materializes as they try to make a push for a playoff spot.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

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Notre Dame No. 1, and Big Ten ‘Desperate’ to Get into State of Florida

As long as conference expansion is discussed, Notre Dame will be the top target of all.

Notre Dame is pridefully independent in football. If you do the least bit of research, something many struggles to do, you can see why being independent means so much to those associated in any capacity with the football program.

But that doesn’t keep the rest of the nation of college football fans and analysts from wishing it were another way.

[autotag]Greg McElroy[/autotag] was discussing conference realignment on his podcast Always College Football, and when asked about potential Big Ten expansion targets, stated the obvious regarding Notre Dame.

“The No. 1 team that they would target would be Notre Dame, Notre Dame by a mile…Notre Dame is everyone’s No. 1.”

-Greg McElroy

Before anyone jumps on McElroy for putting Notre Dame in a conference, please realize he was answering a question that was asked to him by a viewer.

The more interesting part to me is the conversation he has about Miami possibly joining the Big Ten as he calls the conference “desperate” to get into the state of Florida.

Miami would do that, as would Florida State, which McElroy discusses and shares why both would make sense, specifically together.

You can see the entire conversation below.

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What two Big Ten programs does ESPN analyst Greg McElroy think will bounce back this season?

Greg McElroy predicts that two Big Ten programs will bounce back this year.

ESPN analyst Greg McElroy singled out two perennial Big Ten powerhouses as ready to bounce back this season.

McElroy believes that Nebraska and Wisconsin are ready to take a step forward this season. Both Big Ten teams are in their second year under high-profile head coaches.

Last year, [autotag]Matt Rhule[/autotag] guided the Cornhuskers to a 5-7 (3-6 Big Ten) record, their best finish since 2019. With several successful wins in the transfer portal and the nation’s top incoming freshman quarterback recruit in Dylan Raiola, expectations are certainly high around the blue blood program.

McElroy, speaking on the ESPN platform ‘Always College Football,’ thinks that the progress shown last year in their first season under Rhule can be furthered this season.

“I look at this year’s team and I think this could be a bounce-back season for the Cornhuskers with where their program is ultimately going to be,” McElroy said on ESPN’s ‘Always College Football.’

“I think Matt Rhule has them ultimately going in the right direction. I believe that. I think they’re going in the right direction, no doubt about it. But, how quickly can they get there? When you look at Matt Rhule’s tenure as a head coach – both Baylor and Temple….year one was really underwhelming. Year two was a big step in the right direction.”

As for Wisconsin, McElroy sees some of the struggles in Luke Fickell‘s first year as also ready to turn a corner. The Badgers finished with a winning record but with expectations high in Madison, McElroy thinks the pieces are in place for Fickell to continue the program’s development.

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Their season ended with a 35-31 loss to LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

“Wisconsin went 7-6 last year. New year, new regime. New everything under Luke Fickell heading into ’23. I felt really good about Wisconsin last year, I had it wrong. I’m not going to try to sit here and spin it. I had it wrong. I’m not going to sit here and spin it. I got it wrong. There’s no denying it,” McElroy said.

“But if you look where they were last year -I just thought this offense was going to take shape. Clearly, there was some growing pains. They could still run the ball pretty effectively last year.

“There was some inconsistencies at quarterback from time to time. There were inconsistencies at wide receiver. And I will be curious to see if maybe year number two, Luke Fickell can take a big step. Vegas doesn’t anticipate it… their win total right now is 6.5.”