Tag: Greg McElroy

Colin Cowherd picks a Big Ten and an SEC team to play for the national championship

Colin Cowherd picks a Big Ten team and one from the SEC to make the College Football Playoff championship game.

Colin Cowherd has order being restored in the college football this year, the Fox Sports host picking a Big Ten team to face an SEC team in the national championship.

In a recent appearance on Greg McElroy’s ‘Always College Football,‘ Cowherd picked Michigan to return to the College Football Playoff. That is a realistic and likely projection from Cowherd and one that certainly follows conventional wisdom.

But then Cowherd goes outside the box with his thinking, telling McElroy that he has LSU not just making the playoff but also making the championship game.

Last year in its first season under Brian Kelly, LSU went 10-4 and finished No. 17 in the final College Football Playoff rankings.

“I think Brian Kelly, first year kind of got the offense figured out. Now he is going to get the defense figured out. So I have Michigan facing LSU in the championship,” Cowherd said.

“I don’t think LSU is the best SEC team, I don’t think they’re the deepest. But I love the coach, I love the quarterback. I looked at the schedule and I’m like it’s going to be a lot of people knocking each other off. I like LSU a lot.”

Michigan won the Big Ten Championship Game before falling 51-45 to Texas Christian in the playoff. The Wolverines finished the season 13-1.

 

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Greg McElroy set to join ESPN’s primetime crew for 2023 college football season

Former Tide QB Greg McElroy receives promotion from ESPN!

Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy is quickly becoming one of the most popular college football analysts in the country. After being the Crimson Tide’s starting QB for two seasons and winning a national championship, McElroy would spend a couple of seasons in the NFL with the New York Jets before moving into the sports media profession in 2014.

At the age of 35, McElroy has now received a massive promotion from ESPN. It was announced on Wednesday that the former Tide star would join Sean McDonough and Molly McGrath for ESPN’s primetime games on Saturday night for the 2023 college football season.

Alabama’s Week 2 matchup with Texas is set to air on ESPN at 6:00 p.m. CT but no official word has been made that McElroy will be on the call for his former team or not.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

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Greg McElroy says LSU has improved at ‘almost every position’

The Tigers were aggressive in replacing lost talent this offseason.

Despite surprising the college football world by turning in a 10-win season in Year 1, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] didn’t rest on his laurels in his second offseason at LSU.

This team had some losses, but Kelly managed to plug many of them with experienced transfer additions. Pair the newcomers with a strong returning core, and you have a team that seems poised to make another leap.

On his YouTube show, college football analyst Greg McElroy said he thinks the Tigers have improved or at least maintained at nearly every spot on the field.

“This year, you could actually make a strong argument that they have improved or maintained almost every position,” McElroy said, according to On3. “I’m cautiously optimistic that [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] is going to be better this year. I’m really optimistic about the depth that they have at running back, they can go five deep at that position and probably not miss a beat.”

Beyond Daniels, McElroy praised LSU’s offensive unit as a whole, particularly the receivers and returning offensive tackles in [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] and [autotag]Emery Jones[/autotag].

“I think that might be even though [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag] was a great talent, I think his presence last year was difficult for the coaching staff to get him to buy in to do what he needed to do,” McElroy said. “So his departure might be addition by subtraction. Now, in comes [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag], in comes [autotag]Kyren Lacey[/autotag], [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] at tight end is going to continue to get better, and they have other weapons waiting in the wings to take the next step at wide receiver.

“Offensive line, you had two bookends true freshmen. Now they’re going into year number two. They bring in a ton of talented players, not just in the recruiting process but in the transfer portal as well.”

McElroy is a bit skeptical that the talent will result in a significant difference in how the Tigers finish this fall, but he thinks another 10-win season is in reach.

“This team feels ready to roll,” he said. “Now, will they ultimately be as good as they were last year? I think they will. Will their win-loss record reflect it? That’s what we need to figure out. Last year 10-4, great breakthrough season. I think they have every bit of a chance to get to 10 wins yet again, but getting to the SEC Championship Game might be very difficult for Brian Kelly and co.

“Can’t wait to see what he does in year No. 2. If we’re grading year one performance, though: A++ for the head coach of the LSU Tigers.”

LSU will hope to build upon last season’s success when it kicks off the 2023 season against Florida State next month in Orlando.

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ESPN analyst on Northwestern’s outlook: ‘Expectations are almost zero’

Greg McElroy says the pressure is low on Northwestern football and head coach David Braun.

The pressure meter on David Braun is zero, this as the Northwestern football head coach navigates a most tricky and unusual offseason. And with the season opener at Rutgers just a month away, nothing much is expected from this Northwestern team.

Braun joined Northwestern this January as their defensive coordinator. He became interim head coach when Pat Fitzgerald was fired following the fallout of a hazing scandal.

This week on ‘Always College Football,’ ESPN analyst Greg McElroy went through a ranking of what head coaches are currently on the hot seat. McElroy believes that Braun, who is likely only a stopgap until Northwestern straightens out their position, is facing low expectations.

“David Braun, who steps in as the interim head coach at Northwestern. I think the pressure is at one because the expectations are almost zero,” McElroy said.

“I mean, you look at the roster where they were last year, the fact that they have a lot of issues within the program itself. I don’t think there’s a whole lot that can be done to salvage the ’23 season for Northwestern now if they surprise and overachieved that’s great, but I’m not anticipating that right now. So I’m putting David Braun at a one.”

Northwestern opens the first weekend of September at Rutgers, a team that is looking to build into a bowl season.

This week, Northwestern made some news with the hire of Skip Holtz to their staff. Holtz will be an overseer of sorts for the program, providing some guidance for Braun, who has never been a head coach.

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Greg McElroy likes the Longhorns roster over the Sooners in 2023

“(Red River) will be a lot closer than last year, but I still like where Texas’ roster is at this point relative to the Sooners.”

College football predictions are trickling in from national media. As expected, Red River is a premier topic of discussion.

Earlier this week, our colleague Kevin Borba noted TexAgs’ Billy Liucci’s thoughts on Texas and Oklahoma. Luicci opined that the Longhorns are in a much better place heading into the SEC. His comments could revolve around roster construction, where the ‘Horns have a decided advantage.

On one side stands a Texas roster full of proven players, including several first and second-round picks for the next two NFL drafts. The Longhorns have the best offensive tackle (Kelvin Banks), linebacker (Jaylan Ford), tight end (Ja’Tavion Sanders) and top two wide receivers (Xavier Worthy and AD Mitchell) in the Big 12 conference. And there’s a sizable gap between them and the next best player at those positions.

The Oklahoma roster is for the most part constructed of several players with elite potential. But, as Texas head coach Darrell Royal once shared, potential just means you haven’t done it yet.

Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy strengthened the notion that Texas is more proven than Oklahoma this week. He said the following of this year’s game.

“(Red River) will be a lot closer than last year, but I still like where Texas’ roster is at this point relative to the Sooners.”

It’s an interesting battle. In Norman, Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel is the most proven quarterback in the Big 12. Even so, he’s surrounded by several unproven commodities. In Texas, the Longhorns have a largely proven roster with an unproven starting quarterback in Quinn Ewers.

It’s uncertain how the matchup will turn out, but what is certain is the game will be must-see TV.

Greg McElroy has Texas winning 10 or more games in 2023

“I really think this is a 10-win football team. That’s the floor.”

Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy is drinking the burnt orange kool-aid in 2023. He’s making bold proclamations about what the Longhorns will be in the upcoming season.

McElroy said the following about Texas leading up to a pivotal year on the gridiron.

“A big boost is coming for the Longhorns this year. I am very optimistic about it. I think they’re a Top-10 football team coming into the season. A lot of it has to do with the progress made offensively, progress made on the front seven defensively. But, given the strides made from ’21 to ’22, I think they’re going to continue to ramp it up. I’m taking the over on 9.5.”

There has been marked improvement for Texas since the dud of a first season for the current staff in 2021. Longhorns assistants, offensive line coach Kyle Flood in particular, took the time to develop players and reteach the fundamentals better than the last coaching staff. It resulted in fundamentally sound football in 2022.

McElroy continued his Texas hype.

“Texas? I’m taking the over. I really think this team is a 10-win football team. That’s the floor. Maybe I’m drinking the Kool-Aid. I might very well be. Texas has let me down in the past. They might very well do so again in the future. But I will take that risk.”

Setting a 10-win floor seems a little optimistic given the Longhorns’ recent struggles with putting away Big 12 squads. Nevertheless, it’s where Texas needs to finish to consider the year a successful season. Texas will look to prove McElroy right beginning with its game with Rice on Sept. 2.

WATCH: Badgers ranked in top 15 by former national champion QB

The 2023 Badger football team is one of the most intriguing in the history of the program with new head coach Luke Fickell at the helm.

The 2023 Badger football team is one of the most intriguing in the history of the program. With new head coach Luke Fickell at the helm, the hype around Wisconsin is potentially at an all-time high.

While ranking his top 25 college football teams, former Alabama quarterback and national champion Greg McElroy placed Wisconsin as the 14th best team in the country.

McElroy highlighted the additions of offensive coordinator Phil Longo, formerly with North Carolina, and SMU transfer quarterback Tanner Mordecai as reasons why the Badgers will succeed in 2023.

Longo’s “Air Raid” offense is expected to open up the Badgers’ ability to produce in the passing game while also freeing up the run game to churn out more consistent yardage.

Additionally, McElroy expects Fickell and new defensive coordinator Mike Tressel’s 3-3-5 scheme from Cincinnati to transition well to Madison.

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WATCH: Greg McElroy explains why he believes Ty Simpson will be QB1

Greg McElroy explains why he believes Ty Simpson will be QB1!

We are in the middle of the 2023 SEC media days taking place at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville, Tennessee.

On Wednesday, Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide will take center stage and the question that will spark the most discussion is certain to be about the ongoing quarterback competition between Jalen Milore, Ty Simpson, and Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner.

While in Nashville for this week’s festivities, former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy joined On3’s JD PicKell to discuss the competition and offered up some interesting thoughts on who he believes will eventually be named the starter in Tuscaloosa.

“I think Jalen Milroe is a tremendous talent,” McElroy said. “I think he’s a gifted football player. The explosiveness goes without saying. The guy’s ridiculous. Just get him the ball and see what he does with it. But there was a problem last year with turnovers and it wasn’t just the A&M game. Of 16 offensive turnovers for Alabama last year, he accounted for five of them. Having played in that offense and lived life under Nick Saban, he doesn’t forget those things very easily. So I think he’ll have to work his way back into the good graces when it comes to ball security.”

“Tyler Buchner’s been there for a very short period of time,” McElroy explained. “It’s very difficult to win the team in that short period of time. I remember back in 2014, Jake Coker transferred up from Florida State and he was supposed to be the guy. He just lost out to Jameis Winston in a great quarterback competition. Then there was this guy that was also on the team and Blake Sims had been there for four years and developed relationships with guys on the roster. So when it was close in fall camp, the guys naturally gravitated to the guy that they knew and that was Blake Sims. Ended up having a good year and Coker comes in in ’15 and wins a national championship, but he had to wait his turn for a year.

“So I think when I look at those two aspects and a guy like Ty Simpson, it’s not like he was a guy that was underrecruited or is an underachieving guy. He just hasn’t had the opportunity yet.”

McElroy certainly knows a thing or two about playing quarterback at Alabama under Nick Saban, and he definitely understands that coach Saban puts a premium on taking care of the football and managing the game.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for continuous coverage of the 2023 SEC media days and the ongoing quarterback competition in Tuscaloosa!

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

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LSU cracks Greg McElroy’s preseason top 5

Greg McElroy may be a former Alabama player, but he’s the latest media figure to buy into what LSU and Brian Kelly are selling entering the 2023 season.

Greg McElroy may be a former Alabama player, but he’s the latest media figure to buy into what LSU and [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] are selling entering the 2023 season.

McElroy recently broke down his top 25 teams in college football entering the season, and the Tigers sit high up on his list at No. 5.

Offensively, McElroy praised the progress of quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] in Year 1, and he discussed his high expectations for both the receiving corps led by [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and the offensive line, which was led by a pair of true freshmen tackles last fall in [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] and [autotag]Emery Jones[/autotag].

On the defensive side of the ball, McElroy expects [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag] to take a big leap this fall, and he praised transfer additions like [autotag]Omar Speights[/autotag] and the players the Tigers brought in to help the secondary, which he said could be a weak point in 2023.

Still, this is a team poised to compete for another division crown and, potentially, a College Football Playoff bid in Kelly’s second season.

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Alabama legend Greg McElroy says Alabama quarterback battle is a toss up

Former National Championship-winning QB weighs in on the Alabama quarterback competition

The looming question in Tuscaloosa this offseason is who will start at quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide. We are unlikely to have the answer until the Tide open the season at home against Middle Tennessee on Sept. 2.

Replacing a Heisman Trophy winner and a program-altering player such as  Bryce Young is no easy task for any coach. Then again, not every coach is Nick Saban. The Tide have multiple options at the QB position among Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson and Tyler Buchner.

Milroe has the upper hand. He has been in the system for the most time and is the only one of the three to start a game for Alabama. Unfortunately, neither Milroe nor Simpson played very well in Alabama’s A-Day in April, which prompted the coaching staff to bring in Buchner, a Notre Dame transfer.

Greg McElroy, who won a national championship as quarterback for the Tide, weighed in on the QB competition saying,

“I can’t tell you right now who’s going to win that quarterback competition. I can’t do it. Even as a guy that played there, that has inside information with what’s going on at Alabama. Nobody knows. You can ask Nick Saban today ‘Hey who’s your starting QB going to be?’ and he cannot tell you with confidence who that guy is going to be. It’s going to play itself out over the course of the summer, it’s going to play itself out over the course of fall camp and it wouldn’t be the first time that it played itself out into the season.”

There is still plenty of time left in the offseason for Saban and the Crimson Tide to figure it out, but the clock is ticking.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football as the 2023 offseason progresses.

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Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.