Greg McElroy offers his immediate takeaways from preseason AP Top 25
By Rolando Rosa
Published:
The college football season is only a few weeks away and the preseason AP Top 25 has created plenty of debates.
Defending national champion Georgia checks in at No. 1, followed by Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, and LSU to round out the top 5.
ESPN analyst Greg McElroy shared his takeaways from the first AP Top 25 of the season during an episode of SportsCenter.
McElroy is intrigued by No. 8 Florida State getting the edge over No. 9 Clemson as the early ACC favorite.
“We’ve been talking all offseason who’s going to be ahead of who? Clemson has dominated the ACC for the better part of a decade. Where’s Florida State going to be?” McElroy said. “They have the better roster on paper coming in, they edged Clemson ever so slightly.”
McElroy is also impressed by the volume of Pac-12 programs in the top 25, with No. 6 USC, No. 10 Washington, No. 14 Utah, No. 15 Oregon, and No. 18 Oregon State.
“I think the depth of the Pac-12 has long been documented as well,” McElroy said.
Meanwhile, McElroy believes No. 11 Texas has a higher ceiling based on its roster.
“Texas on paper, I think AP voters have been burned by the Longhorns in the past, so there’s a little apprehension about putting them up there in the top 6, in the top 7,” McElroy said. “…On paper, Texas’ roster is a top 5 roster. Quarterback Quinn Ewers, excellent. Maybe one of the best receiver cores in America by anyone not named Ohio State.”
In terms of LSU being ahead of Alabama, McElroy cites voters’ faith in the Crimson Tide’s culture and the rivalry game being in Tuscaloosa this season.
“If you really look on paper, LSU’s roster and the lack of question marks is a remarkable thing to take a look at…Meanwhile, Alabama a couple different coordinators, a bunch of new faces. Their two best players from last year have gone,” McElroy said. “I think people look at Alabama and they just trust. Plus the fact a lot of voters trying to forecast what the win-loss record will be at season’s end. LSU travels to Tuscaloosa for that game in early November.”
No. 1 Georgia begins its quest for another national title with a matchup vs. UT Martin on Sept. 3. Check out our takeaways from the AP Poll.
