Greg McElroy picks Alabama as the biggest challenger to Texas in the SEC

With media days rolling across college football, predictions and expectations are coming in, including those about Texas finishing atop the SEC and being in contention for the CFP. That said, there will be many programs, among several in the Southeastern Conference, that will look to throw the horns down.

On ‘Get Up’ on Thursday, Greg McElroy and Paul Finebaum were asked who in the SEC would be the biggest competitor for Texas this season. McElroy began by going with Alabama, as he likes where things are trending from Year 1 to Year 2 at his alma mater under Kalen DeBoer.

“I’m sure this will shock Paul, I’m sure this will shock the panel, but I’m going to go with Alabama,” McElroy said. “I actually look at what Alabama had to endure last year and, while people will look at the record and say 9-4, that was a pretty dang remarkable season considering the other teams that lost coaches in January. I look at what Kalen DeBoer has coming into the season.

“He has established a foundation. All the guys that are there are guys that he has either recruited himself or that have bought into him. And I think he’s going to have consistent quarterback play. Last year, Jalen Milroe? Insanely talented, but it was like a roller coaster every week. You never knew what you were going to get and, as a result, the team’s play was a roller coaster. So, I think you’re going to have a more steady, more approachable Alabama team. And Kalen DeBoer is kind of a miracle worker. He did it in year two at Washington. I think he has a chance to do it in year two at Alabama.”

Finebaum, despite himself saying moments before that the Longhorns were the best team in the sport for this season, also actually agreed with McElroy. He also had ‘Bama as the top competition to Texas, specifically because of the offensive improvement he expects in Tuscaloosa.

“Greg wouldn’t go full Finebaum. I’m going full McElroy here,” Finebaum said. “Greg is correct, and there are a lot of reasons, but I think the most important reason is Ryan Grubb. Nick Saban tried to hire him away from Kalen DeBoer, Kalen DeBoer did hire him and then lost him a few weeks later to Seattle, and now he is back in the system and I think that will benefit Ty Simpson, who I really believe, he’s not as talented as Jalen Milroe, but he’ll be far more consistent. Alabama goes to the playoff, and maybe goes far, as a result.”

There’s much to like as far as Alabama for this season, as its second under DeBoer. That starts with the roster retention the Crimson Tide had, specifically not losing anyone in the spring cycle of the portal, from a team that did go 9-4 overall and was a spot away from making the College Football Playoff. There could now be the natural improvements of being in the second year of a tenure rather than the first, as well as the ones that could be there on offense with Grubb and, likely, Simpson taking the places now of Nick Sheridan and Milroe.

There will be other teams contending in the league and nationally, come kickoff a month and a half from now. Alabama is expected to be among them, especially again in the SEC alongside a team like Texas.