Greg McElroy’s Stunning College Football Prediction Ignites Fan Debate

College football analyst Greg McElroy is once again shaping the conversation heading into Week 6 of the 2025 season. The former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback—and current voice on ESPN and the “Always College Football” podcast—released a flurry of rankings and picks this week that have fans buzzing. McElroy’s updated Top 10 quarterbacks list On Monday, McElroy unveiled a refreshed ranking of the nation’s top signal-callers. Ohio State’s Jaxon Ward keeps the No. 1 spot after engineering the Buckeyes’ undefeated start, while Texas star Quinn Ewers climbs to No. 2 following a five-touchdown performance against Oklahoma State. The biggest mover is Arizona’s Kade Slater, rocketing from No. 8 to No. 4 after shredding USC for 412 yards and three scores. McElroy stressed that efficiency and “big-game composure” were the primary metrics, a stance that stirred debate on social media from supporters of Notre Dame phenom Tyler Buchner, who sits at No. 7 despite gaudy statistics. Two Top 25 teams on McElroy’s upset radar During Tuesday’s podcast, McElroy placed No. 10 Miami and No. 17 Illinois firmly on upset alert. He pointed to Miami’s shaky pass defense ahead of a road trip to surging NC State, and warned that Illinois’ sputtering offense could be exposed by a hungry Purdue squad. “Both teams have playoff aspirations, but the margins are razor-thin,” he said, noting that turnover differential could decide each contest. The comments instantly fueled betting-line shifts, as oddsmakers trimmed Miami’s spread from ‑8.5 to ‑6 and slashed Illinois from ‑6 to ‑3.5. Ranking the nation’s elite defenses McElroy’s Wednesday segment pivoted to the other side of the ball, where he crowned Ohio State’s unit—allowing just 229.3 yards per game—as the standard-bearer. Oklahoma, Georgia, and Iowa rounded out his top four, with surprise entrant Washington State at No. 5. McElroy credited the Cougars’ “disruptive front seven and top-five sack rate,” an endorsement that drew praise from fans in Pullman who feel overlooked by national media. Calling out college football’s biggest disappointments Never shy about accountability, the former national-championship QB also identified three programs he believes have underperformed: LSU, USC, and Penn State. “Talent alone isn’t enough when execution and coaching lag,” McElroy asserted, citing LSU’s red-zone woes, USC’s porous run defense, and Penn State’s turnover issues as alarming trends. The blunt critique resonated with frustrated fan bases demanding mid-season adjustments. Why McElroy’s analysis matters With more than a million podcast downloads per episode and a prime spot in ESPN’s Saturday booth, Greg McElroy’s evaluations ripple across the sport. Coaches often bristle at external rankings, but recruits, boosters, and bettors listen closely. His quarterback list shapes early Heisman narratives; his upset alerts influence Vegas spreads; and his defensive rankings can elevate a program’s national profile overnight. What to watch this weekend • Can Miami’s secondary slow down NC State’s vertical attack and prove McElroy wrong? • Will Purdue capitalize on Illinois turnovers to spring the upset he forecasted? • Does Ohio State’s defense tighten its grip on the No. 1 ranking against pass-happy Maryland? • How will LSU, USC, and Penn State respond to being labeled disappointments? Expect McElroy to update his boards Sunday night, setting the tone for Week 7. Until then, his insights remain a must-follow roadmap for fans tracking the 2025 college football playoff race, Heisman chase, and betting angles.