ESPN College Football

McElroy delivers the most in-depth previews for the week 1 games that you will find ANYWHERE, giving you the questions that will define the games this weekend. Like how does Texas handle the Ohio State weapons, and which QB (Manning or Sayin) do you trust more? How effective will Tennessee's passing attack be? Can Alabama's offensive line win the line of scrimmage? Can the LSU O-line hold up against the Clemson D-line? Can Notre Dame create pressure with their pass rush and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

McElroy and Booger McFarland preview the biggest games of the week and tell you what success looks like for Arch Manning, why you should trust Ohio State's defensive line and much more from the showdown in Columbus. Plus, can LSU protect Garrett Nussmeier (and Brian Kelly's reputation) from Clemson's defense, will Gus Malzahn's offense work at FSU or will Alabama roll the the Noles, and how much pressure is on Carson Beck and Miami to get THAT signature win over Notre Dame?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Iowa State kicked off the 2025 season by taking down Kansas State in Ireland. McElroy tells you why you need to watch out for the Cyclones this season. Plus we hit the mailbag with some banger questions like - who has the better season - CJ Carr, Julian Sayin, DJ Lagway or Dylan Raiola? Can a team outside of the Top 6 win the National Championship for the first time in CFP history? Who needs to make the CFP more, Alabama, LSU or USC and just how important is this weekend for the ACC and the conference's narrative moving forward? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The season is right around the corner so we thought it was the perfect time to give you McElroy's Conference Championship and CFP predictions. Is it a TWO team race in the ACC with Clemson and Miami? Can Penn State handle the hype and hold off Oregon or Ohio State for the BIG 10 title? A wide open BIG 12 has Arizona State, Kansas State, Utah and others all in the hunt and which heavy hitters out of Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Texas will win the SEC? Plus, McElroy gives his prediction for the CFP bracket with a few surprises coming from USC and a G5 team no one is talking about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

McElroy goes over the biggest “what if's” heading into the college football season. What if Miami, Florida State and Clemson go 3-0 in week 1? What if Penn State loses their two biggest games in the regular season and what if John Mateer is Cam Ward 2.0 for Oklahoma? What if Joey Aguilar and Julian Sayin are the real deal at Tennessee and Ohio State respectively? All that plus McElroy tells you why the BIG 10's 24 or 28 team CFP model is "ridiculous". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alabama names Ty Simpson QB1, Oregon loses a WR, Carson Beck impressing, LSU defense on the rise and Boston College names a starting QB - McElroy talks about the impact of all of those camp stories plus gives you the hardest and “most manageable” schedule in the Power 4. McElroy also tells you why Auburn, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Utah and Georgia Tech are dark horse contenders for the CFP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The AP Poll is out and McElroy goes over the good, the bad and the questionable rankings. Plus, quarterback competitions are heating up at Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State and McElroy tells you why this is a GOOD thing (especially at Notre Dame). Fall camps are also giving a little insight as to why Nebraska might be a “ground and pound” team in ‘25, while the wide receivers are stepping up at Penn State and running backs at Georgia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greg McElroy ranks his Top 10 teams going into the 2025 college football season. McElroy explains reasons he loves each team and also one area of concern for each. Defending champ outside the Top 5? Any SEC teams in the Top 3? Surprising No. 1? Find out in the latest Always College Football. | Always College Football (0:00) Intro (2:24) #10: Miami (7:07) #9: Oregon (11:05) #8: Ohio State (14:16) #7: LSU (17:54) #6: Georgia (22:05) #5: Alabama (27:37) #4: Texas (32:03) #3: Notre Dame (37:13) #2: Penn State (42:14) #1: Clemson (46:40) Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greg McElroy and Matt Barrie sit down to discuss the opening of fall camp with the season right around the corner. What is the impact on Florida with DJ Lagway in a boot to start camp? How will new Offensive coordinators and QB's mesh at Alabama and Michigan? Is Gunner Stockton the perfect Georgia quarterback and can Arch Manning live up the ridiculous hype? Can Penn State prove the haters wrong and are we NOT talking about USC enough entering camp? Plus, the guys tell you why Arizona State is clearly the team to beat in the BIG 12 and a fantastic Joey Galloway golf story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greg McElroy breaks down the ‘tiers” in the BIG 10 and tells you why Penn State, Oregon and Ohio State can ALL win a National Title and make it three in a row for the conference. Michigan, USC and Nebraska are all playoff contenders but don't sleep on Washington or Indiana making it back to the CFP either. It is a deep and dangerous conference with Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa looking to play spoiler to the top teams.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greg McElroy breaks down the ‘tiers” in the ACC for the upcoming season and tells you why Clemson AND Miami are both National Title contenders. If SMU is still a CFP contender and to watch out for Louisville or Georgia Tech to crash the CFP party. How much will Florida State and NC State bounce back, will North Carolina's favorable schedule increase the Bill Belichick hype and is THIS the year that Virginia Tech breaks through? The ACC is deep and McElroy is here to break it all down from contenders to spoilers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greg McElroy breaks down the ‘tiers” in the SEC for the upcoming season and tells you why Texas, Alabama, Georgia and LSU all can WIN a National Title. Can South Carolina carry over the momentum from last season and make the CFP? Will Oklahoma, Florida or Auburn make a big jump and contend for a playoff spot? Will Ole Miss or Texas A&M take the next step and make the CFP? Is this the year the SEC gets back to the top of the mountain? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As 2025 SEC Kickoff starts Greg McElroy sits down with Heisman Trophy winner and Texas A&M icon Johnny Manziel. The two look back at SEC Media Days in 2013 when Manziel-mania took over and dominated almost every storyline. To this day it is still the most talked about media days in college football history. The two also discuss Manziel's new podcast “Glory Daze”, how much he could have made in NIL, the Texas A&M vs Texas rivalry and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greg McElroy breaks down the ‘tiers' in the BIG 12 with a surprising number of CFP contenders but is there a legit National Championship contender in the conference? How will Arizona State handle the bullseye on their back? Is Texas Tech in the BIG 12 “championship or bust” mentality? How will Iowa State follow up the best season in program history and will Kansas State, Kansas, Baylor and TCU keep trending upwards? How will Coach Prime and Colorado look, plus are bounce back seasons in line for Utah, Arizona and Oklahoma State? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steve Sarkisian joins Greg McElroy and talks about the expectations at Texas heading into 2025, the growth of Arch Manning, the depth at running back, why he “super pumped” about the wide receiver room, how Ohio State in week one is motivating them and much more. Plus, we hit the mailbag and answer if NIL puts more pressure on players, the G5 teams you NEED to know, the best “under the radar games” early in the season and what the rebirth of the PAC 12 really means. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule joins McElroy to talk expectations heading into year 3, the culture shift, winning close games, Dylan Raiola and much more. Plus we open the mailbag to talk about realistic expectations for the Cornhuskers in ‘25, if Virginia Tech will ever get out of the middle of the ACC, if Georgia Tech can take the next step and the best and worst case scenarios for the Florida Gators this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The House Settlement got its final approval and Greg McElroy is here to tell you what it means for college football, who gets paid, roster limits and if it will bring "competitive balance” to the sport. McElroy also talks about the importance of the College Sports Commission and maybe the unintended consequences it might have. Plus, we look at the comments Ryan Day made about automatic qualifiers for the BIG 10 in the CFP and countdown the Top 10 non conference games of 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joey McGuire has Texas Tech at levels not seen since Mike Leach was roaming the sidelines in Lubbock. McGuire joins the show to talk about Texas Tech's rise, how the Red Raiders have approached the transfer portal, lessons learned from his first 3 seasons, the depth of the BIG 12, and recruiting in Texas (and he shares an amazing story). Plus McElroy looks at OVER/UNDER win totals for Texas Tech, Arizona State, Ole Miss, LSU, Tennessee, Miami and many more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Defense wins championships so we decided to go down and rank the Top 10 defenses entering the 2025 season. Notre Dame, Penn State, Ohio State and Clemson all welcome in new defensive coordinators - what impact will that have early next year? Texas might have their best defense EVER, Alabama is returning A TON of production while Georgia and Oklahoma are looking to get back to dominance. McElroy breaks down each one and gives you his honorable mentions for best of the rest.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marcus Freeman joins the show and talks about Notre Dame's quest for a National Championship, how the Irish have stayed focused, lessons learned from a LONG season, the rivalry against USC, what the QB competition looks like heading into summer and much more. Plus, the SEC Meetings have concluded and McElroy looks at the straight seeding model adopted for the 2025 CFP and the much talked about 5+11 model and how that will impact a potential 9 game SEC schedule in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel explore the potential future of the College Football Playoff format heading into 2026. They delve into the possibility of expanding to a 16-team playoff and discuss the SEC's openness to participating in a broader format. Also on the pod, Rece Davis sits down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with Dabo Swinney and Bill Belichick. Together, they reflect on the evolving landscape of NCAA football, sharing insights into their coaching philosophies, key influences, and distinctive coaching styles. The conversation also highlights how both coaches are adapting to the ever-changing dynamics of the college football world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lincoln Riley joins the show to talk about USC getting back on top, what he learned in his first season in the BIG 10, the recruiting surge that the Trojans have been on and the changes that come with the evolution of college football. Plus, conference expansion has already cost us more rivalries than football fans care to admit. McElroy talks about how the Notre Dame USC rivalry can continue but how we have to accept that college football will continue to change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kalen DeBoer joins the show to talk about Alabama getting back on top, what he learned in his first season in Tuscaloosa, the quarterback competition, recruiting and what Ryan Grubb will bring to the staff in 2025. Plus, we look at win totals for all P4 teams with second year head coaches - Can Alabama, Texas A&M and Michigan make a jump, can Indiana, Syracuse, Duke and others prove Vegas wrong? McElroy breaks down the schedules and tells you where the WINS, LOSES and toss-up games are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mario Cristobal joins the show to talk about Miami being on the up and up, how his first recruiting class are now the clubhouse leaders, Carson Beck's impact, the youth at wide receiver, why playing Notre Dame early will motivate his team (and the fans) and much more. Plus, week 1 in 2025 is good with Texas vs Ohio State, Notre Dame vs Miami, LSU vs Clemson but McElroy lays out how it could be better and why the SEC going to a 9 game conference schedule is the best thing for college football fans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Coming off a 9 win season where they defeated FOUR ranked teams, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer joins Greg McElroy on the show. The two discuss LaNorris Sellers impact, culture within the Gamecocks locker room, when coach Beamer knew they were going to be good last year and raised expectations in . Plus, we give a hat tip to Cam Rising after his retirement and McElroy gives his reasons for wanting to join the College Sports Commission and the impact he thinks they will have. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Coming off a CFP appearance and a program record 11 win season, Curt Cignetti joins Greg McElroy on the show.  The two discuss how Indiana's commitment to football brought him in, why he looks for production over potential in the transfer portal, changes to the CFP selection process and expectations for the Hoosiers in 2025. Plus, is Nebraska getting disrespected over Sherrone Moore's suspension and what impact will the Notre Dame Clemson scheduled series have on the ACC and the CFP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who are the best running backs heading into the 2025 college football season? Can Jeremiyah Love and a deep running back room get Notre Dame back to the CFP, how much better is Penn State's RB tandem than everyone else in the country and what impact will the transfers have at Oklahoma, Missouri and Oregon? How many running backs from the SEC made the list and can anyone challenge the BIG 10 as the best conference for running backs in 2025? McElroy goes over all of it plus gives you some honorable mention RBs who could work their way into the top 10 after the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Spring is over and the portal is closed and so we decided now was the best time to give you McElroy's Top 10 QBs entering the 2025 season. Are Arch Manning and Nico Iamaleava in the top 10? How much does Carson Beck have to prove at Miami this year? Where will Cade Klubnik and Drew Aller rank and who has the immediate impact transfer (hint: Oklahoma). McElroy goes over all of it plus gives you some honorable mention QBs who could work their way into the top 10 after the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greg McElroy takes a look at the Madden Iamaleava-Arkansas situation and if recouping NIL via buyouts could become a regular occurrence moving forward. Greg then gets into spring game recaps for Texas A&M and South Carolina, discussing season outlooks for both SEC squads. Finally, Greg gives his take on Joey Aguilar to Tennessee, what's going on with the CFP meetings and the changes that could happen because of them, how Oklahoma has raked in the portal and if Oklahoma State is poised for a bounceback season. | Always College Football Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greg starts today's show celebrating the career of the legendary Lee Corso before getting into some portal news and spring game recaps. Do we buy what Nico's camp said about why he transferred away from Tennessee? And what will it look like now that he's QB1 for UCLA? Plus, Steve Angeli is in the portal, David Stone returns to Oklahoma and more. Finally, Greg talks about Bryce Underwood's spring game performance and why the CFB world is so consumed with starting true freshmen QBs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis and Pete Thamel break down the lingering questions surrounding Nico Iamaleava—did he leave Tennessee too soon, prioritizing financial opportunity over development? Is UCLA truly committed to him? And can he work his way into future NFL Draft conversations? Then, ESPN NFL Draft Analyst and Insider Matt Miller joins to spotlight the player everyone's talking about: Jalon Walker. He also weighs in on how Travis Hunter's game will translate to the NFL and where Shedeur Sanders might land if he isn't taken at No. 3. To close the show, the guys pay tribute to Lee Corso and his legendary 38-year run on College GameDay.   0:00 - Nico Iamaleava should've prioritized development 9:26 - Will Nico make it into NFL draft conversations? 12:55 - How committed is UCLA to Nico? 17:06 - Why NFL draft Day 3 matters 20:29 - The NFL draft heats up at pick number… 26:55 - Why everyone's favorite player at the NFL draft is Jalon Walker 30:41 - Which part of Travis Hunter's game will be used in the NFL? 32:07 - If Shedeur Sanders doesn't get picked at No. 3, when will he go? 36:02 - Are the Titans making a mistake taking Cam Ward at No. 1? 46:28 - Unforgettable Lee Corso moments before he retires Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The spring transfer portal is open and players are jumping in every day. McElroy goes through the early contenders and gives you the needs that each team has. Will Alabama take a Tight End, will Texas, LSU, Georgia and Ohio State go after the same defensive lineman? Can Miami and Michigan bolster their wide receiver rooms and will Tennessee find help at quarterback? So many needs, so many questions and McElroy is here to try to give you some answers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tennessee drew a line in the sand and separated themselves from Nico Iamaleava. McElroy addresses everything from Nico's camp, the impact it has on college football, what other coaches are saying about it around the country, what Tennessee will do next and options for Nico Iamaleava moving forward. Plus updates on the QB competitions at Alabama and Notre Dame and does Ohio State need to hit the portal to sure up their defensive line? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rece Davis, Pete Thamel and Bill Connelly, creator of the SP+ ranking, discuss the rise of Arch Manning as he takes the reins at Texas. Will the fan love last—or is he destined for backlash, like other rising stars? The crew also breaks down this season's elite quarterback contenders, asking: who's in line for the QB1 crown—Penn State's Drew Allar or LSU's Garrett Nussmeier? Meanwhile, Ohio State and Purdue are in flux, with sweeping roster and staff overhauls underway. With the transfer portal about to swing open, both programs are ready to steady their ships this offseason.   0:00 - Texas QB Arch Manning to be the next college football villain? 11:52 - Early preseason No. 1 team pick: Clemson 17:41 - Penn State QB Drew Allar on track for No. 1 spot in 2026 NFL Draft? 20:52 - Ohio State's major roster and staff changes 31:02 - New coach Barry Odom begins Purdue rebuild 38:08 - Spring buzz on Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons 39:58 - Spring buzz on Oklahoma coach Brent Venables 40:49 - Spring buzz on Alabama's unknown starting quarterback Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We all know Jeremiah Smith is the best wide receiver, but is he the best “football player” in college? McElroy goes through and lists the Top 10 wide receivers heading into the 2025 season and outside of Smith you will see other familiar names like Ryan Williams, Elijah Sarratt and Jordyn Tyson but watch out for transfers to Auburn, Nebraska and Missouri. Keep an eye on LSU, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Clemson headlining some potential breakout WR players. Plus, updates from Ohio State's QB competition, Clemson's quest for a 1000 yard receiver and the future of CFB beyond 2025.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Arch Manning's pressure at Texas, Julian Sayin's poor scrimmage, Ty Simpson's potential upside at Alabama and the battle at Notre Dame between Steve Angeli and CJ Carr are just some of the intrigue coming out of spring camps. McElroy hits the mailbag to answer questions about all those quarterbacks plus talks about Stanford hiring of Frank Reich, the benefit of having NFL experience at the college level and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who are the 10 BEST coaches in College Football heading into the 2025 season? On this episode McElroy goes through and ranks 10 thru 1 based on longevity (which some coaches don't have), program trajectory and year over year improvement and much more. It's not just about where you coach but what you do with the resources made available to you, the list will surely be debated but truthfully probably the most accurate one out there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who are the 25 BEST coaches in College Football heading into the 2025 season? On this episode McElroy goes through and ranks 25 thru 11 based on longevity (which some coaches don't have), program trajectory and year over year improvement and much more. It's not just about where you coach but what you do with the resources made available to you, the list will surely be debated but truthfully probably the most accurate one out there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The ACC is maybe the most intriguing of any of the P4 conferences heading into spring practice. Will Clemson get back to a championship level, can Carson Beck take Miami to the CFP, can Louisville, Georgia Tech or NC State take the next steps and become contenders? Will SMU sneak up on anyone and how BIG will the Florida State bounce back be? McElroy gives you ONE big question for each ACC team as they enter spring practice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can the BIG 10 win THREE straight National Championships?! Maybe, but if they do, there will need to be some questions answered this spring, like does Penn State have a WR that will step up, is Dante Moore ready to take over at Oregon, and are there too many changes at Ohio State? Is Nebraska ready to breakthrough, can Michigan just reload on defense and who are the surprise teams from the BIG 10 that we should keep an eye on. McElroy goes through them all and gives you one big spring question for each. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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