Greg McElroy Names Two Issues Facing College Football Playoff Favorite

It's almost become repetitive at this point – the Georgia Bulldogs will be one of, if not the best, in college football this season.

Similar discourse has dominated headlines over the last three seasons, which included a pair of national championships for Kirby Smart's Bulldogs. In 2023, however, expectations were squashed after a three-point loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game kept Georgia from playing in the College Football Playoff.

However powerful the Bulldogs were last year, glaring issues ultimately ended the season much earlier than expected.

According to ESPN's Greg McElroy, the questions surrounding UGA in 2024 are in those same spots that were lackluster last season, at least in terms of what we've come to expect from the Bulldogs under Smart.

McElroy outlined his concerns on a recent episode of " Always College Football ," starting with the run defense's uncharacteristic performance last season.

The Bulldogs allowed 113.6 yards per game in 2023 after leading the sport in that category in 2022 (77.1 yards per game) and 2021 (78.9).

"I am comparing Georgia to Georgia, to the best versions of Georgia, okay," McElroy said. "If you can’t stop the run in the SEC, you’re going to have some issues.

"If there was one thing that would keep me up at night if I were Kirby Smart, it would be the front seven defensively. I do think they should improve at that spot."

The good news for Georgia is the returning talent in the front seven. The defensive line lost only one starter, Zion Logue, and returns All-American Mykel Williams on the edge. The group of linebackers featuring Smael Mondon Jr. and Freshman All-American C.J. Allen may be the best in the sport.

McElroy's second question stems from the Bulldogs' gauntlet of a road schedule, which features trips to Alabama, Texas, and Ole Miss—also playoff favorites. Georgia also faces a talented Clemson team in the season opener in Atlanta.

“It’s a very, very difficult schedule,” McElroy said. “Extremely difficult schedule – one that I think they can navigate, but I’m not sure they’ll be able to navigate unscathed.”

Considering the expanded 12-team playoff and the SEC's prowess, it's unlikely that any one team can navigate their respective schedule without a loss, or two, for that matter.

Long gone are the days when one loss could derail an entire season, which is poetic considering the Bulldogs' finish a year ago.

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