Greg McElroy Calls One Unlikely Team a National Championship Contender After Week 1

Week 1 of the 2024 season treated fans to great matchups, such as the Georgia Bulldogs and Clemson Tigers, LSU Tigers and USC Trojans, Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Texas A&M Aggies and Miami Hurricanes against the Florida Gators. Nearly all of the higher-ranked teams in those games won, except for USC, which beat LSU.

Greg McElroy was very high on Miami during the offseason. On a recent edition of "Always College Football," he talked about the Hurricanes again after beating Florida 41-17 in Week 1.

McElroy said that if the Hurricanes stay healthy, they will be not only a College Football Playoff contender but also a National Championship contender. The last time Miami won a national title was in 2001 under former head coach Larry Coker.

"...My takeaway from that game is that Miami is a playoff contender," McElroy said. "By far the best team based on what I saw, in the ACC, and a team that is going to be a problem for every single team they face. That includes the likes of Georgia, that includes the likes of Ohio State. If Miami can stay healthy, they can beat those teams. I mean, this could be a team that we're talking about as a possible national championship contender."

Florida won the last matchup between the two teams in 2019, but Miami avenged that loss. The Hurricanes had 529 total offensive yards. Quarterback Cam Ward had 385 passing yards and three touchdowns. The team rushed for a combined 144 rushing yards.

Miami returns home in Week 2 to play the Florida A&M Rattlers in Coral Gables on Sept. 7. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. ET on ACC Extra and ESPN+.

Related: Greg McElroy Hints At Potential Quarterback Controversy For Major College Football Program