ESPN's Greg McElroy ranks the top four SEC football teams

Former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Greg McElroy has his top four teams in the SEC ahead of Week 3. McElroy, who is an ESPN college football analyst, ranked his top SEC teams on the “Always College Football with Greg McElroy” podcast.

“This is just a power ranking,” said McElroy. “And what I think a team might be capable of as they move forward, so it’s also a little bit based on strength of record. Because it’s hard for me to, for example, put Ole Miss in the top four in the SEC when they haven’t played anybody.”

The Georgia Bulldogs are the No. 1 team in McElroy’s SEC power rankings, but considers the Bulldogs to be the best team in the SEC.

Greg McElroy’s SEC power rankings (top four only)

1. Georgia Bulldogs

McElroy and most other college football experts have the Georgia Bulldogs as the team team in the country. Georgia dominated Clemson in Week 1 and faces their first SEC road game of the season in Week 3. However, McElroy thinks Texas can compete with UGA for the title of best team in the SEC.

2. Texas Longhorns

Texas’ road win at Michigan is one of the most impressive wins this season. Quarterback Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns will host McElroy’s No. 1 team in the SEC, Georgia, on Oct. 19.

3. Tennessee Volunteers

“Really liked what I see from their (Tennessee’s) defense,” said McElroy. “Now, offense a bit of a work in progress, but they have the personnel and the pieces along both the offensive line, at running back and at wide receiver to make life a little bit easier for Nico Iamaleava.”

Tennessee’s 51-10 drubbing of NC State is one of the most impressive performances of any team this season.

4. Alabama Crimson Tide

“You’re going to say, well, they looked really, really rough last week against USF. Fair enough,” said McElroy. “USF made them look really bad last year too. This year, the big difference is they ran away from them in the fourth quarter and that showed growth.”

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe and the Crimson Tide aren’t having too much of a drop-off from the Kalen DeBoer era. However, McElroy failed to bring up Alabama’s schedule. The Crimson Tide have not played a Power Four opponent yet just like Ole Miss and Missouri, so that’s not a great reason to rank Alabama over those teams.