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WATCH: ESPN analyst Greg McElroy sends strong message about 'Big 3' in CFP rankings

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham11/01/22

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ESPN analyst Greg McElroy isn’t buying the idea that the top three teams in the initial College Football Playoff rankings released on Tuesday are leaps and bounds ahead of the competition. Tennessee, Ohio State and Georgia are unquestionably the best three teams to date, but McElroy rejects the premise that the trio atop the first CFP rankings are untouchable by the rest of the field.

In an acerbic video tweeted by the Always College Football show account to tease an upcoming episode of the podcast, McElroy shoots down the notion of a “Big 3” in response to the first wave of CFP rankings.

“Why do they keep referring to them as the Big 3? It’s the Big 3 now? Like, those three teams are way separated? Like, way, way separated — like clearly, they’re better than everybody else. Really? You sure? Have you watched Michigan? I mean have you? If you haven’t, it’s fine, we’re good,” McElroy said.

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The former Alabama quarterback continued, harping on the Wolverines — a team he clearly thinks is being overlooked. And also a team with plenty of opportunities to build a resume worthy of a CFP bid.

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“Like Michigan is still very much in control of their own destiny,” McElroy said. “They play the No. 2 team in a couple weeks. They’re good. They also play Illinois, which is sitting there at No. 16, pretty good spot coming up in a little bit for Michigan. But really, those three? So they’re way ahead? Gotcha. Sounds good. You’re wrong, but gotcha.”

It was a fiery diatribe from the former SEC quarterback, and his point about Michigan is well reasoned. But lest we forget, McElroy didn’t even mention Clemson — ranked No. 4 — or his alma mater, the No. 6 Crimson Tide.

Nobody is lining up to hand Alabama a playoff spot at the moment, but there would be few college football fans surprised to see a 12-1 Alabama team in the four-team CFP field and contending with the current top trio.