Greg McElroy played for mighty Alabama and at the start of the Nick Saban Era no less, so the former Crimson Tide quarterback is well-versed in being the favorite.

But McElroy, now an ESPN college football analyst, focused on the gritty underdogs during his Always College Football podcast on Thursday. McElroy listed 5 teams who could be “giant killers” this fall, and he moved 2 Big Ten teams to the front of the line in his analysis.

The first team out of McElroy’s mouth on Thursday was Michigan State, which struggled to a 5-7 overall record and a 3-6 mark in the Big Ten in 2024. But that was last year, and McElroy believes this year could be far different for the Spartans.

“They gotta cut down on turnovers, and they have to figure out a way to be more consistent running the football,” said McElroy about the biggest keys to Michigan State being a “real problem” for Big Ten contenders.

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No. 2 on McElroy’s list was Rutgers, which snuck over .500 overall at 7-6 in 2024 but still finished 4-5 in the Big Ten.

“The two pass rushers that they added in the transfer portal … if those two guys can click, that can be a big issue for Big Ten teams in obvious passing situations,” said McElroy.

McElroy’s analysis comes in early March, so this is all speculation as spring camp gets ready to open in the Big Ten. But McElroy clearly believes that Michigan State and Rutgers have the potential to cause havoc in the conference for the usual bevy of behemoths.