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Greg McElroy: ‘Ohio State is still one of the best teams in college football’
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Greg McElroy knows Ohio State isn’t undefeated anymore and the Buckeyes aren’t No. 1 anymore, but the college football analyst and former Alabama quarterback still thinks really highly of the team from Columbus.
With Ohio State licking its wounds after Saturday night’s 20-point blown lead in that 24-23 loss to current No. 1 Texas in Austin, the Buckeyes are in a rare spot of trying to explain away a defeat. But during his Always College Football podcast on Monday morning, McElroy provided a fresh view of Ohio State’s current situation and gave Buckeyes fans still in shock something to cling to.
McElroy isn’t ready to just discard the Buckeyes from this season’s national championship picture. Far from it, in fact. He still believes in Ohio State, and he still believes the Buckeyes are among the best teams in the sport in 2026.
“Ohio State is still one of the best teams in college football,” McElroy said. “The Buckeyes defense held Texas to 97 total yards in the first half, they allowed exactly one drive that was longer than 25 yards. They led by 20, on the road, against a top-five opponent in super hostile territory. We know they have the best offensive weapon in the sport.”
McElroy then pivoted to Ohio State head coach Ryan Day.
“There’s one thing that Ryan Day has done exceptionally well in the last couple of years is respond, and I believe that this year’s case will prove that out as well,” McElroy said. “It’s adapt or die, that’s been Ryan Day’s approach this whole offseason. And the fix is already in the building. And there’s precedent that should kind of maybe lower everyone’s blood pressure in Columbus.”
McElroy’s overall point — pump the brakes on suddenly forgetting about Ohio State in 2026, because there’s no real reason to, even after a heartbreaker of a loss like Saturday night’s.
Ohio State might have a loss already, but it’s not a conference loss, and the Buckeyes will surely be in the mix for the Big Ten title this season. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about Ohio State’s chances to capture the conference crown in 2026:
