TAMPA, Fla. - Greg McElroy has made a career out of digging past the obvious, and at SEC Media Days he turned that lens on Texas and the 2026 SEC race.
The former Alabama national champion, now a college football analyst for ABC/ESPN and co-host of the Always College Football podcast, has spent years building his reputation by studying film and leaning on sources to sharpen what he says on air. He’s been part of ESPN’s SEC Network coverage since 2014 and currently works games with Sean McDonough and Molly McGrath.
Asked about the 2026 Texas Longhorns, McElroy pointed first to what he sees as a productive offseason.
“Well, I think they've had a really good off-season. I mean, I think they've generated a lot of momentum with some of the additions they made in the transfer portal.
I think they upgraded at some positions. Not that they were bad last year, by any stretch, but it just felt like they were stuck in neutral at a couple spots.
And I think Sark [Texas coach Steve Sarkisian] probably acknowledged that and said, 'You know what? Let's just go and let's elevate if we can in a few places and kind of go all in.
Let's push all our chips to the middle of the table. "
McElroy’s read was that Texas didn’t simply stand pat. In his view, the Longhorns used the portal to address areas that had stalled and made a clear effort to raise the ceiling in a few spots heading into the 2026 season.
In Other News...
Former Texas A&M Star Arrested After Heartbreaking Family Incident
A troubling off-field incident in Baton Rouge has put a former Texas A&M standout back in the news for all the wrong reasons. The case centers on a shooting at Moss apartment involving his two-year-old son, who was taken to Our Lady of the Lakes Children Hospital after being struck by a handgun.
Investigators said Moss told them the child somehow discharged the weapon while playing with it, and police described the circumstances as severe negligence. The exact extent of the toddlers injuries has not been released, leaving the most important question in the case unanswered even as the legal fallout begins to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Nearly Landed A Star SEC Back After Key Staff Move
Jadan Baughs name surfaced in an interesting way at SEC Media Days, where the Florida running back reflected on his relationship with former Gators assistant Jabbar Juluke after Juluke joined Texas staff in 2025. Baugh has become one of Floridas most important offensive pieces, and his comments offered a reminder of how quickly a coaching move can ripple through the league when a recruiter with real ties to a player changes schools.
For Texas, the larger takeaway is that Julukes arrival still matters even without landing Baugh. The Longhorns have rebuilt their running back room with transfers Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown, plus freshman Derrek Cooper, giving Juluke a fresh group to shape as Texas keeps leaning into roster flexibility in the SEC. [Read more 🡒]