Greg McElroy isn’t afraid to go against the grain, and ahead of this Saturday night’s epic Top 10 showdown between No. 5 Georgia and No. 10 Texas, the former Alabama quarterback — and Lonestar State product — is doing it again by boldly picking the Longhorns to pull off the road upset in Athens.

In a battle between two of this season’s brightest first-year starting quarterbacks, McElroy is hitching his wagon to Texas superstar Arch Manning to play “the best game of his career” Saturday night and outduel Georgia counterpart Gunner Stockton in a game with serious College Football Playoff implications.

“I’m taking Texas to win the game. I think Texas has a slightly higher ceiling on the offensive side than we’ve seen so far,” McElroy said on Tuesday’s episode of the Always College Football podcast. “We saw it in a gotta-have-it situation against Oklahoma (when) the offense played smart, they were able to establish the run, and Arch Manning, I think, will play the best game of his career on arguably the biggest stage of his career when he takes his team into a hostile setting, and potentially hands the Georgia Bulldogs their second loss of the year.”

McElroy is clearly buying into the improvement made by Manning in recent weeks after the first-year starter combined for 674 yards and six touchdowns to one interception on 70.9-percent passing in back-to-back wins over Mississippi State and Vanderbilt.

“Steve Sarkisian is going to put together a plan in place that will probably lean on the quick game, will try to get Arch Manning into a nice rhythm early, and I think Arch in this game needs to be very calm, needs to be surgical, needs to be opportunistic when using his legs,” McElroy said. “He also needs to avoid trying to make those off-balance throws, that’s what Georgia’s defense always seems to force, and those off-balance throws can be off target, and that’s when Georgia can make plays on the ball.”

The Longhorns are coming off their second bye of the season, while the Bulldogs are riding high off their most complete game of the season in last Saturday’s 41-21 road drubbing of Mississippi State. Powered by a career-best 181 rushing yards from sophomore Nate Frazier, Georgia’s beleagured ground game broke out with a season-high 303 rushing yards and 6.9 yards-per-carry average.

“They looked really impressive offensively, they have kind of all year, but it was perhaps the best the run game’s looked all year (as) they went for over 300 yards on the ground,” McElroy said. “Nate Frazier became the bellcow last week. There were times when it’s been him and (Chauncey) Bowens, and you weren’t really sure who was going to be the guy. (It was) Bowens at times after a fumble became the guy, and now Frazier’s back in good standing.”

McElroy then pointed out that Georgia’s desire to establish the run does play into the strength of Texas’ SEC-leading rush defense, which is holding opponents to just 78.22 rushing yards per game this season to rank second nationally behind only Texas Tech.

“It is a physical, fast and disciplined unit that is designed specifically to shut down the opponent’s rushing attack,” McElroy added.

Given that point, McElroy suggested Stockton will have to spark the Bulldogs offense both through the air and with his legs Saturday if Georgia’s going to avoid another SEC home upset like it had against Alabama earlier this season. McElroy pointed to Stockton’s five-total touchdown game in the Bulldogs’ last home game, a 43-35 victory against Ole Miss.

Because, ultimately, Saturday’s game in Athens comes down to which first-year SEC starting QB shines the brightest under the lights inside Sanford Stadium.

“Which QB do you trust more? Do you trust the ceiling you get with Arch Manning knowing he can make any throw on the football field?” McElroy concluded. “Or do you trust Gunner Stockton, who’s been very, very steady all season long, but will be going against a better defense than what Georgia will put up against Arch Manning?”

Former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan hit back at President Donald Trump’s criticism of him on Tuesday about his retirement from politics, saying, “New phone. Who Dis?”

Why It Matters

The strained relationship between Trump and Phelan continues to potentially underscore divisions within the Republican Party, particularly in Texas.

Trump’s previous attempts to unseat Republicans who may have crossed him, coupled with Phelan’s survival against a Trump-endorsed primary challenger, highlighted the ongoing power struggle between establishment figures and Trump-aligned conservatives.

What To Know

In 2024, Phelan fended off a fierce primary runoff challenge from David Covey, who had received an explicit endorsement from President Trump. Phelan secured victory in the GOP runoff, despite Trump rallying support for Covey.

President Trump’s opinion toward Phelan—who represented Texas House District 21 and served as Speaker from 2021 until 2025— potentially originated in 2023 when Phelan led the failed Texas House impeachment of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, a high-profile Trump ally.

Trump has previously described Phelan’s impeachment of Paxton as “fraudulent” and an “absolute embarrassment” in prior Truth Social posts.

Taking to Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump took a new swipe at Phelan, saying, “Fortunately for the Great State of Texas, their Former Speaker, who is no longer Speaker, Dade Phelan, is quitting Politics. He was the one responsible for killing every Bill having to do with Voter Integrity and School Choice. Good luck in your next life, Dade!”

Phelan hit back on X on Tuesday, saying, “New phone. Who dis?”

What People Are Saying

D. Stephen Voss, political science professor at the University of Kentucky, to Newsweek via email on Tuesday night: “Trump has shown a consistent desire to remake the Republican Party in his image. Phelan did not toe the line, on occasion leading the Texas statehouse in a bipartisan way. In particular, Phelan cooperated in the impeachment of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, one of the leading contenders for a Texas seat in the U.S. Senate.”

Voss continued: “For Trump to take swipes at Phelan is consistent with his past behavior. The bigger question is whether Trump’s unnecessary rhetorical volley at Phelan is a sign that he might wade into the Republican Senate primary on Paxton’s behalf, given that Paxton is thought to be neck and neck with incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican Senate primary.”

Phelan in August on X announcing his retirement: “This video from Chuck Norris about my retirement in 2026 is my last #txlege House political ad. paid for by Texans for Dade. May God Bless the House and may God Bless the Great State of Texas! #HD21 #SETX”

Trump on Truth Social last year backing Covey: “David Covey is running against Dade Phelan, the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, who led the Fraudulent Impeachment of the recently re-elected, in a landslide, Attorney General of Texas, Ken Paxton. David is an America First Conservative who will Secure the Border, Restore Election Integrity, Protect our Families and Military/Vets, and Defend our under siege Second Amendment.”

The president continued, “David Covey has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Texas’ 21st State House District—He will never let you down! Any Republican backing Phelan is a fool, and should be disassociated from the Republican Party — that’s how bad Phelan is, especially on, Election Integrity!”

What Happens Next

Phelan’s retirement will leave a vacancy in the Texas House, prompting speculation about who might succeed him and how the GOP will position itself in future legislative battles.

Dustin Burrows, a Phelan ally, has succeeded him as Speaker.

Update 11/11/25 11:05 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from D. Stephen Voss.