ESPN's Greg McElroy decides 2021 Georgia football team is best Nick Saban foe at Alabama

ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy had high praise for the 2021 Georgia Bulldogs football team during his "McElroy and Cubelic In The Morning" radio show Friday morning.

McElroy said that this Georgia football team is the best team that Alabama football coach Nick Saban has faced at Alabama.

Saban has been the Alabama football coach since the start of the 2007 season. His teams won the national championship in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020.

Of the eight national championships that Alabama didn't win since Saban arrived in 2007, the only national champion the Crimson Tide didn't face was the 2013 Florida State team with Jameis Winston at quarterback.

Greg McElroy labels UGA football team toughest Nick Saban, Alabam foe

On Friday's radio show, McElroy introduced the idea of this being the best team Saban has faced since becoming the head coach at Alabama with a question to show guest John Parker Wilson, who is an Alabama radio broadcaster and former quarterback.

McElroy asked, "Is this the biggest challenge that Alabama's had in the Saban era?"

The two then discussed how often Alabama has been an underdog in games coached by Saban.

McElroy then added, "It's obviously a rare, rare, rare, rare occurrence, so I think it's reasonable to ask the question if this might be the toughest hill to climb of the Nick Saban era. I just don't know how you feel about that."

"I think it's a great question," Wilson said. "I would probably lean that way. ... I think it is a big test. Georgia's a complete team. They're first in the country in defense. They're obviously first in the SEC. They're first in every single defensive category right now in the SEC. And their offense isn't bad either. They can do it with a lot of different people. They're not relying on one person, so I would probably say yeah. Obviously, there have been some big tests."

After the interview with Wilson, McElroy revisited the topic of Georgia being the best team that Saban has faced at Alabama. He mentioned the 2008 Florida Gators team that won the national title as another tough foe.

"I do think this is the toughest challenge of the Saban era," McElroy said. "This is the best team that Saban's faced. I honestly believe that. Now I know the Florida teams back in 2008 and '09 were excellent. But I honestly believe this is the best team that Saban's seen. We'll see whether or not it comes to fruition."

Here's more Alabama, Georgia football news:

• Lee Corso: How accurate are Lee Corso's College GameDay predictions for Alabama vs. Georgia football

• TV, live stream information: How to watch Alabama vs. Georgia football in SEC Championship in Atlanta on TV, live stream

• Alabama, Georgia football: What Alabama's offense must do to have a chance against Jordan Davis, Georgia's defensive front

Wilson played quarterback at Alabama from 2005-08. McElroy played quarterback at Alabama from 2007-10.

Erik Hall is the lead digital producer for sports with the USA Today Network. You can find him on Twitter @HallErik.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Greg McElroy decides UGA football is best Nick Saban foe at Alabama