By Cole Kruger
In today’s Fact or Fiction I look at three big recent topics in college football and decide whether the statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.
1. The Texas Longhorns will return to the CFP Playoffs
My Take: FACT
Last year was a major step forward for Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns, as they won the Big 12 and made the College Football Playoff. Obviously the season ended in a bit of disappointment after a loss to Washington, but with returning QB Quinn Ewers, this year could be a ton of fun for Texas. Texas lost some notable talent in Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, and some production on defense, but Sarkisian brought in a great recruiting class and he did some great work in the transfer portal, bringing in Trey Moore and Andrew Mukuba among others.
The Longhorns are entering uncharted waters in the SEC, but their schedule is very favorable, including a matchup with Georgia at home. Texas showed they could play with the big dogs last season after beating Bama, and I am super excited to see what Ewers and the Longhorns will do this upcoming season.
2. Hugh Freeze will continue to struggle at Auburn
My Take: FACT
Last season was a major disappointment for Hugh Freeze’s first year at Auburn, going 6-7. Auburn hired Freeze hoping he would return Auburn to prominence, but year one was extremely underwhelming. Auburn fans may have known that when Freeze took over the program that it would take a few years to return the Tigers to success, but after seeing the product they put on the field last fall, expectations are low.
The roster is not anywhere close to where Freeze would like it, and the Tigers lacked stability at the quarterback position as Payton Thorne disappointed. Thorne will start again at QB for the Tigers this upcoming fall, and he has to be better if they want to compete. Although Freeze brought in more weapons for Thorne, against some stacked SEC opponents this offense is going to struggle again. Coming into this season, the roster is improved, but still not good enough to win in the loaded SEC.
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3. Michigan will continue to be a powerhouse
My Take: Fiction
Michigan climbed the college football mountain last season, going undefeated and winning the championship. Jim Harbaugh shipped up to the NFL with JJ McCarthy, Blake Corum and others. The Wolverines lost a ton of production but the recruiting class was solid once again this year, finishing with a top-15 class. The Wolverines hired Sherrone Moore to replace Harbaugh, who won the games he coached last year in Harbaugh’s absence.
With the biggest contributors on last year’s squad gone, and a national title-winning coach also departed, it’s extremely hard to see Michigan repeating their production in this new era. Donovan Edwards is going to have to carry a run-heavy offensive scheme, which won’t be good enough to take down Ohio State, or other top teams in the Big Ten.
