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. A 14-team playoff in 2026 feeds the power brokers.
Farrell’s take: FACT
Just watch. The non-alliance between the SEC and Big Ten will lead to an expanded playoff format of 14 or 16 teams by 2026, with those conferences sending 3-4 teams each year.
Money talks and TV folks want the cash cows in the playoff, and this is why we’re already hearing about expanding from 12 to higher. It’s another step towards the Super Two or whatever you want to call it, and those two conferences running college football.
2. Notre Dame is hurting itself without being in a conference.
Farrell’s take: FACT
If Notre Dame goes undefeated and is No. 1 in the nation, they still can’t get a bye in the playoff format, and that will likely never happen unless they join a conference.
The Big Ten would still take them in a heartbeat even after ND flirted with them for years and never came on board, and the ACC bends over backward for them already but ND will likely never join a conference, and their arrogance will continue to hurt them.
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3. Nick Saban becoming college football’s voice of reason is perfect.
Farrell’s take: FACT
Saban will tell it like it is and has no true agenda now that he’s retired, so maybe his role as an ambassador for the sport will come to fruition. And he’ll be listened to.
Before, his voice was always thought of as self-serving opinions as the Alabama head coach, but now we see him as the czar of what’s right and wrong, and hopefully, the power brokers in college football will do the same.
Retired from coaching, Nick Saban is hardly retired from doing his part to help rid college football of the chaos. https://t.co/x6h8dxc8ZL
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) February 22, 2024
