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. USC’s bowl win shows better times are coming.
Farrell’s take: FICTION
I wrote that Lincoln Riley has lost his edge, and I haven’t changed my mind. A win over Louisville was impressive as the defense looked a bit more coordinated, and Miller Moss looks like the future, but Louisville was missing key offensive players, and they are way ahead of schedule and kind of overrated. Riley made some good hires in DC D’Anton Lynn and LB coach Matt Entz, and that will pay dividends, but Riley is too reliant on the portal, and high school recruiting hasn’t been what I expected when he took the job. A bowl win doesn’t change anything. They could be in trouble heading into the Big Ten.
2. Oklahoma isn’t ready for the SEC.
Farrell’s take: FACT
The SEC is a massive step up for the Sooners, and based on this season, they aren’t ready. A bowl loss to a good Arizona team isn’t the end of the world, but the mistakes, miscues, and utter meltdown was a bad omen for Brent Venables‘ team. And they’ve lost to the following teams this season — Kansas, Oklahoma State, and Arizona – all solid teams, but certainly not teams that would scare the powers in the SEC. Oklahoma wants to be at the level of Alabama and Georgia in the SEC and realistically needs to be at the LSU, Ole Miss, and Texas range, and they are a step behind that (even with the win over Texas). The defense is better but not great. The offense is down from the Riley days, and the SEC could eat them up.
3. Marvin Harrison Jr. will return next season.
Farrell’s take: FICTION
Harrison Jr. is a great kid, and he’s likely waiting until after the Cotton Bowl to announce his intention to head to the NFL so he doesn’t take anything away from his teammates. But he’s gone, and rightly so. All the made-up rumors about the NIL collective offering him $20 million to stay is garbage, and the earlier he gets into the NFL, the earlier he gets to that second contract where he will make his big money. Coming back to win the Big Ten, beat Michigan, and win a natty is all nice and good, but it’s not smart and he’s a smart kid. He’s gone.
