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. Washington is America’s team, not Michigan.
Farrell’s take: FACT
Jim Harbaugh wants you to think Michigan is “America’s Team” because of the adversity they have overcome. However, his blind spot is that it’s all self-created adversity based on allegations of cheating in recruiting and advanced scouting. In the College Football Playoff, many are rooting for Washington as they try to win it all in the last year of the Pac-12 over traditional power Alabama and old-school blue bloods like Texas and Michigan. Michael Penix Jr. is a very likable leader, Kalen DeBoer is an amazing story coming from FCS to the college football playoff and there hasn’t been a West Coast champ since Pete Carroll and USC. If anyone is America’s team this season, it’s Washington.
2. Manny Diaz will have Mike Elko success at Duke.
Farrell’s take: FICTION
Diaz has done an amazing job as the DC at Penn State, and he’s a great defensive mind, but his experiences at PSU and Miami won’t prepare him for Duke. Elko came from Texas A&M, but he had previous experience at academic schools like Wake Forest and Notre Dame, and I feel that was invaluable for him. Elko went 9-4 in his first year at Duke, taking over a team that was 5-18 over the previous two seasons, and went 7-5 this past year. He leaves Duke in much better shape for Diaz than he inherited, but if Diaz wins 16 games in his first two seasons, I’d be stunned. What Elko did is nearly impossible to repeat, especially with the portal.
3. Joe Rossi made a lateral move from Minnesota to Michigan State.
Farrell’s take: FICTION
Rossi is going to be the next DC at Michigan State, leaving Minnesota, where he did an amazing job. His defenses have consistently been near the top of the Big Ten and have at times saved PJ Fleck from a few bad seasons. But many think this is a lateral move from a middling Big Ten program to another. Not true. With divisions gone next season, Michigan State won’t be stuck behind Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State, and the commitment to football is much larger at MSU than Minnesota. This isn’t a reflection on Fleck at all but a move up for an up-and-coming potential head coach in Jonathan Smith.
