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. Everyone cheats.
Farrell’s take: FACT
Broad huh? Yep, I know. But ranging from advanced scouting and sign stealing to sharing signals in Google Docs down to portal tampering and NIL shadiness, everyone cheats. The question is — to what level and what’s enforceable? What are we learning here? The NCAA can’t handle all this garbage, and even as it becomes “legal” to cheat by paying players and recruiting free agents, things just get worse. College football needs to be governed as a billion-dollar business in the way the NFL is; it needs to be professionalized immediately, and the players need a union and a voice. The “adults” are running this sport into the ground.
2. MJ Morris has the right to shut it down.
Farrell’s take: FACT
The NC State QB was passed over at the start of this season for a transfer, and now he’s shutting down his season to preserve a year of eligibility so he can transfer as well. And it’s his right. Brennan Armstrong was brought in by his former OC, Robert Anae, and he’s been a colossal failure, forcing Morris to bail out his team. Morris hasn’t been great, but he’s led his team to wins over Clemson and Miami, and now he’s done so he can preserve a redshirt season. Welcome to 2023. Morris isn’t a petty kid, and he’s just looking out for himself, but some are critical. I’m not. And NC State will be just fine as Dave Doeren is one of the most underrated coaches in the country. This is a situation we will see more and more with the portal.
3. Sam Pittman saved his job.
Farrell’s take: FACT
I think the win over Florida was a key one, as I’m not sure Arkansas wanted to move on from Pittman just yet. Things have headed in the wrong direction for sure under Pittman, and 3-6 overall and 1-5 in conference is bad, but it’s a lot better than 2-7 and 0-6, right? Pittman should be able to beat FIU and might defeat Auburn as well for possibly a 4-8 finish, which is still horrible, but had he lost the Gators game, I think the talk of firing him in December would be much louder. I still think they should pounce on Barry Odom as their next coach after this season, but I’m not sure if that will happen now.
