The Farrell 5: Players Proving Us Wrong, Teams Deserving More Respect, Coaches Angering Fans

Everyone loves lists. The best this, the strongest that. Let’s apply that randomly to college football shall we?

Guys proving me wrong this season.

1. QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

2. QB Carson Beck, Georgia

3. RB Blake Corum, Michigan

4. QB Tyler Van Dyke, Miami

5. WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

Breakdown:

I thought Sanders would be way over his head in the Power Five but that hasn’t even been close to the case. I was never a huge fan of Carson Beck out of high school but he’s stepped in very nicely. I wondered if Corum would return to form after his injury last season, and he has. Van Dyke has bounced back from an awful season. McMillan was soft out of HS and I thought last year was a fluke but he’s shown it’s not.

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) warms up before the start of a NCAA college football game against Tennessee Martin in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.

Undefeated teams that deserve more respect.

1. Louisville

2. Oklahoma

3. Air Force

4. North Carolina

5. James Madison

Breakdown:

The Cards are for real and I thought they’d get hammered by Notre Dame and I was wrong. The Sooners look like a legit playoff contender, Air Force would beat Colorado straight up but get no respect while UNC has improved greatly on defense. And how about JMU? Curt Cignetti has done a wonderful job.

Sep 23, 2023; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Jack Plummer (13) looks to pass against the Boston College Eagles during the second half at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Louisville defeated Boston College 56-28.

Coaches with pissed off fan bases this week.

1. Mario Cristobal, Miami

2. Sam Pittman, Arkansas

3. Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame

4. Gus Malzahn, UCF

5. Bret Bielema, Illinois

Breakdown:

I don’t even need to explain the Cristobal situation, while Arkansas fans seem ready to move off Pittman as he’s 2-4. Notre Dame fans are still pissed at the coaching blunders against Ohio State and now a home drubbing by Louisville has them wondering about Freeman. The move to the Big 12 hasn’t been pretty so far for UCF and Gus, and Illinois looks like a flash in the pan under Bielema.