Fact or Fiction: Mike Bobo's Offense, New CFP Model, Mike Gundy's Future

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. Mike Bobo is a solid replacement for Todd Monken.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

UGA isn’t bad on offense, but it’s a work in progress. This isn’t a slam on Bobo; it’s a compliment to Monken, who was amazing for the Dawgs and is now in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens. Bobo is a bit more conservative and right now can get away with that with a weak regular season schedule. And as I said, it’s slowly getting better. But when they face teams like USC, Ohio State, Michigan Texas, or even Washington or Oregon in the playoff, they’ll need to be more inventive and put up more points quickly.

Georgia Offensive Coordinator Mike Bobo enters Sanford Stadium before the start of an NCAA college football game against UAB in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.

2. Mike Aresco is right about the 5+7 model.

Farrell’s take: FACT

But I’m not really sure what the worry is here. With the Pac-12 gone after next season, the 6+6 model (six highest-ranked conference champs, which includes GO5 as an overall conference essentially) is dead. What’s the worry? That Oregon State and Washington State continue to gain Pac-12 power conference standing? That’s not going to happen. It’s intriguing as right now, the highest GO5 team is Fresno State at No. 25, with the Beavers and Cougars inside the top 20, but they will have to be labeled as independents or join a conference. The Pac-12 is dead, and the GO5 won’t be pushed out, so 6+6 is gone, and there’s no way a 4+8 format for a 12-team playoff would fly.

Sep 7, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco flips a coin prior to the start of the game between the Temple Owls and the Houston Cougars at Lincoln Financial Field. Houston defeated temple 22-13.

3. Mike Gundy is in trouble.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Gundy has been amazing for Oklahoma State with seven seasons winning 10 or more games and an overall 158-77 record. And as a former player, you’d think he would be safe from any hot seat with that kind of success and being a legacy. But Gundy has also butted heads with OSU administrators over the years and hasn’t been the easiest person to work with, according to many. Succinctly, some have been waiting for him to falter to get him out. Last year’s 2-6 finish set him up to be under a little pressure this season, and it hasn’t gone well. After wins over Central Arkansas and Arizona State, two bad teams, his team got drilled by South Alabama 33-7 and just lost to the team many feel is the worst in the Big 12 — Iowa State. Gundy did a terrible job in the portal at QB this off-season as Spencer Sanders left to be a backup at Ole Miss, and he brought in oft-injured and underwhelming Alan Bowman. The defense has also regressed greatly since 2021. If the losing continues, there will be a strong contingent that wants a change.