• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Mike Farrell Sports

Mike Farrell Sports

College Football Recruiting, Opinion, and Analysis

  • Player Promotion
  • Recruiting
  • Portal
  • Fact or Fiction
  • Mind of Mike
  • Draft
  • Sponsors
  • About

Fact or Fiction: USC Defense, Hartman for Heisman, Harbaugh vs. NCAA

In Mike Farrell’s Fact or Fiction, he determines if Lincoln Riley’s downfall will be the defense once again…

August 28, 2023
FacebookTweetPin
Aug 26
Aug 26

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. The USC defense will be their downfall.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Alex Grinch and the USC defense again looked bad this weekend as San Jose State gashed them in the run game, and here we go again. USC, like Oklahoma, will score enough points to win 9 or 10 games, but the defense will let them down and keep them from the playoff. It’s the same old story, except Lincoln Riley was able to make the playoff a few times in Norman. It’s doubtful the cards will fall his way this time in what is a strong PAC 12 in its last season. And if you don’t care about defense, you get what you deserve.

Apr 23, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans defensive coordinator Alex Grinch during the spring game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

2. Sam Hartman is an instant Heisman candidate.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

Hartman is on the short list of Heisman candidates coming into the season anyhow as the QB at Notre Dame and looked amazing throwing for four TDs against Navy, but let’s pump the brakes. The Midshipmen looked atrocious, and Notre Dame has some easy games before they play Ohio State in late September. After that game, we will see, but I’m not overreacting just yet despite the gaudy stats.

Aug 26, 2023; Dublin, IRL; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman, left, celebrates with quarterback Sam Hartman (10) after Notre Dame defeated the Navy Midshipmen 42-3 at Aviva Stadium.

3. Jim Harbaugh continues to thumb his nose at the NCAA.

Farrell’s take: FACT

And I love it. Not participating in the NCAA investigation over cheeseburgers and now naming different head coaches for each game he’s suspended is so Harbaugh. And having his dad, Jack, listed as an assistant coach is the ultimate F U to the NCAA and their dumb investigation. I know, I know — Harbaugh lied, and that’s why he’s in hot water, but you’d lie too if you knew what a moronic institution the NCAA is as they allow NIL to run rampant but come around asking about burgers. Keep being you, Jimmy.

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates scoring a two point conversion against Purdue during the second half of the Big Ten Championship game against Purdue at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022.

More Sports News

Farmageddon Heads to Ireland for 2025 Season Opener

Sep 6

TRENDING: Interesting New Job for Former ACC Head Coach

2026 QB Liam Nelson

Spotlight on Maryland Prep QBs: 2026 QB Liam Nelson

LaNorris Sellers

Face of the SEC: LaNorris Sellers

Nov 16

Sumrall, Candle, and More: Top 10 G5 Head Coach Rankings

Vols Are Cooking on the Recruiting Trail

2026 QB Gavin Beard

Talented Texas Prep QBs: 2026 QB Gavin Beard

Football and culture: How sport has shaped American society

Jan 9

Bigger Playoff, Smaller Stakes: The Decline of College Football’s Regular Season

New Era, Same Grit: Inside the 2025 Big 12 Football Race

SEC

TRENDING: SEC Head Coach Proposes 30-Team College Playoff Field

The Best Way to End the Scheduling Debate

Category: College Football, Fact or Fiction, NewsTag: Alex grinch, College Football, Jim Harbaugh, Khalil Taylor, Lincoln Riley, Michigan wolverines, Mike Farrell, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Princewill Umanmielan, USC Trojans
FacebookTweetPin

You’ll Also Like


Ryan Silverfield

Exploring Conference Realignment: Potential Hits and Misses

Most Dangerous Players in CFB the Last 20 Years

B1G Media Days

9-Game Conference Schedules: It Just Means More

2026 Quinn Purnell

A Legacy of Football Talent: 2026 OL Quinn Purnell

Biggest Surprise and Biggest Disappointment in the Big Ten Will Be…..

Three players, who were recently arrested, have been indefinitely suspended

TRENDING: Three Players Suspended Indefinitely After Arrest


  • Facebook
  • X
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

© 2025 · All Rights Reserved

Powered by the BizBudding Publisher Network

Privacy Manager