Fact or Fiction: Shedeur Sanders, Josh Heupel's Genius, BC as a Darkhorse

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. Shedeur Sanders is a top-five QB in the Pac-12.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

Many think so. Our own JC Nevils had him No. 3 in his 3 and out article, but the Pac-12 is so loaded at QB that he might not even be top 10. Read that again — he might not even be top 10. I’ll rattle them off — Caleb Williams, Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr., Cam Rising, Jayden de Laura, Cameron Ward, and so on. The case can be made for Sanders around No. 7 or so in my book with Drew Pyne, DJ Uiagalelei, and the rest but he’s not top five to me and could struggle badly.

Apr 22, 2023; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) prepares to pass during the first half of the spring game at Folsom Field.

2. The best offensive mind in the SEC is Josh Heupel.

Farrell’s take: FACT

I thought of this when I was looking at the Ole Miss offense for next season. Lane Kiffin has done a great job over the years balancing his offense and his days at Alabama, and especially last season, where he leaned on the Ole Miss run game, are impressive. But while Heupel has only done his thing in Knoxville for a couple of seasons, who else could you pick? Sadly, Mike Leach is gone, Jimbo Fisher doesn’t have Jameis Winston, and the conference is littered with defensive head coaches or guys like Sam Pittman and Billy Napier, who are always heavy run based and don’t really deviate. To me, it’s Heupel with Kiffin just behind him.

Oct 15, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel during the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Neyland Stadium.

3. Boston College will emerge as the sleeper in the ACC.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

I like what Jeff Hafley has on his roster next season as it’s a young group with a young and emerging QB in Emmett Moorhead, and getting OL Christian Mahogany back is huge, but if there’s a sleeper in the ACC, it’s not a 3-9 team with a long way up. It’s Louisville to me. While picking an 8-5 team as a sleeper can be unfair, they have a new coach in Jeff Brohm, which is a step up, the defense should be very good next season with an exceptional back seven and the talent they are adding in the portal and recruiting has me excited for them. The offensive line has been addressed nicely and they just need to replace Malik Cunningham with someone who can grow and mature in the offense consistently. And they don’t play Clemson or Florida State, so there’s that.