Fact or Fiction: Tony Mitchell, Ja'Tavion Sanders, Expanded Playoff

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. Tony Mitchell’s Alabama career is already over.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

While Mitchell was arrested for marijuana and intention to distribute, and that’s going to be a big deal, I’m not sure Nick Saban is ready to jettison the five-star CB to the portal just yet. Keep in mind that Mitchell was a huge in-state grab for Alabama, and we aren’t clear what charges he’ll face. I’ve seen some already saying Saban won’t tolerate this from a player who hasn’t even played a snap but hold your horses on that one.

Oct 15, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban reacts during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium.

2. Ja’Tavion Sanders will be the second-best TE in college football next season.

Farrell’s take: FACT

UGA’s Brock Bowers is the man, and we all know that. But with so many other elite tight ends off to the NFL, it leaves a solid gap where Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer was. And coming off a season with 54 catches for 613 yards and five scores, I see Sanders from Texas being that guy to fill it. He’s 6-4, 250 pounds, and a freak athlete who was honestly underutilized last season with a single-game high of only 7 catches in the loss to TCU. He could have a couple of double-digit catch games with more comfort with Quinn Ewers, and it wouldn’t shock me to see him put up similar numbers to Bowers.

Sep 24, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders is tackled by Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (13) during a game at Jones AT&T Stadium.

3. A 64-team college football playoff would be fun.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

This is always fun to write about, but it’s also one of the dumb things people think about in March. And yes, we all know it’s not feasible to play that many football games in a short span of time, but even if you added byes for the top eight or 16 teams, it’s still awful. Colorado as a 16 seed based on last season? They were 1-11 last season and shouldn’t be playing any football after their 12th game. Florida against Baylor in a 7-10 game? Who would honestly care? It’s article fodder, and I did it here as well but yuck.