Fact or Fiction: Most Underrated Coaches, UGA's Starting Quraterback, Joe Milton

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 most underrated coach in college football is Sonny Dykes.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

Dykes did an amazing job in his first year at TCU. In fact, it’s probably the best job of a first-year coach in college football history if you think about it. But the answer to this question is Kyle Whittingham. I know, I know — many coaching top 10 lists have Whittingham firmly entrenched at 8, 9, or 10 but hear me out. Whittingham is 154-74 at Utah with seven seasons with over 10 wins. He has four other seasons with 9 wins as well so that’s 11 of his 18 full seasons at Utah where he’s won 9 or more games. This is without the best facilities in his conference, a massive geographic disadvantage in recruiting, and more specific cultural recruiting norms than many other schools. And he keeps on winning. An argument could be made he’s a top-five coach.

Dec 2, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham reacts after being doused with Gatorade in the second half of the Pac-12 Championship against the Southern California Trojans at Allegiant Stadium.

2. Brock Vandagriff will start for UGA.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Carson Beck showed flashes last season, and he’s come a long way from a vastly overrated recruit to a candidate (and possible favorite) to start for the defending national champs. But it’s Vandagriff’s time. Why? After all, he’s attempted only 3 passes in the last two seasons, and by all likelihood, he should have been in the portal already. Vandagriff has an advantage in nearly every category vs. Beck, from arm strength to mobility to consistent accuracy. I know much of this evaluation was done when they were in high school, and maybe Beck has surpassed him in some areas, but I doubt it. Beck is the favorite for sure, and the talk of him being the next “Drake Maye” are not lost on me, but I also don’t believe that hyperbole.

Georgia quarterback Brock Vandagriff (12) moves the ball down the field during the G-Day spring football game in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, April 16, 2022.

3. Joe Milton will start all season for the Vols.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Nico Iamaleava has a lot of hype coming in, and he will see playing time, but something about Milton learning under Hendon Hooker makes me feel confident he will go bell-to-bell as the starter. Remember, Milton earned the starting job over Hooker a couple of years ago, only to lose it and watch Hendon dominate in two seasons. But he waited and learned, and the efficiency by which Hooker ran the offense is something I think he learned. The cannon-armed Milton we saw, who had zero touch in the short passing game, will be gone and we will see a more relaxed player who lets this offense come to him.