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Fact or Fiction: End of the Saban Era, Oklahoma’s Briles Problem, Texas is Back

In Mike Farrell’s Fact or Fiction, he analyzes whether Nick Saban’s run of dominance is over…

Mike Farrell| September 11, 2023 (Updated: July 9, 2025)
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Sep 9
Sep 9

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 Nick Saban era is fading.

Farrell’s take: FACT

It’s not a scary team. When I was going through my Farrell 50 stuff by position, of the best players in the country, Alabama wasn’t nearly as predominant as in the 15 or so years I’d done it. From QB to wide receiver to the defense there is much less talent on this roster than I’m used to seeing and it showed against Texas. At the beginning of the season, I scoffed at this being an 8-4 team simply because of Nick Saban but not I’m not so sure.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban talks to Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian ahead of the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Sep. 9, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

2. Oklahoma is tone deaf for allowing Art Briles on the field.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Brent Venables said he didn’t know, and I believe that. But someone had to know that the disgraced Baylor coach would end up down on the field wearing Sooners gear and visiting his son-in-law Jeff Lebby who is the OC. Lebby defended his appearance saying he’s the grandfather to his two children and that’s fine, but for a coach who was covering up heinous sexual assault at Baylor to be wearing your gear, someone at OU should have thought better of this. It’s embarrassing.

Sep 9, 2023; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) warms up in front of offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby before the game against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

3. Texas is for real.

Farrell’s take: FACT

I know it’s been said a million times before, but this Texas team looks like it’s leading the program — wait for it — back. From Quinn Ewers and the skill on offense and a defense that has speed and hustles, this looks like a team on a mission as they finish in the Big 12. Alabama is fading (above) and all that, but this is a team that could have folded in Tuscaloosa at one point, and they just doubled down and took over the game. Ewers is a special talent, and that helps, but as a team, they look very solid, and I don’t see any embarrassing losses this year. And they should have quite a few convincing wins, including another potential rout of Oklahoma.

Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) throws a pass during the game against Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Sep. 9, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

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Category: College Football, Fact or Fiction, NewsTag: Brent Venables, Mike Farrell, Nick Saban, Oklahoma Sooners, Princewill Umanmielan, Stefan Young-Rolle, Steve Sarkisian, Texas Longhorns
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