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. Johnathan Smith can turn around Michigan State.
Farrell’s take: FICTION
Smith is a great coach, and the job he did at Oregon State was exceptional. But in a much more competitive Big Ten with so many internal issues, this is a large ask. NIL is a mess, high school recruiting has been ignored, and he has minimal ties to the Midwest. Mel Tucker left an absolute mess for Smith to try to clean up, and if you slot them behind Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, USC, Washington, and Oregon (to be nice, they are behind even more programs), middling finishes are the best he can do.
https://twitter.com/DavidHarns/status/1729553454111064470
2. Auburn absolutely choked.
Farrell’s take: FACT
They had this game won, and they made one massive boneheaded mistake. Auburn decided to play flag football on the 4th and goal from the 31 and rushed two and, inexplicably, had a spy on Jalen Milroe, allowing him more Mississippis than you can count before he threw a dart in the end zone for the winning score. Why spy him if there’s no reason for him to move out of the pocket? Why waste a defender who is just standing there? It’s amazing to me that this was the call. DC Ron Roberts has a ton of experience but very little in big-time football, and it might have shown on that final play.
3. Mark Stoops was offered the A&M job.
Farrell’s take: FICTION
I don’t think this happened, so all the folks saying the Aggies fans shut this down like Tennessee fans did in the Greg Schiano fiasco are a bit off. There was interest in Stoops, from what I’m told, and he showed interest as well, but the offer never got approval, and Stoops bowed out as rumors began to swirl. It doesn’t matter much, as Stoops will need to re-earn the trust of the players left and this recruiting class, but that shouldn’t be that hard. The win over Louisville was epically important heading into a key recruiting time.
