Fact or Fiction: Northwestern, Venables vs. Cristobal, Ewers' Draft Potential

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. Northwestern is an attractive job.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

I just don’t see it. I know they are in a lucrative Big Ten conference, and the job pays well for a rising coach, but there is trouble. First off, we haven’t even seen half of what we will when it comes to the hazing and racial issues being uncovered. Pat Fitzgerald was fired too quickly to think there isn’t more, and we’ve seen how these stories unfold — slowly and deadly. And with the high academic standards, USC and UCLA joining a stronger Big Ten and no divisions, Northwestern has a chance to slide further and further to the bottom. Coming off a 1-11 season with this mess, I think a lot of good coaching candidates will say no thanks and wait for another middle to lower-rung job to open.

Nov 5, 2022; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats head coach Pat Fitzgerald hugs defensive back Cameron Mitchell (2) during the second half of the NCAA football game at Ryan Field. Ohio State won 21-7.

2. Brent Venables was right to cast shade on Mario Cristobal.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

Venables defended his 6-7 season by saying “getting blown out by Middle Tennessee State.” would be worse and alluding to Miami’s 45-3 loss to Florida State as well. Whoa. Why the shade against Mario Cristobal and Miami? I have no clue. Oklahoma is headed to the SEC, so it’s not an ACC thing, and when he was at Clemson, Cristobal was at Alabama and then Oregon so there’s not a real crossover. Brent Venables can defend his bad season, but dragging Miami into it makes no sense and just isn’t cool as a head coach.

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables is seen before a Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. Oklahoma won 28-13.

3. Quinn Ewers could be a top 10 NFL Draft pick.

Farrell’s take: FACT

It’s that arm. I’ve been thinking about this. I think Ewers has a good year, and it could be a great year with those weapons of his, but even if he doesn’t, that arm could land him top 10. Will Levis had top-10 chatter before sliding to the top of round two, and Ewers is a much better quarterback in every aspect, especially seeing the field. NFL scouts love big arms, and NFL GMs and owners are willing to gamble on them, so we could see Ewers up there with Drake Maye and Caleb Williams in next year’s draft.