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Fact or Fiction: Top Saban Replacement, Best RB, Most Dangerous One-Loss Team

Mike Farrell looks at the top Nick Saban replacement, the best RB, and the most dangerous one-loss team in tonight’s Fact or Fiction.

Mike Farrell| November 2, 2023 (Updated: July 24, 2025)
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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. Dan Lanning would be the best choice to replace Nick Saban.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Nick Saban will hopefully be coaching for many more years but who would replace him if he stepped down this year or after next? Dabo Swinney is too thin-skinned, Lane Kiffin is not thin-skinned enough and I think Dan Lanning would be the perfect choice. 

Lanning has ties to the Southeast from his UGA days, he’s emerged as one of the best recruiters in the country, and has a little experience from his cup of coffee as a GA in Tuscaloosa. And the stage wouldn’t be too big for him. But this is all speculation and if Oregon let another coach leave I think the fan base would melt down.

Oregon coach Dan Lanning leads his team onto the field before the game against Colorado in Eugene Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.

2. Ollie Gordon II is the best running back in college football.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

The Oklahoma State back is amazing and has been absolutely on fire as he now leads the nation in rushing, but to me, it’s still Audric Estime from Notre Dame based on competition. He’s played top 25 teams in Ohio State, Duke, Louisville, and USC. Despite the poor game against the Cardinals, he’s been nasty. West Virginia and Cincinnati have made Gordon famous but they are both very average teams with weak run defenses. Give me Estime.

Oct 21, 2023; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Ollie Gordon II (0) runs for a touchdown during the first quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium.

3. Oregon is the most dangerous one-loss team in the country.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Texas is without Quinn Ewers, Alabama is still not scary with a stoppable offense, and Oklahoma and Penn State have been exposed a bit. But Oregon? They are dangerous and perhaps more so than Washington, the team that beat them weeks ago. The efficiency of Bo Nix, the running of Bucky Irving, and an underrated defense has Oregon as the team no one wants to see sneak into the playoff.

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Oct 29, 2022; Berkeley, California, USA; Oregon wide receiver Kris Hutson (1) defends as running back Bucky Irving (0) runs the ball against The California Golden Bears during the second quarter at FTX Field at California Memorial Stadium.
Category: College Football, Fact or Fiction, NewsTag: Audric Estime, Bo Nix, Bucky Irving, Dan Lanning, Nick Saban, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Oklahoma State cowboys, Ollie Gordon II, Oregon Ducks
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