Fact or Fiction: Vols Falling Off, Kevin Steele's Playcalling, Jim Leonhard to Michigan State

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 Vols are taking a big step backwards.

Farrell’s take: FACT

This could be expected as the Vols won double digit games last season without much of a defense at all. And with Hendon Hooker and the two best receivers gone, the defense needs to help the offense a bit. And they aren’t better. Florida gashed them with the run game Saturday night, an area of expected improvement from Tennessee and we will soon see the secondary exposed as well. Meanwhile, Joe Milton is not Hooker at all when it comes to accuracy. This has the makings of a 8-4 or 7-5 season. And that’s okay — except in the minds of the Vols fans who are so hungry for an SEC title that it will be quickly unacceptable to fall further behind Georgia and perhaps others in the SEC East.

Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III (7) is sacked by Florida defensive lineman Tyreak Sapp (94) during a football game between Tennessee and Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023.

2. Kevin Steele isn’t calling the defense for Alabama anymore.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

Lame Kiffin said he thinks Travaris Robinson is calling the defense for Alabama now after looking at the USF tape and he’s not a dumb guy. He’s game-planned against Robinson and has worked with Steele. But Nick Saban doesn’t work like that and there may be more elements of what T Rob does well in the USF tape, but Steele is still the guy. And that made be good or bad. Saban stuck with Pete Golding who struggled at times and Steele has more experience with Saban and a better resume so it would shock me if he’s been replaced after one loss to Texas. Perhaps this is part of Kiffin’s mind game strategy?

Sep 2, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban on the sidelines against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders during the fourth quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

3. Jim Leonhard should be the next coach at Michigan State.

Farrell’s take: FACT

There will be some solid candidates, but this is also a job that isn’t amongst the tops in the country with the Mel Tucker scandal and leftover athletic department issues. A coach will be seriously scrutinized internally from many aspects and a lateral move is unlikely to occur from a current head coach. But for Leonhard it’s a great fit. He lost out on the Wisconsin job and that still burns. He’s a young defensive mind with a good resume as a player and coach and as an analyst at Illinois he’s learning under Bret Bielema which is a massive bonus. This is a great fit for both parties.