Fact or Fiction: Whittingham is Elite, Riley is Disappointing, Day Deserves Respect

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. Kyle Whittingham is a top-five college coach.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

Whittingham is a great coach, and yet another win over Utah speaks to this. So it made me wonder — is he top five? He’s not, but he’s close. Nick Saban and Kirby Smart immediately take two spots, and Jim Harbaugh takes up another. And you have to have Dabo Swinney up there with his two national titles. So, is Whittingham better than Ryan Day or Brian Kelly? I don’t think he is, although many will disagree. Kelly has been to a national title game and the playoff, and Day has had playoff success as well. It’s harder to win at Utah, I understand, but he’s just outside the top five for me anyhow.

2. Lincoln Riley is a disappointment in LA.

Farrell’s take: FACT

You’ve seen the stat: Lincoln Riley has the same record — 17-5 — as Clay Helton through his first 22 games. And he wasn’t given $10 million a year for that kind of record. We are quickly learning two things about Riley. 1) he’s a glorified QB coach or, at best, an OC, and 2) he’s turning into Jimbo Fisher with the Aggies.

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3. Ryan Day deserves national respect.

Farrell’s take: FACT

People like to hate on Day because he was “born on third base,” inheriting Urban Meyer’s Ohio State team, and he’s lost to Michigan twice in a row. But can we focus on his record — 52-6 — and how he’s winning big games against Notre Dame and Penn State with defense? This is the anti-Lincoln Riley, and he should be applauded for winning any way it takes.