In today’s Fact or Fiction — transfer portal edition — I look at three big recent topics from the transfer portal and decide whether the statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.
1. The Buckeyes have the best portal class in the Big Ten.
Farrell’s take: FACT
Oregon is up there, and some of their additions, like QB Dillon Gabriel from Oklahoma, CB Jabbar Muhammad from Washington, and WR Evan Stewart from Texas A&M, are elite and will help them make a run at the Big Ten. But I keep going back to Ohio State in the Big Ten. RB Quinshon Judkins from Ole Miss could be the most important addition for any team, and if it’s not Judkins then it could be DB Caleb Downs from Alabama. And in the long run, I like QB Julian Sayin from Alabama over Dante Moore from UCLA for Oregon. The Buckeyes landed fewer players but still won this battle.
2. Andrew Mukuba is the SEC’s top DB transfer.
Farrell’s take: FACT
Some like Dezz Ricks to Texas A&M from Alabama because he’s a pure corner, but to me, it’s the Clemson safety to Texas. He’s a hitter, covers a ton of space, and has excellent ball skills. The back end for Texas can always use help, as Michael Penix Jr. showed us, and Mukuba could be a huge piece of the puzzle.
3. Dabo Swinney not adapting to the portal will continue to hurt him.
Farrell’s take: FACT
C’mon Dabo. Zero portal recruits again is going to catch up to you. Clemson fans seem torn as the losses last season can be blamed on circumstances rather than a lack of talent and depth, but Dabo is running a program that refuses to use a major advantage like an NFL team not dabbling in free agency. It won’t work, and they will slowly slide back each season as it continues.
