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. Penn State should have had one protected rivalry.
Farrell’s take: FACT
I know the Big Ten didn’t want to hammer Ohio State with Michigan and Penn State as projected games, but this seems dumb. The Buckeyes-Nittany Lions game always has an impact on the Big Ten title race, it seems, and it’s such a great game that it seems foolish to lose it on an annual basis. Protecting games like Iowa and Minnesota and the like is smart, it’s a great idea. And, of course, you have to keep Ohio State and Michigan, but losing the Buckeyes and Nitts is just an oversight that hopefully will be corrected one day.
2. QB Tyler Shough puts it together this season.
Farrell’s take: FACT
Texas Tech can be good next season, sneaky good. Maybe not TCU level from 2023, but they can be a team that scares many and has a great run in the Big 12. And Tyler Shough is crucial. He’s a great-looking prospect at 6-5 and 230 pounds with a very live arm, but he’s also a guy who tries to do too much and fit the ball where it shouldn’t go. But with more experience in the offense and some added maturity, he’s one of those guys who can take a massive step forward this season. And I think he does.
3. Colorado is an attractive option for realignment.
Farrell’s take: FICTION
I don’t get it. I understand the allure of Colorado with Deion Sanders and all the attention this program is getting, but why are we talking about Colorado picking and choosing where they want to go? The Big 12? They left there over a decade ago. And this is a 1-11 team with a coach who will be gone in two years whether he succeeds or not and could very well leave the program in the same shape it was when he arrived. I know it’s fun to write about Colorado and Deion — I do it all the time. But when I read a respected author like Pete Thamel talking about Colorado losing patience with the PAC 12 and making calls, I scratch my head. Oregon, Washington, and others should be the focus.
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