In today’s Fact or Fiction national columnist Mike Farrell looks at three big recent topics in college football and decides whether each statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.
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1. Adrian Martinez would be a great fit at UCLA.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Martinez has struggled at Nebraska, but his skillset is perfect for what Bruins coach Chip Kelly wants to do on offense. Martinez – who has entered the transfer portal – is mobile, he can get the ball out fast and he’d be excellent in a consistent high-tempo offense. The question is this: Could he win the job or would he better off stepping down to a Group of Five program at a Fresno State or someplace else?
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2. Brent Venables should be the choice at Oklahoma.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Go with what you know, and while Dan Lanning has done a great job as defensive coordinator at Georgia, Venables deserves his chance and knows the OU landscape well. If the Sooners are going to go in a defensive coach direction – which personally I wouldn’t do with their amazing offensive reputation – Venables should be the guy. I’m not sure how successful he’ll be, but he should be the choice if they focus on that side of the ball.
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3. Brian Kelly will get to the playoff before Lincoln Riley.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. Not a chance. While LSU has a great recruiting advantage the Tigers also have Nick Saban to get through in the SEC West. And Riley? He will recruit like crazy, has a great home-state advantage and not a ton of resistance in the West. He could easily run the table quicker at USC than Kelly at LSU.
