Fact or Fiction: Bryan Harsin will be Auburn's coach beyond 2022
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. Bryan Harsin still will be gone after this season at Auburn.
Farrell's Take: FACT. Let’s look at this two ways. If Bryan Harsin wins 10 games and competes all season for an SEC title bid he will be a hot name in the coaching carousel. Given that he likely hasn’t found his time at Auburn so pleasant, Harsin could jump elsewhere. But what’s more likely is the Tigers go 6-6 this fall and the boosters push him out like they tried to this month. Either way, it won't be a long stay on the Plains for Harsin despite this recent “win.”
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2. The Michigan offense will take a step back.
Farrell's Take: FICTION. The Wolverines averaged 35 points per game under Josh Gattis with a strong running attack and a passing game that didn’t turn the ball over often. With new coordinators now in Matt Weiss and Sherrone Moore I don’t see that strategy changing.
Michigan's 2022 roster has the horses to follow the exact same playbook as last season's team. The Wolverines' defense will take a step back, that’s for sure, but the offense won’t.
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3. The Big 12 will be stronger than the ACC and Pac-12 even when Texas and Oklahoma leave.
Farrell's Take: FICTION. Prior to a couple of recent coaching changes my answer would have been FACT with the success of Cincinnati and the promise at UCF, Houston and BYU. But with Lincoln Riley at USC and Mario Cristobal at Miami, I feel both the Pac-12 and ACC improved and these former powers will rise up to play with Oregon, Utah and Clemson. The Big 12 is in solid shape but will still be fifth in the Power Five.