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.
*****
FACT OR FICTION: Stetson Bennett is better than JT Daniels
CLASS OF 2022 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State | JUCO
CLASS OF 2023 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
TRANSFER PORTAL: Stories/coverage | Message board
RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Info for 2022 series
*****
1. Joe Burrow would still be a star today without the transfer portal.
FICTION. Think about it. Joe Burrow became immediately eligible at LSU just as the trend of “waivers” being approved began and without that he would have either stayed at Ohio State or missed a year of on-field development. And I think it’s safe to say he would not have been as amazing as he was in 2019, he wouldn’t have won the Heisman Trophy and national title and been picked No. 1 overall and Cincinnati would not be in the AFC title game.
Players have been allowed to transfer forever — I mean Roger Staubach did it — but the ability to play right away and learn a system on the field has changed the game. And it changed Burrow from a backup to Dwayne Haskins at Ohio State to the superstar we see now.
*****
2. Caleb Williams will still pick USC.
FACT. Now it’s down to LSU and USC it seems after talks of Georgia and then discussions of heading back to Oklahoma died down. And it’s kind of fitting as it came down to LSU vs. Lincoln Riley out of high school. Brian Kelly is at LSU now and Joe Brady, who Williams liked a lot, is not so it still seems like the fit is at USC.
But what’s taking so long? If NIL is in play then Los Angeles has the edge over Baton Rouge but there’s something about USC he isn’t sold on yet. But he will be.
*****
3. Jermaine Burton will have a similar impact at Alabama that Jameson Williams did.
FACT. It’s hard to even think someone could do what Jameson Williams did as he was top five in receiving yards and touchdowns nationally but Jermaine Burton has similar talent level. The Georgia transfer isn’t as fast as Williams but he’s a bit stronger and more polished in traffic. I expect him to be Alabama's leading receiver next season.
