Fact or Fiction: Georgia would be undefeated if JT Daniels had been healthy
National recruiting director Mike Farrell and national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney tackle three topics daily and determine whether they believe the statements or not.
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1. Georgia would be undefeated if JT Daniels started the season.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. I don’t think the Bulldogs would have beaten Alabama and Florida but they would have given them much better games and might have beaten one. JT Daniels has been a difference maker in the offense and it’s hard to tell how much the lack of downfield passing game hurt all aspects of Georgia's game. Next season this will be a dangerous offense and the Bulldogs may be back on top of the SEC East.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. If JT Daniels had played all nine of Georgia’s games and kept pace with how he performed in the three he actually played in, the former five-star quarterback would have as many touchdown passes as Alabama’s Mac Jones and North Carolina’s Sam Howell so far this season and he’d have more passing yards than Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence. I still don’t think Georgia would have beaten Alabama but I’d take the Bulldogs over Florida in that case and that means UGA would be playing for a conference championship next weekend.
2. LSU will be back to contention next season.
Farrell’s take: FACT. I loved the heart I saw from LSU in the Swamp in its upset victory over Florida on Saturday night. So many young players stepped up into big moments and made plays and a ridiculous amount of them are freshmen and sophomores. I don’t foresee another Joe Burrow season or anything like that but things are not as bleak as many think in Baton Rouge.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. I give LSU all the credit in the world for going to Florida and beating the Gators but I still have questions about offensive firepower for next season. The quarterbacks are good, not great, and with Terrace Marshall leaving and possibly Arik Gilbert finding a new school, I don’t know if the Tigers will have enough threats downfield. Alabama is still the class of the SEC, Texas A&M is getting better and better so LSU will be battling and be very good but in contention for an SEC title or another national title, that’s a stretch to me.
3. North Carolina has moved ahead of Miami in the ACC power structure.
Farrell’s take: FACT. This game was a joke. North Carolina's offense did whatever it wanted to Miami and the difference in speed was evident. So was the difference in effort. The Tar Heels are easily the next in line to challenge Clemson in the ACC once Notre Dame returns to its independent status. Manny Diaz has done a solid job this season but that was downright embarrassing.
Gorney’s take: FACT. What North Carolina did to Miami in the run game was simply unbelievable, that the Tar Heels front could push the Hurricanes around like rag dolls and there was absolutely nothing that the defense could do - except head right to the weight room because they obviously need to add strength. Michael Carter rushed for 308 yards and two touchdowns and Javonte Williams added 236 yards and three scores. It’s blatantly clear that North Carolina is in a far better place right now than Miami. What’s maddening is that North Carolina can look like an unstoppable force at times - like Saturday against the Hurricanes - and then lose to Florida State or Virginia. Consistency is needed and that’s the next step for the Tar Heels.