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. Kenny Pickett should be in the Heisman discussion.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Pitt is the favorite to win the ACC because of its offense, and Pickett has been amazing as one of the top passers in the country with 19 touchdowns and only one interception. When players like Spencer Rattler are still being mentioned in the Heisman race with solid stats, then Pickett has to be up near the top of the Heisman conversation and deserves all the accolades possible.
I have him No. 3 on my Heisman list behind Alabama’s Bryce Young and Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder.
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2. Auburn is the third-best team in the SEC.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. Auburn has been impressive this season and the win over LSU was a good one. The Tigers' only loss is to a top-five team in Penn State, and Bryan Harsin has the faithful believing early.
But Kentucky is the clear answer here with three SEC wins, including a huge upset of Florida at home this past weekend. Now let’s be clear: Kentucky isn’t close to Alabama or Georgia in talent but I bet the Wildcats give the Bulldogs a battle Oct. 16 on the road and I think their defense would handle Auburn in a head-to-head matchup.
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3. Ohio State is still the favorite to win the Big Ten.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Iowa plays Penn State this weekend, but let’s be real — Ohio State is still the team to beat in the Big Ten as the Buckeyes' defense comes together a bit and CJ Stroud gets comfortable. OSU plays Penn State and Michigan State at home and it owns Michigan, so there’s little reason to think the Buckeyes won’t run the table despite how well some of these teams are playing.
You could argue that Penn State and Iowa are playing better defensively and Michigan State and Michigan are better up front, but the talent of Ohio State overall makes it the favorite, even with the Oregon hiccup.
