Fact or Fiction: Oklahoma is the most disappointing team
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. Oklahoma is the most disappointing team in college football.
Farrell’s take: FACT. With all the talent they have, there is no way the Sooners should be 1-2 with losses to Kansas State and Iowa State. The Sooners lost in Ames, Iowa, for the first time since 1960 and Kansas State has now beaten them two-straight seasons.
This is unacceptable as these are not power teams in the Big 12 and neither of them recruit at the same level. The defense just never gets addressed at Oklahoma and when the offense doesn’t score 50, then there’s a problem. With a new quarterback in Spencer Rattler and missing some key offensive weapons, the Sooners need to ramp it up on defense more than ever and they don’t appear to be capable.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Oklahoma’s defensive problems continue and that remains a problem as neither Kansas State nor Iowa State are offensive firebrands and yet both teams scored in the high 30s to beat the Sooners this season.
But there is also an issue on offense: Oklahoma just doesn’t have a ton of game-breakers on the outside. Rattler’s favorite target is tight end Austin Stogner and he’s going to move the chains but not break huge chunk plays. Former five-star Theo Wease has been disappointing and the other five-stars in the class Jadon Haselwood and Trejan Bridges are on the sidelines because of injury or suspension. The Sooners used to get by because the offense scored so often that it masked their defensive problems. That’s not happening now.
With all that being said, I still think Oklahoma can still win out.
2. Auburn’s defense was overrated.
Farrell’s take: FACT. I really felt the Auburn defense would be nasty this year even without Derrick Brown, Marlon Davidson and some others. Smoke Monday, K.J. Britt and others are leaders and the defensive line depth was there, but they were simply overwhelmed by a Georgia offense that did whatever they wanted to them on Saturday. I kept asking myself, “This is the Auburn defense?” as they were gashed. Yes, Monday was booted for targeting and Britt wasn’t 100 percent but there’s no excuse for a performance like this.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. Auburn was gashed a little bit by Zamir White, one of the toughest runners in all of college football, and James Cook and receiver Kearis Jackson’s speed overwhelmed some of Auburn’s secondary, but the Tigers largely kept George Pickens in check and only gave up 27 points. The defense was not the problem. Horrible play-calling early in the game and not forcing the ball to Seth Williams more was Auburn’s downfall. When a defense holds a team to 27 points, the team should have a shot. But Auburn’s offense was so bad on Saturday night and Chad Morris’ play-calling was so pedestrian, the defense must have been so frustrated.
3. North Carolina isn't ready for prime time yet.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. The Tar Heels have struggled a bit especially offensively in their two wins so far this season over Syracuse and Boston College, two very average football teams. But the good news is that the defense looks much better and I fully expect the offense to turn things around.
This is actually a good thing for North Carolina as the Tar Heels learn to win games without the offense firing on all cylinders and they can ramp up for their big matchups against Notre Dame and Miami later in the season. I’m not worried about the Heels at all.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Prime time? North Carolina didn’t look ready for the afternoon kick in an empty stadium against a team with a first-year coach and still a lot of holes to figure out across the board. The Tar Heels have largely slept walked through two wins - and I give them credit for two wins - but Boston College was a two-point conversion away from tying the game Saturday and who knows what happens in overtime.
North Carolina is talented, but late November and early December against Notre Dame and Miami could be problematic. This is a team that could be undefeated heading into those two games and that’s a big credit to Mack Brown and his staff since the Tar Heels have only one double-digit winning season over the last 22 campaigns.