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. Texas will win 10 games this season.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. Have I talked about this before? Probably. But now that I’m digging deep into the Big 12 and the schedule I feel that Texas can get to 9-3 in the regular season and finish second to Oklahoma.
This is a team that has some issues — offensive line, wide receiver, etc. — but I like the talent on defense, especially up front, and Steve Sarkisian will use the running back depth in creative ways. I see losses to OU (perhaps twice) and oddly enough Arkansas and TCU, so it won’t be a great start (3-3) but after that the Longhorns can take off.
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2. Zach Harrison will be the breakout player in the Big Ten.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. Keep an eye out for Harrison, the ultra-talented defensive end from Ohio State. But I have a different rush end in mind, and that’s Aidan Hutchinson at Michigan. After a great 2019 but an injury-plagued 2020 I see a full recovery and a massive breakthrough, perhaps to first-round status.
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3. Drake London should be a top 10 WR in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Farrell’s take: FACT. I put out my NFL Draft wide receiver top 10 and didn’t have London on there, but I didn’t feel great about it. So I went back and watched some more film, and his size and skill intrigues me.
He is perhaps a Nico Collins type who has first-round ability but needs to show it to get there. Collins opted out of 2020 and fell to the third round of the NFL Draft, but London has a chance to be drafted higher with a great season at USC.
