Fact or Fiction: Utah should be next team in CFB Playoff
National recruiting director Mike Farrell and national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney tackle three topics daily and determine whether they believe the statements or not.
TAKE TWO: Will LSU push ahead for 2021 QB Caleb Williams?
1. Michigan is years away from closing the talent gap with Ohio State.
Farrell’s take: FACT. I’m sorry but this is not just a coaching issue as we have now seen Urban Meyer and Ryan Day destroy Jim Harbaugh and Michigan. This is a talent issue. Ohio State recruits better and develops its players better. Some of that is coaching but the bottom line is that the speed and talent difference is so alarming that it comes down to the Jimmies and Joes and not the Xs and Os here. These are two very different programs. One can compete for a national title and the other can win eight or nine games every year.
Gorney’s take: FACT. These are not two teams going in different directions. Ohio State is just a completely different animal with realistic national title expectations and Michigan is just not that program right now. The Wolverines can win nine or 10 games a season, but they’re just not even close to what the Buckeyes are in terms of talent.
From an outsider’s perspective, they are worlds apart and the evidence is on the field with blowout after blowout. That’s not to say Michigan is not doing the right things, but Ohio State is recruiting five- and four-star players from all over the country as good as any program nationally. In a series dating back to 1897, Michigan just allowed the most points ever to the Buckeyes in Ann Arbor. That’s the stark reality of what’s going on here.
2. Alabama would have beat Auburn with Tua Tagovailoa.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Mac Jones didn’t play bad against Auburn but he made a few key mistakes that we know Tua Tagovailoa would not have made. And without those mistakes, and with more accuracy at the quarterback position, Alabama would have won handily. Auburn did a great job scratching out the win, but Alabama would have won by three scores with Tagovailoa.
Gorney’s take: FACT. There is no question Alabama wins that game if Tagovailoa is playing because there is no chance in the world he throws two pick-sixes. Jones was serviceable, but those mistakes cost Alabama dearly and it’s one reason why I argued Alabama shouldn’t be in the top-five of the College Football Playoff rankings without Tagovailoa. Jones is a very talented quarterback and he did decently against Auburn but if Tagovailoa is on that field, it’s Alabama 48, Auburn 34.
3. Utah should be the next team in the CFB Playoff.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. It should be Oklahoma. The Sooners just beat a top 25 team in Oklahoma State and will need to beat Baylor again to win the Big 12. If they beat the Bears, they should be in. The Big 12 is stronger than the Pac-12 from top to bottom and, as good as Utah has looked, I just think OU should be that fourth playoff team because the Sooners have an offense few can stop. Utah is a solid defensive team but Oklahoma would roll them.
Gorney’s take: FACT. If we’re just going to recycle the same teams every year, then why even play the games? Utah deserves to be in for these reasons: The Utes’ only loss came in late September at USC when Utah didn’t have its starting running back, a huge part of the offensive game plan. The Utes won at Washington and held Oregon State, Arizona State, UCLA and Arizona to single digits. Their defense might be the best nationally. If defense wins championships, then give the Utes a chance if they beat a very good Oregon team in the Pac-12 title game.