Fact or Fiction: Utah should be ranked ahead of Alabama
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. Penn State fans should want to move on from James Franklin.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. A small group of Penn State fans seem to want James Franklin to move on and take the USC or Florida State jobs if offered despite his success at Penn State. And that’s crazy. Franklin has Penn State in the playoff discussion every year or two and recruiting is going very well. I get the frustration at seeing Ohio State continue to dominate the division and get much of the attention, but be careful what you wish for people. Franklin is doing a great job.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. I got a call from my brother early in the Ohio State game and he asked me if Franklin should be fired if Penn State lost. I should have just hung up the phone, but instead I yelled at him for five minutes. Franklin has been one of the best coaches in the country and is turning Penn State into a hot destination for elite recruits while also keeping the history and tradition that is so important to the school and fan base. He’s done a masterful job. USC could be an interesting - and easier - job but fans should be adoring Franklin for the job he’s doing there.
2. Utah should be ranked ahead of Alabama.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. Let’s not get crazy here people. Some are talking about Utah being ranked ahead of Alabama when the playoff rankings come out Tuesday night. That’s insane to me. Let’s remember that Alabama has lost one game and it was to the No. 1 team in the country. Utah has been solid but its loss is to an average USC team. And both teams have played a weak non-conference schedule, so don’t go there. Alabama should still be No. 5.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. I have a feeling Alabama still feels underappreciated this season and the Crimson Tide is going to take it out on Auburn this week. Utah might have the best defense in the country, the Utes are outstanding at almost every position, but Alabama is still an unreal football team with the best wide receiving corps in the country. If Alabama and Utah lined up and played tomorrow, I’d take the Crimson Tide by two touchdowns. However, I do think Utah could beat Georgia on a neutral field because the Bulldogs’ offense has been pitiful.
3. Jeremy Pruitt should get an extension.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Am I crazy? Maybe, but the job Jeremy Pruitt has done this season following a disastrous start has been amazing. He is on track to have this Tennessee team 7-5 and in a bowl game this season, something no one would have thought after an 0-2 start. Pruitt is inked through 2024 and that seems long enough, right? No, show recruits and the rest of the world you have the right guy and give him at least another year to send a message.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. I will give Pruitt a lot of credit for how he’s turned this season around because the Vols’ defense has been very impressive and they’ve found ways to win late in the season after an ugly start. Tennessee looks to be in a groove now with wins over Missouri, Kentucky, UAB and South Carolina, but let’s not also forget that this season started with losses at home to BYU and Georgia State. That there were at least rumors that Phil Fulmer was going to take over and cut ties with Pruitt because it just wasn’t working out.
Let’s give this some more time to play out especially through next season before we start talking about extensions. Since 2007, the last time Tennessee had 10 wins, the Vols have had seven losing seasons and four winning ones. This has been a struggling program, but I do believe Pruitt has them turning in the right direction.