Fact or Fiction: Pressure on DeBoer, Fisch at Washington, Harbaugh to the NFL

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports
By Mike Farrell | Last updated 1/15/24

In today’s Fact or Fiction, I look at three big recent topics in college football and decide whether the statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.

1. Kalen DeBoer must win the SEC in one of his first two seasons.

Farrell’s take: FACT

DeBoer is a great hire on paper, but let’s remember that he’s filling the shoes of Nick Saban , and that means any slippage will be catastrophic to the fan base and boosters. With no divisions next year and the addition of Texas and Oklahoma, things will be harder in some ways but easier in others. But DeBoer needs to make a run at the SEC title and win it in one of his first two seasons. Even with Alabama sliding back under Saban’s standards, they still lost one game and won the SEC heading into the playoff this past season. The bar is so high.

2. Jedd Fisch is taking a big risk heading to Washington.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Fisch is an excellent coach and took Arizona from 1-11 to 5-7 to 10-3, and he has it good in Tucson, with the Wildcats headed to the Big 12 as the favorite in the eyes of most. But instead, he’s headed to Washington, where he follows in the footsteps of DeBoer, who was 25-3 in his two years and obviously almost won it all. And Washington is headed to the Big Ten, which is a much stronger conference than the Big 12. Fisch is a good hire, but like DeBoer, he’s stepping into a tough situation.

3. Jim Harbaugh is going to the NFL.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Is there any drama left here? He hired an NFL agent, he’s open about it and not sneaking around as he did in previous years, and the LA Chargers are up first and could close on him. The only surprise would be if he stayed at Michigan, and I think some of the guys headed off the NFL are an indication that he’s gone.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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