Dan Mullen recently entered the media world as a college football analyst and he’s learning very quickly that when you make predictions in that role you’re going to get feedback.
Mullen, who officially joined ESPN2’s college football studio coverage alongside Kevin Connors and Sam Acho this summer, posted his predictions for the four schools that will take part in the College Football Playoff this season.
— Dan Mullen (@CoachDanMullen) September 2, 2022
Two of his picks were pretty standard, current favorite Alabama and Ohio State. His third pick was the Utah Utes, whom many thinks will win the Pac-12. However, it was his selection of the NC State Wolfpack as the fourth team that caught the attention of the college football world.
To be fair, the Wolfpack enters the season at No. 13 in the AP Poll, though that’s behind fellow ACC school Clemson and just ahead of Miami and Pitt. Coming off a 9-3 season, it certainly seems like NC State is due for a strong year. However, the idea that they’ll be able to get over the hump, win the ACC over Clemson, Pitt, and Miami, and then qualify for the CFP over schools like Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma is a pretty bold stance.
If Mullen was looking to create some discussion around his predictions, he sure accomplished that.
This why he got fired https://t.co/Epsnm9JBm5
— D.S.G.B (@TheRealRashaud) September 2, 2022
Someone please check on Dan https://t.co/lZy8FVA0XY
— Boone Goon (@Boone_Goon_) September 2, 2022
I knew I always liked Dan Mullen. https://t.co/KEuEYh8h0K
— Big Game Boomer (@BigGameBoomer) September 2, 2022
NC State hype train rolls on, unabated. https://t.co/RYXMjt5T1c
— Les Johns (@Les_Johns) September 2, 2022
Very interesting, Mr. Mullen. https://t.co/gn5l9mtE3x
— Cory Smith (@RCorySmith) September 2, 2022
Uncle Dan been hitting the sauce 🤣🤣 https://t.co/6gnS5obeFz
— Steve Feinberg (@canesthing) September 2, 2022
Most people will probably forget this by the time the CFP rolls around, but on the off chance that NC State makes the playoffs, Mullen is going to look like a genius. For once.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.