2009 Regular Season Review: College Football's Most Memorable Moments

Everyone has seen this reception played over and over again on ESPN. One of the marquee catches of the 2005 season. Brodie Croyle to Tyrone Prothro with only a few seconds left on the clock in the first half.

Contrary to popular belief, the play was not a touchdown. Prothro's knee was down on the one yard line, but they scored on the next play to send themselves into half-time down only 21-17.

Alabama went on to win the game 30-21, blanking the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in the second half.

So what games, plays, or moments go down as the most memorable for the 2009 regular season?

The following is my humble opinion on the ten most significant moments, games, and performances this season.

Enjoy, and as always, just my opinion, feel free to enlighten, add or take away by leaving a comment or two.

10. Stanford Stomps USC 55-21

This is a great memory for some; shocking and more than disappointing for others.

Toby Gerhart ran through, over, and around the USC defense on Homecoming day for over 170 yards and three touchdowns. More than that, it was the first time in years that USC was eliminated from BCS contention and a PAC-10 championship.

Trojan fans looked onward, horrified as they witnessed a bludgeoning of epic proportions, not only by Toby Gerhart and the Stanford offense, but by an opportunistic Cardinal defense.

It was the first time in a long while that the Trojans not only looked human, but a bit mediocre. That one bad loss turned to two, then three with the loss to Stanford on that fateful Saturday.

9. BYU Stuns Oklahoma and Sends Sooners Spiraling Downward

Coming into the 2009 season the Sooners and Gators seemed destined to meet again in the BCS championship game. It seemed all Oklahoma had to do was get past Texas and they would be in again for a rematch with Tebow and the Harvin-less Gators.

But at the start of the season, the bad omens began. Before the first game All-American Tight End Jermaine Gresham was ruled out for the rest of the season with torn cartilage in his knee.

Oklahoma though, still had Bradford and upcoming star Ryan Broyles and DeMarco Murray. They forgot about the BYU Cougars though, and were upset in a nail-biter of a game against BYU 14-13.

The biggest hit of the game was late in the second quarter when BYU linebacker Coleby Clawson was called on a blitz and the sketchy offensive line of Oklahoma failed to pick him up.

Bradford rolled to his right and released a pass that fell harmlessly to the turf. The problem: Bradford didn't fall harmlessly to the turf.

And so began one of the worst seasons in Bob Stoops History. Hampered by more injuries than can be recounted on this slide show, the Sooners dropped to a paltry 7-5 this season moving from National Contender to a possible Sun Bowl invite.

With such high expectations at the beginning of the season, the fall from grace was aided by at least a decade's worth of bad luck. Possibly one of the most disappointing collapses of a football team in recent history.

Don't worry though, Sooner fans; if Stoops stays you will be back next year.

8. Jahvid Best's Worst Nightmare

Jahvid Best entered the 2009 season as a Heisman contender and the best player on the California Golden Bear's roster.

As Jahvid Best goes, so do the Bears.

In perhaps one of the most terrifying moments in the FBS this season, Jahvid Best hit a corner streaking for the End Zone and yet another touchdown to add to his list of scores this season.

But Oregon State decided to not make it easy for Best, as a couple defenders decided to cut him down before the goal line.

In typical Best fashion, the Cal Bear running back jumped, got hit, then soared across the goal line nearly ten to fifteen feet in the air. Without the ability to control his landing, Best collided with the ground unprotected and ended up unconscious.

It's always scary when a player lays motionless on the sidelines, but this seemed worse as Best's arms stiffened sky-ward out of shock and the inability to receive signals from his brain. Luckily, Best suffered only a concussion and made a full recovery.

7. Purdue Stuns OSU

Ohio State came into the game against Purdue with little hope for National Title contention. With a letdown loss to USC the Buckeyes thought they could easily waltz into West Lafayette and come out with an easy win against the then 1-5 Boilermakers.

Instead, Purdue stunned Buckeye nation with a 26-18 win over the Big 10 front runners. Behind the passing of Joey Elliot and the untimely turnovers of Ohio State, Purdue turned their season around on that one game winning three of their last five to finish the season 5-7.

Purdue fans must wonder what the season may have held, had there not been a timeout called in that game against Notre Dame.

Interestingly enough, the loss also seemed to turn around Terrelle Pryor's season and was a wake up call for the rest of Ohio State's.

They went on to win the rest of their games, and the Big 10 for yet another trip to the Rose Bowl under Jim Tressel.

6. Spiller Sprints Past Miami

Prior to a game against an over-hyped Miami squad, C.J. Spiller hadn't so much as sniffed any Heisman talk.

But against a potential BCS team in Miami, Spiller burst onto the scene in a game where he separated himself from every player on the field talentwise. Almost single-handedly, Spiller took down the mighty Hurricanes with a phenomenal 310 all-purpose yard performance scoring on a 90 yard kick return for a touchdown and on a 50+ yard pass.

The loss broke Miami's BCS chances and propelled Clemson to an Atlantic Coast Conference title.

C.J. Spiller will be missed in Clemson next year, but Kyle Parker shows promise and could propel Clemson to another ACC championship game appearance.

5. Tebow's Last Hurrah

Tim Tebow has an opportunity to be the most decorated NCAA quarterback in the history of the game. He could win two Heisman trophies (although he probably shouldn't) and three national championships if his final games go right.

One of the most memorable performances by any player this season was set up beautifully against Florida State, one of the worst defenses in the nation.

Tebow trotted out of the tunnel for the last time in the swamp on Thanksgiving weekend and Florida fans had plenty to be thankful for. The most polarizing player in college football didn't fail to deliver.

In his final home game as a Florida Gator, Tim Tebow threw for 221 yards, ran for 90, and accounted for five touchdowns in the final beat down of FSU with a score of 37-10.

It was a night to remember for Florida fans, and a fond farewell from the swamp.

4. Blount's Punch

In the first game of college football on a Thursday night, Boise State stunned the Oregon Ducks in what would end up being the marquee win for the undefeated Broncos.

The headlines didn't read the final score of 19-8 the next day however. It was what happened after the game that had fans and talking heads screaming "Foul!"

After the game, Oregon's star running back LaGarrette Blount was walking off the field with his head hanging low when Boise State player Byron Hout chose to rub the loss in a little bit.

Frustrated and angry Blount hit Hout with a strong right cross to the face, an image that will always be remembered as the worst ending to the beginning of a college football season.

The real tragedy was that Blount got suspended for the season (later to be lifted for good behavior), but Hout received no punishment for provoking the young man. Something Coach Peterson should think about while arguing for a BCS bid this season.

3. Longhorn's Ride Colt to Victory

Did I say that Tim Tebow had a great going away performance? Compared with Colt McCoy's regular season finale it was pedestrian. The only thing that would have made it better would be if it had happened in Austin.

A game that was supposed to be a blow out quickly turned into a shoot out between two of the most efficient quarterbacks in the Big 12.

Texas had to ride the legs and the arm of Colt McCoy to a difficult victory over the 6-5 Texas A&M Aggies.

Colt McCoy also played against one of the worst defenses in the nation, much like Tim Tebow did a few days later, but his numbers were dazzling.

McCoy accounted for 479 of Texas' 597 total yards, 175 on the ground and 304 through the air. Not only that, Colt threw for four touchdowns and complimented that with an impressive 65-yard touchdown run.

This performance alone may have been enough to give McCoy the Heisman trophy. It was one of the best performances by a quarterback that college football has ever seen. Some might liken it to a certain Rose Bowl that saw the Longhorns upset favorite USC.

Interesting that the Rose Bowl is once again where the BCS championship game is being played this year, and interesting that once again the Longhorns will, most likely, be the underdogs.

2. Corey Wilson Keeps His Promise

Corey Wilson was supposed to be on the field this season as a Wide Receiver for the Oklahoma Sooners. He was supposed be running routes, catching touchdowns and complimenting Ryan Broyles in third down situations.

But that all changed in February when Corey Wilson collided with a truck on I-35 near Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. After the accident Wilson found out that he had been paralyzed from the waist down. It was an emotional spring, summer, and fall of rehab for Corey, but he had promised to walk on the field on Senior Day at the end of the season.

With the assistance of a walker Corey Wilson accomplished just that before a 27-0 beatdown of Oklahoma State.

This image gives everyone the opportunity to applaud these young people for persevering through life's ups and downs. I think we all can give props to Corey for persevering through this tumultuous time in his life and being able to share his story with the nation and his teammates and fans.

This has to be one of the most inspiring events in College Football this year that you may not have heard of.

1. UConn and West Virginia Play Through Tragedy

Jasper Howard had just finished celebrating a lop-sided victory over the Louisville Cardinals when the unthinkable happened.

He was attacked and killed on campus. Jasper died in his teammates' arms and heartbreak swarmed across the nation. It was a tragedy of epic proportions. Sadness was felt all across the nation as the football team struggled through the next week of practice, trying desperately to sort out what happened the week before.

The next Saturday, in a show of ultimate sportsmanship and understanding the teams of West Virginia and UConn paid tribute to their fallen teammate. It may have been the most emotional game of the season for any team, and it culminated with a tough loss.

The next two games were just as hard to take for the mourning team with close losses to both Rutgers and Cincinnati. But good things come to those teams that persevere and the UConn Huskies are finishing strong for their fallen teammate.

With an overtime victory over Notre Dame and a beat down of Syracuse, the Huskies have become bowl eligible this season; despite all the issues that come with the difficulties of losing a friend, brother, and teammate.

How can you not cheer for the Huskies this weekend as they take on South Florida. A win would guarantee a bowl bid for the Huskies and give the team something more to be proud of this season.

My personal hat is off to this team for the way they have overcome adversity this season. And I will be cheering them on the rest of the way.