As the 2008 college football season wraps up, we look back at the high and low points of the year. Here are a few of them...
Who's Hot
Big 12 South: The Big 12 South dominated college football all year with three teams (Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech) ranked in the top 10 and one more (Oklahoma State) in the top 25.
Alabama: Despite some close calls, the Crimson Tide finished the regular season undefeated and are set for a match with Florida in the SEC Championship Game.
Florida: After an early season loss to Ole Miss, Tim Tebow and the Gators have been on fire and head into the SEC Championship Game with high hopes of a second National Championship in three years.
Ole Miss: Houston Nutt has turned this program around. The Rebels are 8-4 this year and highlight their season with a win over second-ranked Florida.
Oklahoma: The Sooners were an offensive machine this year and Sam Bradford has a legitimate shot at the Heisman Trophy. Also, Oklahoma leap-frogged Texas in the BCS standings to reach the Big 12 Championship Game and are now just one win away from the BCS National Championship Game.
Iowa: After a few close losses at the beginning of the year and a 3-3 start, the Hawkeyes went on a hot streak, winning five of their last six games behind star running back Shonn Greene and highlighted by a comeback win against Penn State. Now, Iowa looks to be headed for a New Years Day bowl.
Big 12 Quarterbacks: Unlike in the auto business, the Big 12's "Big Three" are doing very well. Graham Harrell, Sam Bradford, and Colt McCoy are all among the top QB's in the country and are all front-runners for the Heisman Trophy.
Big 10 Running Backs: The running backs have been the stars of a league that continues to gain a negative reputation. Shonn Greene highlights a list that also includes Beanie Wells, Javon Ringer, and Evan Royster.
Northwestern: After not going to a bowl game in quite some time, Northwestern found it's stride this year, going 9-3. Pat Fitzgerald has turned this program around and the Wildcats will be headed to a decent bowl game.
Mountain West Conference: The MWC has had perhaps its best year ever in 2008, with three teams (Utah, TCU, and BYU) all in the top 25. Utah will be heading to its first BCS bowl game in program history and TCU and BYU also look to be heading to decent bowl games.
Who's Not
BCS:
11 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Sean O'Cassidy 7 months ago
Yeah, no, Utah is making its second BCS bowl in school history.
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Tristan Holmes 7 months ago
Utah actually made the Fiesta Bowl in 2004, they will be the first team from a non-BCS conference to make a BCS bowl game more than once.
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Daniel Howie 7 months ago
And not to give Notre Dame any credit, but I believe Navy has a winning record, and the Irish did beat Navy.
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Kevin Trahan 7 months ago
They didn't when they played each other.
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Michael Collins 7 months ago
Hot - How about Paul Johnson for those who dissed Navy these past few years?
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Daniel Howie 7 months ago
"BCS: The BCS got even more controversial this week after it decided Oklahoma would play in the Big 12 Championship Game even though Texas beat Oklahoma head to head and they have the same record."
Texas Tech beat Texas and has the same record too. Just sayin'.
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Jonny Solovy 7 months ago
"Every Major Conference Besides the Big 12 and SEC"
WHAT??? LOL. The SEC isn't down?????? Bama and Florida are good... name the best team after them??? An 8-3 Georgia team who just gave up 45 points to Georgia Tech at home???? Seriously, I am so sick and tired of the SEC getting all of this credit... you say the Pac 10 only has one good team... Oregon's offense can score on anybody and a healthy Oregon State team with Jacquizz Rodgers isn't too bad either (the beginning of the year they weren't healthy and weren't healthy last week vs Oregon). A Cal team who is middle of the road this year in the Pac 10 beat Michigan State who is the 3rd best team in the Big 10.... I am a USC fan and I can completely agree and admit the Pac 10 is not as good this year and is def. having a down year... however, the SEC has had such great PAST years that people tend to not look at the present... the SEC is down BIG TIME. And during the bowl games we will see just how great the big 12 really is... if they can actually play defense when it matters because this looks like the Oklahoma teams of the past that have been demolished in every bowl game last few years.
I agree with a lot of your other points and it was a great read, enjoyed it! Just wanted to make that point! Take care!
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Kevin Trahan 7 months ago
The SEC is down by it's standards, but is still better than many of the other major conferences.
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NileKinnick's Oil Leak 7 months ago
"Northwestern: After not going to a bowl game in quite some time..." NU played in the Sun Bowl in 2005, the Motor City Bowl in 2004 and the Alamo Bowl in 2000. I wouldn't describe three years as "quite a long time"
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Kevin Trahan 7 months ago
I meant a major bowl, not the toilet bowl. Sorry.
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Ted Stevens 7 months ago
and also, "The BCS got even more controversial this week after it decided Oklahoma would play in the Big 12 Championship Game.."
don't blame this one on the BCS. Oklahoma is playing on Saturday because of the Big 12's conference tiebreaker rule. the ACC, Big XII, Big East, Conference USA, and Pac-10 all have the same rule to help determine the division representative in the conference championship and/or BCS game. i'm not saying Texas didn't get screwed, but it has nothing to do with the BCS.
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