The 2009 Academy Awards for College Football

In honor of the 81st Academy Awards on Sunday night, I present the Oscars of College Football for the 2008 season.

In a season of standout performers and performances, these were the best of the best. Also in the spirit of the movie awards, I have thrown in some performances that come from an unexpected place.

Keep in mind, these awards recognize the entire season, even bowl games, unlike the college football awards that are presently given out that only recognize the regular season.

Best Visual Effect (Most Amazing Individual Performance)

Nominees

Jahvid Best, California

19 carries, 312 yards, and four touchdowns against Washington.

Andy Schmitt, Eastern Michigan

58-80, 516 yards passing, and five touchdowns against Central Michigan.

Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas

12 receptions, 269 yards, and two touchdowns against Oklahoma.

Brandon Tate, North Carolina

397 all-purpose yards and a touchdown against McNeese State.

Pete Fleps, SMU

23 total tackles against Navy, a NCAA single-game high in 2008.

And the Oscar goes to...Jahvid Best

Actor in a Supporting Role (Best Supporting Player)

Nominees

Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech

Another huge season of 1,165 yards receiving and 19 touchdowns makes Crabtree the ultimate supporting player to Graham Harrell.

Percy Harvin, Florida

He did everything—660 yards rushing, 664 yards receiving, and 17 total touchdowns, Harvin was the big play threat that helped Tim Tebow and the Gators win a national title.

Quan Cosby, Texas

With 1,123 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns, Cosby helped Colt McCoy lead the nation in completion percentage and caught the winning touchdown in the Longhorns' Fiesta Bowl win over Ohio State.

And the Oscar goes to...Michael Crabtree

Best Director (Best Coach)

Nominees

Nick Saban, Alabama

Coming off a 7-6 first year, Saban surprised the SEC and the country, leading his Crimson Tide to an undefeated regular season. Despite losses to Florida in the SEC championship game and Utah in the Sugar Bowl, Saban performed one of the best coaching jobs of the year.

Urban Meyer, Florida

For the second time in three years, Meyer led his Gators to a national title, once again showing that speed kills. Florida's only loss of the season was a one-point loss at home, but after that the Gators tore through the SEC like a wrecking ball, with their most impressive performance coming in the title game, holding the high-powered Sooner offense to 14 points.

Mike Leach, Texas Tech

The Red Raiders enjoyed their most successful season maybe ever in going 11-1 in the regular season, later falling in their bowl game. Leach led his team to an upset of Texas that put them in position to possibly play for a national title at the time. Not to mention he coached one of the most dynamic duos in college football history in Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree.

Bob Stoops, Oklahoma

Nine—that's the number of times the Sooner offense scored over 50 points last season on their way to a Big 12 title and a appearance in the national title game. Stoops got the Sooners back to the title game with a sophomore quarterback, who by the way won the Heisman trophy.

Kyle Whittingham, Utah

What can Whittingham say that none of the previous coaches mentioned above say? He went undefeated in 2008, 13-0 to be exact. The Utes proved to the nation that they belonged with their Sugar Bowl win over Alabama, and Whittingham made the case that you better not overlook Utah any time soon.

And the Oscar goes to...Urban Meyer

Best Picture (Best Game)

Nominees

Texas Tech 39, Texas 33

In the best finish of the season, and with the final seconds ticking off and Texas Tech trailing by a point, the Texas Tech quarterback saw Michael Crabtree in double coverage and let if fly. The All-American wide receiver snagged it on the sideline, shook off a defender, and ducked into the end zone with one second left.

Texas 45, Oklahoma 35

Trailing the No. 1 Sooners nearly all game, Colt McCoy and the No. 5 Longhorns grabbed control in the fourth quarter and refused to let go, pulling away for a 45-35 victory in one of the greatest games in the storied series between these Red River rivals.

Florida 31, Alabama 20

With another great performance, Tim Tebow gave No. 2 Florida a shot at their second national title in three years, handing No. 1 Alabama its first loss of the season. In the process, Tebow made a strong case for another Heisman Trophy in a 31-20 victory over the Crimson Tide in the SEC championship.

Florida 24, Oklahoma 14

Tim Tebow rescued No. 1 Florida once more, running through and throwing over No. 2 Oklahoma for a 24-14 victory that gave the Gators their second BCS championship in three years. Tebow came into the game facing the player that denied him his second Heisman Trophy in a row in Sam Bradford, but by the time this game was over, there was little doubt who the best player in college football was.

And the Oscar goes to...Texas Tech 39, Texas 33

Best Actor in a Leading Role (Best Player)

Nominees

Tim Tebow, Florida

At this point, I'd be more surprised at what Tim Tebow can't do. The Florida quarterback went for 673 yards rushing, 2,746 yards passing, and 42 total touchdowns this year as he backed up his Heisman winning season with another stellar season, and a national title to go with it.

Sam Bradford, Oklahoma

Nobody could stop Oklahoma in the regular season, as Bradford went for 4,720 yards passing and 50 touchdowns in leading the Sooners to a Big 12 title. The Sooners also set and NCAA record with five straight games of 60 points or more.

Colt McCoy, Texas

Stop the presses; McCoy threw an incompletion. Completing 76 percent of your passes is hard in the backyard, let alone doing it for an entire season, but that's what Colt McCoy did in 2008. 561 yards rushing, 3,859 yards passing, 45 total touchdowns, and a Fiesta Bowl trophy—not a bad season.

Graham Harrell, Texas Tech

Not many quarterbacks throw for 5,000 yards in a career, yet all Harrell did in 2008 was do it for the second season in a row. The Red Raider gunslinger threw for 5,111 yards and 45 touchdowns, leading Texas Tech to their best season ever.

And the Oscar goes to...Tim Tebow