College Football: One Thing Every Top 25 BCS Team Is Thankful for

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought it would be appropriate to stop and give thanks. Only this time it is the BCS top 25 that is giving thanks, not just me. 

Whether it is the fact that the season is almost over or the new existence of a conference championship game, there is undoubtedly something that each and every BCS top 25 football team can be thankful for.

While a majority of college football fans aren't thankful for the BCS system itself, it at least gives us something to talk about and for that I am thankful.

Read on to find out what every BCS top 25 football team is thankful for.  

Oh, and don't forget to take a minute to give thanks for at least one thing in your life, too.   

No. 25 Texas Longhorns: 2011 Season Coming to an End

The Texas Longhorns are undoubtedly thankful that 2011 is almost over. What they are more thankful for, though, is that soon enough 2012 will be on the horizon.  

The Longhorns are not even bowl-eligible, current holding a 6-4 record, but somehow they are still ranked in the top 25 of the BCS. I like to think that is because the voters and computers see what I see: a bright future for the young Longhorns.

The Longhorn's stat leaders at every offensive position—quarterback, running back and wide receiver—are either freshmen or sophomores. That didn't work out too well this year, but it will pay off in the long run. With freshman RB Malcolm Brown and QB David Ash leading the way, the future is bright for the Longhorns.  

For the Longhorns the 2011 season will be looked at as a successful one because it is foundation for what is to come.      

No. 24 Auburn Tigers: 2011 Iron Bowl

Auburn's season has been a roller coaster ride to say the least. With a 7-4 record, the Tigers are thankful that they have the biggest game of their season in front of them.   

In less than a week the Auburn Tigers will host the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2011 Iron Bowl, which will be the biggest game of the year for Auburn. The Iron Bowl will be a bigger game for the Tigers than whatever bowl game they play in.

If the Tigers want to prove that last year's trip to the BCS Championship game wasn't only because they coerced Cam Newton to play for them, this is their chance.  

The Tigers have the ability to be a contender next year with most of their offensive playmakers returning next year.  Auburn can show the college football world that they will be ready to contend next year by beating the Alabama Crimson Tide.    

No. 23 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: QB Tevin Washington's Red-Shirt

Redshirting QB Tevin Washington turned out to be the best decision Georgia Tech has made in the last few years.  The Yellow Jackets are truly thankful that they made the decision to redshirt Tevin Washington back in 2008.

If Georgia Tech hadn't redshirted Tevin Washington, next Saturday would be his last regular season game, and that would mean rebuilding for the Yellow Jackets and their pistol/option offense.

Lucky for the Yellow Jackets, because they redshirted Washington they are able to postpone that rebuilding for another year.

Tevin Washington is the Yellow Jackets' leading passer and rusher; losing that at the end of the season would be difficult to replace. While holding onto Washington for another year won't make Tech a legitimate contender, they are surely thankful that they won't have to worry about replacing him until 2013.   

No. 22 Notre Dame Fighting Irish: The Chance to Prove Themselves

The Fighting Irish are a completely different team right now than they were at the beginning of the season, and they certainly are thankful for the opportunity to prove that to all their critics. 

Next Saturday, the Fighting Irish will finish their regular season against Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinal. If Notre Dame wants to prove their critics wrong and show everyone that they are a legitimate top 25 team, they must beat Stanford.

Notre Dame could easily be 10-1 this year rather than 8-3, and when the play the Cardinal they have a chance to show the world which team they truly are.   

Notre Dame has a chance against Stanford to show everyone that they are getting back to the gold old days of Irish football, and they are undoubtedly thankful for that chance.  

No. 21 Nebraska Cornhuskers: Growing Pains of QB Taylor Martinez

The Nebraska Cornhuskers' first year in the Big Ten has been a disappointing one to say the least. Good news for them, the future in the Big Ten looks bright, mainly because QB Taylor Martinez has two years left to prove himself.  

With a topsy-turvy season almost behind them, the Cornhuskers have to be thankful that the foundation of their offense, Taylor Martinez, has the brightest years of his career ahead of him.

Martinez hasn't played poorly the last two years, but he certainly endured his fair share of growing pains. Good news for Nebraska, Martinez will only get better with time, as long as he puts in the work.  

The Cornhuskers have the potential to contend for the Big Ten Championship for the next two years. Whether or not that actually happens will be based on the growth of Taylor Martinez. The underachieving past two seasons for Martinez will ultimately be the reason he succeeds and leads the Cornhuskers to a Big Ten Championship.          

No. 20 Texas Christian Horned Frogs: Safety Net Known as the Big 12

What's worse than being in the Mountain West Conference is leaving the MWC for the Big East, and that is exactly what Texas Christian did.

Thankfully for TCU, the Big 12 saved them by inviting them to join them and be the glue that holds the conference together.  

TCU's season has been disappointing by their own standards, losing two games by a combined nine points. TCU salvaged their season by beating Boise State on their own blue smurf field.

More importantly, TCU salvaged their football program by reneging their commitment to the Big East and subsequently joining the Big 12.

TCU better be thankful that Missouri and Texas A&M left the Big 12, because that created a need for the Big 12 to invite TCU.

Whether or not TCU actually can compete in the Big 12 is yet to be seen, but even if they get dominated every year they still have the financial stability that comes with being the 10th member of the Big 12.   

No. 19 Penn State Nittany Lions: The Ability to Move on

The Nittany Lions season has been anything but easy. Penn State's football program has been tarnished by the alleged horrific actions of one man and the inactivity of a few. Football aside for the moment, Penn State is thankful that over time they will be able to move on from all that has transpired.      

While there isn't a lot of good to cling to at Penn State right now, they can find peace in the fact that every day is one step closer to moving away from the atrocities that are alleged to have taken place.

The moving on process for Penn State won't be easy, especially once the distraction of the football season is over, but it will undoubtedly take place.  

Penn State is thankful for redemption, thankful for a second chance and most of all thankful for the support that exists within the Penn State family.  Moving on will be hard to do, but it is possible because of the strength that exists within who Penn State truly is.    

No. 18 Baylor Bears: Health of QB Robert Griffin III

There is no player in all of college football that is more important to his team than Baylor QB Robert Griffin. The Bears are certainly thankful for Griffin's health and his ability to sustain damage and keep on rolling.  

Without Griffin at the helm for the Bears, there is no way they would be as good as they are. Baylor better soak in all they can of Griffin in his last few games, as this year is most likely his last.

Griffin, as well as his partner in crime Kendall Wright, is expected to enter the 2012 NFL draft, which will signify the demise of Baylor football.  

Baylor better enjoy the next few football games they have with Robert Griffin, and be thankful for the fact that they were able to have him for as long as they have.           

No. 17 Clemson Tigers: ACC's Automatic Bowl Bid

The Clemson Tigers did a great job of playing themselves out of BCS bowl contention. Lucky for them the ACC holds an automatic BCS bid for the winner of the ACC championship game.

The Tigers are more than thankful that they still have a chance to play in a BCS bowl.

This season looked so promising for the young Clemson Tigers, but their inexperience ultimately caught up to them. The Tigers lost to a very average North Carolina State team that ultimately knocked them out of BCS bowl and national championship contention.

Thankfully, they can redeem themselves with a win over Virginia Tech in the ACC championship game.  

The Tigers have a lot to be thankful for with the bright future of young QB Tajh Boyd and WR Sammy Watkins. Good news for the Tigers is they don't have to wait until next year to realize that bright future; they can make it happen this year by winning the ACC Championship game and earning the ACC's automatic BCS bid.  

No. 16 Wisconsin Badgers: Inaugural Big Ten Championship Game

There is no team looking more forward to their respective conference championship game than the Wisconsin Badgers. The Badgers are unbelievably thankful that they have the opportunity to redeem themselves via the inaugural Big Ten championship game, and here's why.  

The Badgers lost a heartbreaker against Michigan State that will go down in history as one of the most unbelievable finishes in all of sports history. In a regular Big Ten year, Wisconsin wouldn't have a chance for redemption, but thankfully the addition of Nebraska into the Big Ten has provided the Badgers with one shot at redemption.  

While the Badgers still have to beat the Nittany Lions on Saturday to earn that rematch against Michigan State, they are undoubtedly thankful for even having the opportunity.

If Wisconsin does indeed meet Michigan State in the Big Ten championship, they better not blow the game in the final seconds again.    

No. 15 Michigan Wolverines: Success of Head Coach Brady Hoke

Who's Rich Rodriguez?

Brady Hoke has done a great job of helping Michigan fans forget about the failure of former head coach Rodriguez. Everyone in the Michigan family has to be extremely thankful for the success of Brady Hoke, especially so early on in his coaching career.  

Not many expected Brady Hoke to do as well as he did in his first season as the head coach of the Wolverines. Hoke did something in his first year that Rodriguez couldn't do in three; he shifted the focus from the coaching position back to where it should be.

He shifted the focus back to what takes place on the football field.  

The Brady Hoke era started off a lot better than most expected, and for Michigan fans that is something to be extremely thankful for.  

No. 14 Michigan State Spartans: Maturity of QB Kirk Cousins and a Little Magic

The Spartans are undoubtedly thankful for the magic that helped them beat the Wisconsin Badgers, but more importantly they are thankful for the maturation of their senior QB Kirk Cousins.  

Kirk Cousins could have easily left for the NFL draft last year, but he didn't, which was a mature thing to do. The maturation didn't stop there. Cousins worked in the offseason to become a more complete and intelligent quarterback.

So far this season he has done just that. Cousins figured out how to not throw interceptions this year—only five compared to 10 last year—which is the main reason why Michigan State is headed to the Big Ten Championship game.

Michigan State is hoping to ride the maturity of Kirk Cousins all the way to the Rose Bowl this year. Whether or not that happens is yet to be seen, but one thing is certain, Michigan State better be thankful they have a mature Kirk Cousins this year.  

No. 13 Georgia Bulldogs: The First Two Games of the Season Are Easy to Forget

Remember when Georgia was ranked 19th in the nation and lost consecutive games to Boise State and South Carolina?

Georgia is playing like they don't remember that, and if you're a Bulldogs fan that is something to be very thankful for.

If you told most college football fans after Week 2 that the Bulldogs would win 10 consecutive games and be playing in the SEC championship game, you would have been admitted into a psychiatric ward.

With a win over Georgia Tech on Saturday the Bulldogs can do just that, entering the SEC championship game riding a 10-game winning streak. The Bulldogs proved this year that it is much better to lose early on than it is to lose late. 

No one will remember what happened the first two weeks of the season if the Bulldogs can somehow manage to win the SEC championship game. If you're a Georgia Bulldog player or just a fan that is something to be truly thankful for.      

No. 12 South Carolina Gamecocks: QB Stephen Garcia's Dismissal

It is very rare that the dismissal of a senior quarterback from a football program mid-season is actually a good thing. Thankfully for the South Carolina Gamecocks, dismissing QB Stephen Garcia and turning the ball over to sophomore QB Connor Shaw was a great move.  

By dismissing Garcia from the football program, South Carolina made a statement, and in doing so they removed an enormous distraction from the football team.

The dismissal of Garcia made way for the emergence of Connor Shaw, which has proven to be the best thing for this Gamecocks football team. Shaw hasn't been explosive, but he has done what is asked of him to win games.  

In addition to winning games, Shaw has been able to put the focus of the Gamecocks football program back to what takes place on the football field and that is something to be thankful for.   

No. 11 Kansas State Wildcats: Legs and Clutch Play of QB Collin Klein

QB Collin Klein put the Kansas State Wildcats on his shoulders and has carried them to an impressive and unexpected 9-2 record. His consistently explosive play is definitely something that Kansas State is giving thanks for this Thanksgiving.  

Klein is the leading passer and rusher for the Wildcats, accounting for 36 total touchdowns.

Yep, you read that right. Klein has accounted for an obscene amount of touchdowns, helping the Wildcats win games without playing any resemblance of defense.  While Kansas State won't win the Big 12 championship, they can sneak into the top 10 of the BCS with a win next week against Iowa State.

Kansas State will be giving thanks for not only the dominant play of QB Collin Klein, but also for the fact that he is only a junior.     

No. 10 Oregon Ducks: Inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game

If this was 2010 the Oregon Ducks would have been down and out after a heartbreaking loss to USC this late in the season. While losing to the Trojans is never good, at least this year the Ducks have the Pac-12 championship game to look forward to.  

I give the Ducks a 0.01 percent chance to lose to Oregon State this Saturday, which means they have a 99.99 percent chance of playing in the inaugural Pac-12 championship game.

Playing in, and most likely winning, the Pac-12 championship game gives the Ducks a chance to get one more win and move on to the Rose Bowl. While playing in the Rose Bowl is definitely a disappointment in light of their preseason aspirations, winning the inaugural Pac-12 championship game is something that has to mean something.  

The Oregon Ducks definitely blew their national championship chances by losing to the USC Trojans. Thankfully, there is still quite a bit to play for thanks to the first ever Pac-12 championship game.   

No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners: Controlling Their Own Destiny in the Big 12

While the Oklahoma Sooners have lost any outside shot of getting an at-large bid to a BCS bowl, they still hold their own fate in their hands. With a win this Saturday against Iowa State and a win on December 3rd against Oklahoma State, the Sooners will play in the 2012 Fiesta Bowl.  

The road to the Fiesta Bowl isn't any easy one, especially with the final game of the season being against the Oklahoma State Cowboys, but it is good to know that the Sooners control their own fate.

With two straight wins the Sooners will earn their fifth BCS bowl appearance in six years, which his quite an accomplishment.  

It is going to be difficult to take down the Oklahoma State Cowboys, but it will be a little easier knowing what all is on the line for the Sooners.   

No. 8 Houston Cougars: Chaos in the BCS Rankings

How can a team that beat UTEP by four points and Louisiana Tech by only one point be ranked No. 8 in the BCS? That can only happen if there is chaos taking place in the BCS.

Thankfully for the Houston Cougars, that is exactly what is happening.  

There is a zero percent chance that Houston will play in the BCS National Championship game, but that doesn't mean they won't earn a BCS at-large bid. To earn an at-large bid, all that Houston has to do is beat Tulsa on Saturday and then sit back and hope for absolute chaos in the BCS rankings.

Houston is sitting pretty right now in the BCS rankings, but they will need at least one more team (Stanford) to lose to absolutely secure an at-large BCS bid.

This season couldn't have turned out any better for the Cougars—well it could have if they were in the national championship hunt, but we all knew that would never happen.

The Cougars should be thankful that college football has a system that gives teams like them a chance to prove what they are worth.  

No. 7 Boise State Broncos: Georgia's Shocking Ability to Win

Boise State owes a majority of their current No. 7 BCS ranking to the Georgia Bulldogs and their ability to win. The Broncos are extremely thankful that they were able to beat up on the Bulldogs before they found out what they are truly capable of.

Much of Boise State's success in the current BCS rankings is due in large part to their one prime time win over the Georgia Bulldogs. If there was ever a year destined for Boise State to reach the national championship game it was this year, with every other team aside from LSU losing at least one game.

The Broncos couldn't hold on to their undefeated record and national championship hopes, with a loss to TCU, but they are holding on to their at-large BCS hopes because of Georgia's success.

While Boise State is bound to drop a ranking or two in the next few weeks because of their weak conference schedule, they can hold on to their BCS hopes as long as Georgia continues to win.    

No. 6 Stanford Cardinal: Luck Is on Their Side

Before the Cardinal lost to the Oregon Ducks, it seemed like Stanford was bound for a trip to the BCS title game behind the leadership of their QB Andrew Luck.

Bad news: they aren't going to play in the BCS title game. Good news: Andrew Luck is still their starting quarterback. That in and of itself is something to be thankful for.

With Andrew Luck leading the Cardinal there is always hope for great things. Andrew Luck knows how to win, he knows what it takes to pull off last-second heroics and he has what it takes to be a leader.

The Cardinal should be very thankful that they have a quarterback like that, and that he still has at least two more games wearing that No. 12 jersey.

If the Cardinal are going to get to a BCS bowl and win, they must do it behind the impressive leadership of Andrew Luck. Don't worry Cardinal fans, just like always, Andrew Luck will find  a way to get it done.   

No. 5 Virginia Tech Hokies: Blind Coaches Poll & AP Poll Voters

Like many college football analysts, I am absolutely amazed that Virginia Tech is ranked fifth in the current BCS Rankings. Thankfully for the Hokies, it seems like a lot of Coaches/AP poll voters don't even watch college football.

I'm not saying that the Hokies don't deserve to be ranked highly in the BCS, I'm just saying they don't deserve to be above teams like Houston, Stanford and even Boise State. Virginia Tech beat every team they were supposed to beat, but they have done so in an ugly fashion.

I find it unbelievable that voters of the AP poll would vote Virginia Tech higher than Oklahoma State. Anyway, the Hokies better count their blessings and take advantage of the kindness of the AP voters by proving them right.  

The Virginia Tech Hokies have a tough road ahead of them with a likely rematch against the Clemson Tigers for the ACC championship. The Hokies better be thankful that voters think so highly of them.    

No. 4 Oklahoma State Cowboys: Bye Week Before Bedlam

Oklahoma State got caught looking ahead to their matchup with Oklahoma in their 37-31 loss at Iowa State. In the wake of a devastating loss, the Cowboys have the bye week to be thankful for, as it will help them prepare for their annual Bedlam matchup against Oklahoma.

The Cowboys, with a few losses by other teams, still have an outside chance at the BCS championship game, but they must beat Oklahoma first. Beating Oklahoma will be a lot easier coming off of two weeks rest rather than just one.

When Oklahoma plays Iowa State this Saturday, Oklahoma State will be sitting at home creating a game plan for the Bedlam matchup.

If the Oklahoma State Cowboys want to go to the Fiesta Bowl or the BCS championship game, they must first beat the Oklahoma Sooners. Beating the Sooners is possible, especially coming off a much needed by week.   

No. 3 Arkansas Razorbacks: A Chance to Create Absolute Chaos in the BCS

The Arkansas Razorbacks have a once in a lifetime opportunity this Friday against the No.1 LSU Tigers. The Razorbacks can knock off the number one team in the nation, earn a trip to the SEC championship game (with an Alabama loss), and create mayhem in the BCS with a win over LSU.  

Now that is something to be thankful for.  

Arkansas really has nothing to lose against LSU, and that is what makes them absolutely dangerous. No one picked them to be where they are at this point in the season, but that doesn't mean they don't deserve to be where they are.

It always seems that at this point in the year, teams with nothing to lose play better than the teams who have everything to lose, and the Razorbacks are hoping that proves to be true for them.  

Arkansas has plenty to be thankful for, but most of all they should be thankful that they can help us move one step close to seeing the BCS playoff we want to see with a win over LSU on Friday.  

No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide: No SEC Championship Game to Play in

I know it's hard to do, Alabama fans, but from this point on you need to become the LSU Tigers' biggest fans. The more LSU wins, the better Alabama will look, and the closer Alabama will come to an epic rematch with LSU.

LSU can do all the work for Alabama, and that is something 'Bama fans should be thankful for.  

If LSU wins out, including the SEC championship game, that will make Alabama's only loss trivial compared to the other one-loss teams. This will result in Alabama and LSU facing off in the first ever BCS national championship game that features a rematch of teams that faced off in the regular season.

I know it will be difficult for 'Bama fans to do, but just sit back and let LSU pave your way to the BCS national championship game. Don't worry, you can thank them for all their hard work by beating them and crushing their hopes of winning the national championship.     

No. 1 LSU Tigers: The Mantra

If the mantra "defense wins championships" is true, this year's LSU Tigers will be living proof of it. The Tigers have one of the most dominant defenses in the nation, and that is something that the LSU Tigers have to be thankful for.  

The Tigers defense has smothered opposing offenses the entire year. Whether the defense was tasked with holding Alabama to two field goals, or making the Oregon Ducks fast-forward offense look slow, the Tiger's defense has risen to the challenge.  

LSU's defense is opportunistic, creating turnovers at critical times, ultimately leading the team to victory. If the Tigers want to get to the SEC championship game and the BCS National Championship game, they must first beat the Arkansas Razorbacks, and the only way they are going to do that is by slowing down their high powered offense.

No matter who LSU plays, the key to victory is always going to be on the defensive side of the ball. LSU should be very thankful that they have a defense that is always up to whatever challenge is placed in front of them.