College Football Nation: 2010-conference-overview-final
Remember what we were all talking about in SEC football circles this time a year ago?
We were wondering how two teams (Alabama and Florida) could run off and leave everybody else in a conference that hasn’t given us a repeat champion since 1998.
Chasing history in this league is indeed a slippery slope.
Alabama and Florida both found out this season what so many teams before them have learned the hard way: The winds of change blow swiftly and with very little warning in the SEC.
“It’s not about who’s done what or anything you might have done in the past,” said Alabama coach Nick Saban, whose club was eying a second straight national championship. “It’s about playing your best in that moment, and we struggled to put a complete game together this year.”
Between them, Alabama and Florida -- the last two BCS national champions -- lost seven SEC games this season. That’s four more than they lost in the 2008 and 2009 seasons combined, and two of those three losses were to each other.
Still, there was a team separating itself from the rest of the pack this season, the same team that ended last season by losing five of its last six SEC games.
Auburn (13-0) turned living on the edge into an art form. The Tigers came back to win four different times after falling behind by two touchdowns or more.
Of course, nothing compared to the Tigers’ 24-point comeback on the road to beat Alabama in the Iron Bowl. They clinched their trip to the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game, though, amid very little drama.
That is, if you don’t count the NCAA’s ruling three days before the SEC championship game that Auburn quarterback Cam Newton would be eligible to play after the NCAA initially ruled that Newton’s father, Cecil Newton, violated NCAA rules by shopping his son to Mississippi State.
Newton never flinched. He hasn’t all season. If anything, he played better the more things heated up off the field.
He carved apart South Carolina with four touchdown passes and two touchdown runs to lead Auburn to a 56-17 blowout in the SEC championship game and send the Tigers to Glendale, Ariz., to face Oregon in the BCS National Championship Game.
“Cam told us he wasn’t going to let us down, and we weren’t going to let him down,” Auburn linebacker Josh Bynes said. “The way he went out there and played those last few games with all that stuff flying was amazing.
“I think it just made him stronger. I know it made us stronger as a team.”
While the Newton eligibility saga dominated most of the last month of the season, it was hardly the only storyline in the SEC.
Steve Spurrier guided South Carolina to the SEC championship game for the first time in school history. It was the Head Ball Coach’s first trip back to the title game in 10 years.
He and the Gamecocks benefited from an Eastern Division that’s seen better days. In fact, South Carolina was the only team in the East that had a winning record in league play. Georgia lost four straight games at one point. Florida was a train wreck offensively, and Tennessee had to win its last four games just to become bowl eligible.
The East managed just three wins over the West all season, and Ole Miss was responsible for two of the West losses.
At least for the time being, the power in this league has shifted to the West.
But the more some things change, the more one thing stays the same. The SEC is once again a part of the BCS National Championship Game equation and will try to make it five straight years that a team from this conference has brought home the crystal trophy.
Not only that, but Auburn would be the fourth different SEC team to win a national championship in the last four years.
Some people call it balance. In the SEC, they call it business as usual.
Offensive MVP: Auburn quarterback Cam Newton
This will probably be Newton’s one and only season in the SEC as a starter, as the NFL will surely come calling. But as one-year careers go in the SEC, Newton has forever set the standard. Nobody really stopped him all season, not even close. Think about it. He already has more than 2,500 passing yards (2,589) and also has a shot at 1,500 rushing yards (1,409). How many people thought they would ever see a college quarterback at this level pass for 2,500 yards and rush for 1,500 yards in the same season? Not to mention, Newton has accounted for 49 touchdowns -- 28 passing, 20 rushing and one receiving. Simply, it’s been a season for the ages.
Defensive MVP: Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley
Fairley would also be the runaway winner as the SEC’s Most Improved Player. As a sophomore, he only started in two games, recording 28 total tackles, which included 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. That was a single game for the 6-foot-5, 298-pound Fairley this season. He was easily the most dominant defender in the league and completely wrecked what offenses were trying to do with his push up the middle. Fairley leads the SEC with 21 tackles for loss, which includes a league-leading 10.5 sacks. Known for his trademark slamming of quarterbacks to the ground, which got Fairley into some hot water, he was every offense’s worst nightmare this season.
Newcomer of the Year: South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore
When the Gamecocks signed the highly recruited Lattimore out of Duncan, S.C., they hoped he would help rejuvenate a floundering running game. He did that and more. Lattimore was the missing piece offensively for South Carolina in its run to its first-ever Eastern Division championship and appearance in the SEC championship game. He leads all SEC running backs with 1,198 rushing yards and is one off the SEC freshman touchdown record in a season with 19. One of the things that sets Lattimore apart is his ability to break tackles and gain yardage after contact. He’s listed at 218 pounds, but runs like he’s closer to 245.
Coach of the Year: Auburn’s Gene Chizik
Talk about a guy who’s come a long way in the department of public opinion. We all remember the reception Chizik initially received at Auburn when the Tigers hired him. He’d posted a 5-19 record at Iowa State in two seasons, and just about everybody on the Plains was scratching his head and trying to figure out, “Why this guy?” In his second season at Auburn, Chizik has answered that question as definitively as he possibly could. He has the Tigers 13-0 and poised to play for their first national championship since 1957. Very few people picked the Tigers in the West, and this was a team that had trouble finishing games a year ago. That was their strength this season, and Chizik also did a super job in keeping this team on point during all the Newton distractions.
Biggest surprise: Mississippi State
The other team that gets some votes here is South Carolina, but the East was wide open this season for the Gamecocks. So Mississippi State gets the nod. Dan Mullen took the Bulldogs from a 5-7 record last season and no bowl to an 8-4 record this season and a Jan. 1 date in the Gator Bowl. It’s still a young Mississippi State team, too, in a lot of spots. The Bulldogs have a chance to be even better next season. They averaged more than 200 yards rushing for the second year in a row, and first-year coordinator Manny Diaz did a terrific job with the defense.
Biggest disappointment: Florida
This was an easy selection even though Georgia also tanked in the East. But Florida was the pick in most quarters, and we heard all offseason how potent that offense was going to be with John Brantley sliding in at quarterback. As it turns out, the Gators ended up having one of the worst offenses in the league, lost three straight games in the regular season for the first time since 1988 and stumbled to a 7-5 finish. Following an embarrassing 31-7 loss to Florida State to end the regular season, Florida coach Urban Meyer said the reality was that the Gators faced a major rebuilding task.
Game of the Year: Auburn 28, Alabama 27, Nov. 26
This one will also go down as one of the games of the decade and certainly one of the most memorable games in the storied history of the Iron Bowl. Auburn, with its national championship hopes flickering, fell behind 24-0 in the first half with the Bryant-Denny Stadium crowd roaring. It could have been a lot worse had Alabama not turned the ball over a few times in the first half. But in vintage fashion, Auburn never panicked. The Tigers went into the half trailing 24-7, hit a big 70-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Zachery less than a minute into the third quarter -- and the greatest comeback in Auburn history was on. The Tigers dominated the second half, holding the Crimson Tide to 67 total yards, and took the lead for good on Cam Newton’s fourth-quarter touchdown pass to tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen.
We were wondering how two teams (Alabama and Florida) could run off and leave everybody else in a conference that hasn’t given us a repeat champion since 1998.
Chasing history in this league is indeed a slippery slope.
Alabama and Florida both found out this season what so many teams before them have learned the hard way: The winds of change blow swiftly and with very little warning in the SEC.
“It’s not about who’s done what or anything you might have done in the past,” said Alabama coach Nick Saban, whose club was eying a second straight national championship. “It’s about playing your best in that moment, and we struggled to put a complete game together this year.”
Between them, Alabama and Florida -- the last two BCS national champions -- lost seven SEC games this season. That’s four more than they lost in the 2008 and 2009 seasons combined, and two of those three losses were to each other.
Still, there was a team separating itself from the rest of the pack this season, the same team that ended last season by losing five of its last six SEC games.
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Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesCam Newton has Auburn on the brink of a national championship.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesCam Newton has Auburn on the brink of a national championship.Of course, nothing compared to the Tigers’ 24-point comeback on the road to beat Alabama in the Iron Bowl. They clinched their trip to the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game, though, amid very little drama.
That is, if you don’t count the NCAA’s ruling three days before the SEC championship game that Auburn quarterback Cam Newton would be eligible to play after the NCAA initially ruled that Newton’s father, Cecil Newton, violated NCAA rules by shopping his son to Mississippi State.
Newton never flinched. He hasn’t all season. If anything, he played better the more things heated up off the field.
He carved apart South Carolina with four touchdown passes and two touchdown runs to lead Auburn to a 56-17 blowout in the SEC championship game and send the Tigers to Glendale, Ariz., to face Oregon in the BCS National Championship Game.
“Cam told us he wasn’t going to let us down, and we weren’t going to let him down,” Auburn linebacker Josh Bynes said. “The way he went out there and played those last few games with all that stuff flying was amazing.
“I think it just made him stronger. I know it made us stronger as a team.”
While the Newton eligibility saga dominated most of the last month of the season, it was hardly the only storyline in the SEC.
Steve Spurrier guided South Carolina to the SEC championship game for the first time in school history. It was the Head Ball Coach’s first trip back to the title game in 10 years.
He and the Gamecocks benefited from an Eastern Division that’s seen better days. In fact, South Carolina was the only team in the East that had a winning record in league play. Georgia lost four straight games at one point. Florida was a train wreck offensively, and Tennessee had to win its last four games just to become bowl eligible.
The East managed just three wins over the West all season, and Ole Miss was responsible for two of the West losses.
At least for the time being, the power in this league has shifted to the West.
But the more some things change, the more one thing stays the same. The SEC is once again a part of the BCS National Championship Game equation and will try to make it five straight years that a team from this conference has brought home the crystal trophy.
Not only that, but Auburn would be the fourth different SEC team to win a national championship in the last four years.
Some people call it balance. In the SEC, they call it business as usual.
Offensive MVP: Auburn quarterback Cam Newton
This will probably be Newton’s one and only season in the SEC as a starter, as the NFL will surely come calling. But as one-year careers go in the SEC, Newton has forever set the standard. Nobody really stopped him all season, not even close. Think about it. He already has more than 2,500 passing yards (2,589) and also has a shot at 1,500 rushing yards (1,409). How many people thought they would ever see a college quarterback at this level pass for 2,500 yards and rush for 1,500 yards in the same season? Not to mention, Newton has accounted for 49 touchdowns -- 28 passing, 20 rushing and one receiving. Simply, it’s been a season for the ages.
Defensive MVP: Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley
Fairley would also be the runaway winner as the SEC’s Most Improved Player. As a sophomore, he only started in two games, recording 28 total tackles, which included 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. That was a single game for the 6-foot-5, 298-pound Fairley this season. He was easily the most dominant defender in the league and completely wrecked what offenses were trying to do with his push up the middle. Fairley leads the SEC with 21 tackles for loss, which includes a league-leading 10.5 sacks. Known for his trademark slamming of quarterbacks to the ground, which got Fairley into some hot water, he was every offense’s worst nightmare this season.
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AP Photo/Phil SandlinMarcus Lattimore led all SEC backs in rushing this season with 1,198 rushing yards.
AP Photo/Phil SandlinMarcus Lattimore led all SEC backs in rushing this season with 1,198 rushing yards.When the Gamecocks signed the highly recruited Lattimore out of Duncan, S.C., they hoped he would help rejuvenate a floundering running game. He did that and more. Lattimore was the missing piece offensively for South Carolina in its run to its first-ever Eastern Division championship and appearance in the SEC championship game. He leads all SEC running backs with 1,198 rushing yards and is one off the SEC freshman touchdown record in a season with 19. One of the things that sets Lattimore apart is his ability to break tackles and gain yardage after contact. He’s listed at 218 pounds, but runs like he’s closer to 245.
Coach of the Year: Auburn’s Gene Chizik
Talk about a guy who’s come a long way in the department of public opinion. We all remember the reception Chizik initially received at Auburn when the Tigers hired him. He’d posted a 5-19 record at Iowa State in two seasons, and just about everybody on the Plains was scratching his head and trying to figure out, “Why this guy?” In his second season at Auburn, Chizik has answered that question as definitively as he possibly could. He has the Tigers 13-0 and poised to play for their first national championship since 1957. Very few people picked the Tigers in the West, and this was a team that had trouble finishing games a year ago. That was their strength this season, and Chizik also did a super job in keeping this team on point during all the Newton distractions.
Biggest surprise: Mississippi State
The other team that gets some votes here is South Carolina, but the East was wide open this season for the Gamecocks. So Mississippi State gets the nod. Dan Mullen took the Bulldogs from a 5-7 record last season and no bowl to an 8-4 record this season and a Jan. 1 date in the Gator Bowl. It’s still a young Mississippi State team, too, in a lot of spots. The Bulldogs have a chance to be even better next season. They averaged more than 200 yards rushing for the second year in a row, and first-year coordinator Manny Diaz did a terrific job with the defense.
Biggest disappointment: Florida
This was an easy selection even though Georgia also tanked in the East. But Florida was the pick in most quarters, and we heard all offseason how potent that offense was going to be with John Brantley sliding in at quarterback. As it turns out, the Gators ended up having one of the worst offenses in the league, lost three straight games in the regular season for the first time since 1988 and stumbled to a 7-5 finish. Following an embarrassing 31-7 loss to Florida State to end the regular season, Florida coach Urban Meyer said the reality was that the Gators faced a major rebuilding task.
Game of the Year: Auburn 28, Alabama 27, Nov. 26
This one will also go down as one of the games of the decade and certainly one of the most memorable games in the storied history of the Iron Bowl. Auburn, with its national championship hopes flickering, fell behind 24-0 in the first half with the Bryant-Denny Stadium crowd roaring. It could have been a lot worse had Alabama not turned the ball over a few times in the first half. But in vintage fashion, Auburn never panicked. The Tigers went into the half trailing 24-7, hit a big 70-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Zachery less than a minute into the third quarter -- and the greatest comeback in Auburn history was on. The Tigers dominated the second half, holding the Crimson Tide to 67 total yards, and took the lead for good on Cam Newton’s fourth-quarter touchdown pass to tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen.
If someone found a crystal ball in the preseason and, after giving it a good peering, had announced that one Pac-10 team would play for the national title and another would play in the Discover Orange Bowl, it's likely that Pac-10 administrators and athletic directors would have broken out into a celebratory dance thinking of the extra revenue, not to mention the prestige, the conference would gain.
So it's a good thing that didn't happen because that would have been hard on the eyes.
Oregon will play Auburn in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 10. Stanford will play Virginia Tech in the Discover Orange Bowl on Jan. 3. Not only have teams other than USC risen to the elite level, but the Pac-10 has produced two BCS bowl teams for the first time since 2002.
Of course, some sourpusses will point out that the conference only produced four bowl teams. First, it's five, really, only USC is ineligible for the postseason due to NCAA sanctions. And five bowl-eligible teams in a 10-team league that plays nine conference games and doesn't load its schedules with nonconference patsies isn't terrible.
Could be better. But not terrible.
The Pac-10 finished the regular season ranked No. 2 behind the SEC in the Sagarin Ratings. Pac-10 teams played the seven toughest schedules in the nation, as well as Nos. 10 and 11. Oregon's schedule ranked 20th, the lowest in the conference, in large part because the Ducks lucked out by not having to play themselves.
The Pac-10 went 10-5 versus other BCS conferences.
Further, the Pac-10 is sending two finalists to the Heisman Trophy ceremony: Oregon running back LaMichael James and Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. No other conference is doing that.
Still, the conference didn't post any marquee nonconference victories. Wins over Iowa and Texas lost a lot of value as both teams struggled as the season went on. Winning at Tennessee isn't as impressive as it was a decade ago. Arizona State lost by a point at Wisconsin. The conference lost three games to elite non-AQ teams: TCU, Boise State and Nevada. Nebraska stomped on Washington.
Quarterbacks were all the talk in the preseason, but the results were mixed there, too. Luck, obviously, lived up to and even beyond expectations. Washington's Jake Locker fell well short. Oregon's Darron Thomas came from no where to earn second-team All-Pac-10 honors. USC's Matt Barkley and Arizona's Nick Foles had good, but not great seasons.
Luck could come back next fall, but he's likely going to be the No. 1 overall pick in this spring's NFL draft. Thomas, Barkley and Foles will return, though, again giving the conference a good foundation at the position (It's possible that Foles, too, could opt to enter the NFL draft).
As far as where the conference ranks as it heads into the postseason, the bowl season should be telling. It would be particularly meaningful for Oregon to end the SEC's run of national titles at four. Stanford is expected to beat ACC champ Virginia Tech, so losing would inspire plenty of wisecracks.
Arizona and Washington are both significant underdogs against Big 12 foes in the Valero Alamo Bowl -- where the Wildcats play No. 14 Oklahoma State -- and the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl -- where the Huskies face No. 18 Nebraska, which bludgeoned them 56-21 on Sept. 18.
A 2-2 bowl season would be respectable. 3-1 would be worth crowing about. But anything worse, and it could be a long offseason for Pac-10 fans who enjoy trash talking other conferences.
Offensive MVPs: Call me a wuss for refusing to decide between Luck and James, but I'm not going to. Hey, they're both Heisman Trophy finalists. Luck passed for 3,051 yards with 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions, completing 70 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 438 yards and three touchdowns. James led the nation with 152.9 yards rushing per game and 21 touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 169 yards and a TD.
Defensive MVP: This was a tough call, but Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea is the guy who causes the most problems for opposing offenses and consistently receives praise from opposing offensive linemen. After a slow start, Paea led the Beavers with 10 tackles for a loss and six sacks. He also had 42 total tackles -- despite constant double-teams -- and four forced fumbles.
Newcomer of the year: USC true freshman Robert Woods made big plays as receiver and a kick returner. As a receiver, caught 64 passes for 786 yards and six touchdowns. As a return man, he averaged 25.6 yards on 38 returns -- a school record -- including one for a 97-yard touchdown. He ranks second in the Pac- 10, and 27th nationally, with 139.8 all-purpose yards.
Coach of the year: Folks asked what Oregon coach Chip Kelly would do for an encore after he led the Ducks to a Pac-10 title and the Rose Bowl his first season. Well, how about going undefeated and earning a berth in the national title game? His Ducks were the first team to go undefeated in the nine-game conference schedule. He also got a nice reward for his extraordinary success.
Biggest surprise: While more than a few folks thought Stanford would be good, and even might improve on last year's 8-5 finish, no one saw 11-1 and a No. 4 ranking coming. That's a tribute to coach Jim Harbaugh, who built a program from the ground up. While he's widely praised as an offensive innovator and outstanding motivator, Harbaugh's best move might have been hiring Vic Fangio last offseason to coordinate the defense. The improvement on that side of the ball is the reason the Cardinal became elite.
Biggest disappointment: Oregon State was ranked in the preseason and was expected to contend at the top of the conference, but the Beavers are staying home during the postseason for the first time since 2005. While a rugged schedule didn't help, and a knee injury to receiver James Rodgers on Oct. 9 was a major blow, the biggest issue was poor play on both lines. Further, the Beavers would have finished 6-6 if they had managed to not lose at home to Washington State, which ended the Cougars 16-game conference losing streak.
Game of the year: Stanford's 37-35 win over USC had just about everything. It had a pregame plot line: USC wanted revenge -- "What's your deal?" -- for Harbaugh running the score up the year before in a 55-21 Cardinal win in the Coliseum. It had two future NFL quarterbacks at the the top of the game: Luck passed for 285 yards and three TDs and Matt Barkley passed for 390 yards and three TDs. Neither threw an interception. It had Stanford's potential goats -- kicker Nate Whitaker, who missed a PAT, and running back Stepfan Taylor, whose fumble set up the Trojans' late, go-ahead TD -- find redemption on the final drive. Taylor's 21-yard run set up Whitaker's game-winning, 30-yard field goal on the final play.
So it's a good thing that didn't happen because that would have been hard on the eyes.
Oregon will play Auburn in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 10. Stanford will play Virginia Tech in the Discover Orange Bowl on Jan. 3. Not only have teams other than USC risen to the elite level, but the Pac-10 has produced two BCS bowl teams for the first time since 2002.
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Steve Dykes/Getty ImagesChip Kelly and the Pac-10 are looking forward to January, when two conference schools will participate in BCS games: Stanford in the Orange Bowl and Oregon in the national title game.
Steve Dykes/Getty ImagesChip Kelly and the Pac-10 are looking forward to January, when two conference schools will participate in BCS games: Stanford in the Orange Bowl and Oregon in the national title game.Could be better. But not terrible.
The Pac-10 finished the regular season ranked No. 2 behind the SEC in the Sagarin Ratings. Pac-10 teams played the seven toughest schedules in the nation, as well as Nos. 10 and 11. Oregon's schedule ranked 20th, the lowest in the conference, in large part because the Ducks lucked out by not having to play themselves.
The Pac-10 went 10-5 versus other BCS conferences.
Further, the Pac-10 is sending two finalists to the Heisman Trophy ceremony: Oregon running back LaMichael James and Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. No other conference is doing that.
Still, the conference didn't post any marquee nonconference victories. Wins over Iowa and Texas lost a lot of value as both teams struggled as the season went on. Winning at Tennessee isn't as impressive as it was a decade ago. Arizona State lost by a point at Wisconsin. The conference lost three games to elite non-AQ teams: TCU, Boise State and Nevada. Nebraska stomped on Washington.
Quarterbacks were all the talk in the preseason, but the results were mixed there, too. Luck, obviously, lived up to and even beyond expectations. Washington's Jake Locker fell well short. Oregon's Darron Thomas came from no where to earn second-team All-Pac-10 honors. USC's Matt Barkley and Arizona's Nick Foles had good, but not great seasons.
Luck could come back next fall, but he's likely going to be the No. 1 overall pick in this spring's NFL draft. Thomas, Barkley and Foles will return, though, again giving the conference a good foundation at the position (It's possible that Foles, too, could opt to enter the NFL draft).
As far as where the conference ranks as it heads into the postseason, the bowl season should be telling. It would be particularly meaningful for Oregon to end the SEC's run of national titles at four. Stanford is expected to beat ACC champ Virginia Tech, so losing would inspire plenty of wisecracks.
Arizona and Washington are both significant underdogs against Big 12 foes in the Valero Alamo Bowl -- where the Wildcats play No. 14 Oklahoma State -- and the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl -- where the Huskies face No. 18 Nebraska, which bludgeoned them 56-21 on Sept. 18.
A 2-2 bowl season would be respectable. 3-1 would be worth crowing about. But anything worse, and it could be a long offseason for Pac-10 fans who enjoy trash talking other conferences.
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Kyle Terada/US PRESSWIREAndrew Luck passed for 3,051 yards and 28 touchdowns, while completing 70.2 percent of his passes this season.
Kyle Terada/US PRESSWIREAndrew Luck passed for 3,051 yards and 28 touchdowns, while completing 70.2 percent of his passes this season.Defensive MVP: This was a tough call, but Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea is the guy who causes the most problems for opposing offenses and consistently receives praise from opposing offensive linemen. After a slow start, Paea led the Beavers with 10 tackles for a loss and six sacks. He also had 42 total tackles -- despite constant double-teams -- and four forced fumbles.
Newcomer of the year: USC true freshman Robert Woods made big plays as receiver and a kick returner. As a receiver, caught 64 passes for 786 yards and six touchdowns. As a return man, he averaged 25.6 yards on 38 returns -- a school record -- including one for a 97-yard touchdown. He ranks second in the Pac- 10, and 27th nationally, with 139.8 all-purpose yards.
Coach of the year: Folks asked what Oregon coach Chip Kelly would do for an encore after he led the Ducks to a Pac-10 title and the Rose Bowl his first season. Well, how about going undefeated and earning a berth in the national title game? His Ducks were the first team to go undefeated in the nine-game conference schedule. He also got a nice reward for his extraordinary success.
Biggest surprise: While more than a few folks thought Stanford would be good, and even might improve on last year's 8-5 finish, no one saw 11-1 and a No. 4 ranking coming. That's a tribute to coach Jim Harbaugh, who built a program from the ground up. While he's widely praised as an offensive innovator and outstanding motivator, Harbaugh's best move might have been hiring Vic Fangio last offseason to coordinate the defense. The improvement on that side of the ball is the reason the Cardinal became elite.
Biggest disappointment: Oregon State was ranked in the preseason and was expected to contend at the top of the conference, but the Beavers are staying home during the postseason for the first time since 2005. While a rugged schedule didn't help, and a knee injury to receiver James Rodgers on Oct. 9 was a major blow, the biggest issue was poor play on both lines. Further, the Beavers would have finished 6-6 if they had managed to not lose at home to Washington State, which ended the Cougars 16-game conference losing streak.
Game of the year: Stanford's 37-35 win over USC had just about everything. It had a pregame plot line: USC wanted revenge -- "What's your deal?" -- for Harbaugh running the score up the year before in a 55-21 Cardinal win in the Coliseum. It had two future NFL quarterbacks at the the top of the game: Luck passed for 285 yards and three TDs and Matt Barkley passed for 390 yards and three TDs. Neither threw an interception. It had Stanford's potential goats -- kicker Nate Whitaker, who missed a PAT, and running back Stepfan Taylor, whose fumble set up the Trojans' late, go-ahead TD -- find redemption on the final drive. Taylor's 21-yard run set up Whitaker's game-winning, 30-yard field goal on the final play.
Big Ten 2010 regular season wrap
December, 8, 2010
12/08/10
9:00
AM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
Big Ten fans had to be pleased to hear colleague Rod Gilmore's proclamation during ESPN's BCS selection special Sunday night.
"Let's welcome back the Big Ten to college football royalty," Gilmore said.
Perhaps we should hold off on crowning this league for a few more weeks.
Although the Big Ten maintained its momentum from a strong 2009-10 bowl season, the league still needs a strong finish to brand 2010 a success. The Big Ten lacked many signature nonconference wins -- it had some bad luck as teams like Miami and Notre Dame didn't meet expectations -- and few squads finished the regular season on a good note.
What can't be disputed is the Big Ten's strength at the top. Three teams went 11-1 and shared the Big Ten title -- Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan State -- and all three squads finished in the top 10 of the final BCS standings. No other conference had more than two squads in the top 10, and the Big Ten was the only league with a legitimate beef about the BCS's limit on two teams per conference.
Wisconsin finally took that critical step from good to great this fall, winning its final seven games, mostly in dominating fashion, while not compromising the program's core values. Michigan State was one of the best stories of the college football season, going from unranked to 11-1 with a share of the league crown. The Spartans repeatedly overcame adversity both on and off the field, showing that the program has truly taken a step under Mark Dantonio's leadership. Ohio State was, well, typical Ohio State, surging down the stretch behind a strong defense and an improved offense to record a record-tying sixth consecutive Big Ten championship.
The rest of the Big Ten? Meh.
After the big three, no other squad recorded more than seven victories. Iowa endured an extremely disappointing season, given the August hype, and lost its late-game mojo in shocking fashion. Northwestern and Michigan both started 5-0 before dropping five of their final seven contests. Penn State showed improvement as the season went on but lost convincingly to elite foes. Illinois made strides in all three phases and recorded some quality wins, but losses in three of its final four games combined with more maddening inconsistency left Illini fans feeling unsatisfied.
The league had a clearly defined bottom tier with Indiana, Minnesota and Purdue. The Boilers get a pass after enduring an unthinkable stretch of injuries to key players, although their inability to avoid major mistakes is a concern going forward. Minnesota endured a nine-game slide and became the first Big Ten school to fire its coach during the season since 2002. Indiana waited until the day after the season to fire coach Bill Lynch, as the Hoosiers once again couldn't get over the hump in Big Ten play.
Once again, the bowl games will serve as a proving ground for the Big Ten. If the league performs well, especially in the two BCS games, it could enter 2011 billed as the nation's top conference following the addition of Nebraska.
But if the league stumbles in the coming weeks, forget the crown. It will be back to court jester status.
Offensive MVP: Michigan QB Denard Robinson
It's a close call between Robinson and Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa, but there's no way Michigan gets to seven victories without "Shoelace." Robinson made his mark in the Michigan, Big Ten and NCAA record books, breaking the single-season FBS mark for quarterback rushing (1,643 yards) and becoming the first player in NCAA history to record 2,000 pass yards and 1,500 rush yards in a season. Although he slowed down against superior Big Ten competition, Robinson altered game plans and carried Michigan on his back for much of the season.
Defensive MVP: Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan
You can call him "Superman," and Kerrigan delivered a heroic performance for the Boilers. He led the nation in tackles for loss (26) and ranked third nationally in sacks (12.5). The consensus Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year tied for second nationally in forced fumbles with five and recovered two fumbles. Kerrigan recorded a tackle for loss in 11 of Purdue's 12 games and had multiple tackles for loss in seven contests. Just an absolute beast. Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt is a close second to Kerrigan. Watt made more game-changing plays than any Big Ten defender.
Coach of the Year: Michigan State's Mark Dantonio
Dantonio needed only four years to turn a chronic underachiever into a Big Ten champion. He fostered a new sense of mental toughness in his players after a rough season both on and off the field in 2009. Dantonio made two of the gutsiest calls of the college football season, "Little Giants" against Notre Dame and "Mousetrap" against Northwestern, and worked his way back to the sideline barely a month after suffering a heart attack Sept. 19. He certainly shares this honor with offensive coordinator Don Treadwell, who did a great job overseeing the team in Dantonio's absence. Wisconsin's Bret Bielema also merits a mention here.
Newcomer of the Year: Wisconsin RB James White
If you listed the Big Ten position groups least likely for a freshman to emerge entering the season, Wisconsin's running backs might be at the top. The Badgers returned 2009 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year John Clay as well as capable backup Montee Ball and veteran reserve Zach Brown. But true freshman James White hit the ground running as soon as preseason camp began and never looked back. The consensus Big Ten Freshman of the Year led Wisconsin and ranked fifth in the league with 1,029 rush yards, and he reached the end zone 14 times. White looked like Wisconsin's best back for much of the fall. Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase merits a mention here.
Biggest surprise: Michigan State
Those of us who study the league closely saw the potential with Michigan State entering the season. But after a rough 2009 and with a history of struggling to reach elite status, the Spartans were a tough sell. They ended up going from unranked in the preseason to 11-1, co-Big Ten champions and ninth in the final BCS standings (Michigan State rose to as high as No. 5). The biggest surprise for me wasn't necessarily that Michigan State won 11 games, but how it got there, by repeatedly overcoming adversity. These aren't your same ol' Spartans. Illinois merits a mention here after doubling its wins total from 2009.
Biggest disappointment: Iowa
The Hawkeyes claimed 11 wins and an Orange Bowl championship last season, and with a sizable senior class returning, expectations had been understandably elevated entering the fall. A preseason top 10 squad in both major polls, Iowa seemed to put its living-on-the-edge days behind it in the first two weeks. But the Hawkeyes couldn't complete a furious comeback at Arizona, setting the tone for a series of late-game problems. Iowa surrendered late touchdowns in all five of its losses and blew fourth-quarter leads in all four of its Big Ten defeats. A 7-5 record wasn't what anyone had in mind this year.
Game of the Year: Wisconsin 31, Iowa 30 (Oct. 23 at Kinnick Stadium)
Iowa fans likely won't agree with this choice, but the game not only provided the drama but largely shaped the Big Ten title race. Wisconsin had come off of a win against top-ranked Ohio State, but a loss in Iowa City likely would have eliminated the Badgers from the Big Ten championship chase. Iowa came in 2-0 in Big Ten play and would have been seen as the league title frontrunner had it won. The game featured eight lead changes and several huge performances by players on both teams. Iowa led 30-24 late in the fourth quarter when Wisconsin called a fake punt deep in its own territory -- Bielema called the play "chain" -- and moved the chains to keep the drive alive. The Badgers, playing without several key players because of injury, went on to score the game-winning touchdown as Iowa struggled to manage the clock in the final minute. Wisconsin won its final four games easily to secure its first league title and its first trip to the Rose Bowl in 11 years.
"Let's welcome back the Big Ten to college football royalty," Gilmore said.
Perhaps we should hold off on crowning this league for a few more weeks.
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AP Photo/Morry GashWisconsin finished as the highest ranked Big Ten school and earned a trip to the Rose Bowl for the first time in 11 years.
AP Photo/Morry GashWisconsin finished as the highest ranked Big Ten school and earned a trip to the Rose Bowl for the first time in 11 years.What can't be disputed is the Big Ten's strength at the top. Three teams went 11-1 and shared the Big Ten title -- Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan State -- and all three squads finished in the top 10 of the final BCS standings. No other conference had more than two squads in the top 10, and the Big Ten was the only league with a legitimate beef about the BCS's limit on two teams per conference.
Wisconsin finally took that critical step from good to great this fall, winning its final seven games, mostly in dominating fashion, while not compromising the program's core values. Michigan State was one of the best stories of the college football season, going from unranked to 11-1 with a share of the league crown. The Spartans repeatedly overcame adversity both on and off the field, showing that the program has truly taken a step under Mark Dantonio's leadership. Ohio State was, well, typical Ohio State, surging down the stretch behind a strong defense and an improved offense to record a record-tying sixth consecutive Big Ten championship.
The rest of the Big Ten? Meh.
After the big three, no other squad recorded more than seven victories. Iowa endured an extremely disappointing season, given the August hype, and lost its late-game mojo in shocking fashion. Northwestern and Michigan both started 5-0 before dropping five of their final seven contests. Penn State showed improvement as the season went on but lost convincingly to elite foes. Illinois made strides in all three phases and recorded some quality wins, but losses in three of its final four games combined with more maddening inconsistency left Illini fans feeling unsatisfied.
The league had a clearly defined bottom tier with Indiana, Minnesota and Purdue. The Boilers get a pass after enduring an unthinkable stretch of injuries to key players, although their inability to avoid major mistakes is a concern going forward. Minnesota endured a nine-game slide and became the first Big Ten school to fire its coach during the season since 2002. Indiana waited until the day after the season to fire coach Bill Lynch, as the Hoosiers once again couldn't get over the hump in Big Ten play.
Once again, the bowl games will serve as a proving ground for the Big Ten. If the league performs well, especially in the two BCS games, it could enter 2011 billed as the nation's top conference following the addition of Nebraska.
But if the league stumbles in the coming weeks, forget the crown. It will be back to court jester status.
Offensive MVP: Michigan QB Denard Robinson
It's a close call between Robinson and Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa, but there's no way Michigan gets to seven victories without "Shoelace." Robinson made his mark in the Michigan, Big Ten and NCAA record books, breaking the single-season FBS mark for quarterback rushing (1,643 yards) and becoming the first player in NCAA history to record 2,000 pass yards and 1,500 rush yards in a season. Although he slowed down against superior Big Ten competition, Robinson altered game plans and carried Michigan on his back for much of the season.
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AP Photo/John TerhuneRyan Kerrigan's 26 tackles for loss was the best in the nation
AP Photo/John TerhuneRyan Kerrigan's 26 tackles for loss was the best in the nationYou can call him "Superman," and Kerrigan delivered a heroic performance for the Boilers. He led the nation in tackles for loss (26) and ranked third nationally in sacks (12.5). The consensus Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year tied for second nationally in forced fumbles with five and recovered two fumbles. Kerrigan recorded a tackle for loss in 11 of Purdue's 12 games and had multiple tackles for loss in seven contests. Just an absolute beast. Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt is a close second to Kerrigan. Watt made more game-changing plays than any Big Ten defender.
Coach of the Year: Michigan State's Mark Dantonio
Dantonio needed only four years to turn a chronic underachiever into a Big Ten champion. He fostered a new sense of mental toughness in his players after a rough season both on and off the field in 2009. Dantonio made two of the gutsiest calls of the college football season, "Little Giants" against Notre Dame and "Mousetrap" against Northwestern, and worked his way back to the sideline barely a month after suffering a heart attack Sept. 19. He certainly shares this honor with offensive coordinator Don Treadwell, who did a great job overseeing the team in Dantonio's absence. Wisconsin's Bret Bielema also merits a mention here.
Newcomer of the Year: Wisconsin RB James White
If you listed the Big Ten position groups least likely for a freshman to emerge entering the season, Wisconsin's running backs might be at the top. The Badgers returned 2009 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year John Clay as well as capable backup Montee Ball and veteran reserve Zach Brown. But true freshman James White hit the ground running as soon as preseason camp began and never looked back. The consensus Big Ten Freshman of the Year led Wisconsin and ranked fifth in the league with 1,029 rush yards, and he reached the end zone 14 times. White looked like Wisconsin's best back for much of the fall. Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase merits a mention here.
Biggest surprise: Michigan State
Those of us who study the league closely saw the potential with Michigan State entering the season. But after a rough 2009 and with a history of struggling to reach elite status, the Spartans were a tough sell. They ended up going from unranked in the preseason to 11-1, co-Big Ten champions and ninth in the final BCS standings (Michigan State rose to as high as No. 5). The biggest surprise for me wasn't necessarily that Michigan State won 11 games, but how it got there, by repeatedly overcoming adversity. These aren't your same ol' Spartans. Illinois merits a mention here after doubling its wins total from 2009.
Biggest disappointment: Iowa
The Hawkeyes claimed 11 wins and an Orange Bowl championship last season, and with a sizable senior class returning, expectations had been understandably elevated entering the fall. A preseason top 10 squad in both major polls, Iowa seemed to put its living-on-the-edge days behind it in the first two weeks. But the Hawkeyes couldn't complete a furious comeback at Arizona, setting the tone for a series of late-game problems. Iowa surrendered late touchdowns in all five of its losses and blew fourth-quarter leads in all four of its Big Ten defeats. A 7-5 record wasn't what anyone had in mind this year.
Game of the Year: Wisconsin 31, Iowa 30 (Oct. 23 at Kinnick Stadium)
Iowa fans likely won't agree with this choice, but the game not only provided the drama but largely shaped the Big Ten title race. Wisconsin had come off of a win against top-ranked Ohio State, but a loss in Iowa City likely would have eliminated the Badgers from the Big Ten championship chase. Iowa came in 2-0 in Big Ten play and would have been seen as the league title frontrunner had it won. The game featured eight lead changes and several huge performances by players on both teams. Iowa led 30-24 late in the fourth quarter when Wisconsin called a fake punt deep in its own territory -- Bielema called the play "chain" -- and moved the chains to keep the drive alive. The Badgers, playing without several key players because of injury, went on to score the game-winning touchdown as Iowa struggled to manage the clock in the final minute. Wisconsin won its final four games easily to secure its first league title and its first trip to the Rose Bowl in 11 years.
The top may not be anything new, but there was plenty of change across the rest of the league in 2010.
For the first time since 2006, the Big 12 spent most of the second half of the season as a non-factor in the national championship race. When Missouri suffered a loss to Nebraska on Oct. 30, the league lost its final undefeated team.
For the first time since 2006, there won't be a Big 12 player at the Heisman ceremony.
Texas' freefall was one of the league's lowlights.
But none of that is enough to slap the "Down Year" tag on the Big 12 as a whole.
Nebraska and Colorado's departure was a storyline that colored the conference throughout the year, and 2010 began with three Big 12 teams in the top 10. One was Nebraska. When the Huskers decided to leave, the future of the Big 12 looked to be a two-team conference with one nationally-relevant game a year.
Thus, a challenge, explicit or otherwise, was issued.
Everyone wants to label things the Year of the This or Year of the That, but nothing personified the Big 12 more in 2010 than that challenge being answered rather emphatically.
This was The Year of the Rising Middle Class.
Oklahoma State, Missouri and Texas A&M aren't exactly college football blue bloods. They're all in the top 20, and poised to become mainstays. That gave the Big 12 five teams in the top 20 to end the year, made even more impressive considering the league's signature program, per se, is floundering at 5-7 and searching for a new offensive coordinator rather than preparing for a bowl game.
Recognizing the rise of the middle may be hard for some to realize, especially when the Oklahoma Sooners and Nebraska Cornhuskers -- two card-carrying, blue-blood programs -- were battling it out in the Big 12 title game. In the 15-year history of the game, Oklahoma participated eight times to Nebraska's six.
But if the ball bounces differently on a couple Saturdays, it could have just as easily been Missouri against Oklahoma State or Texas A&M, with the Tigers and Cowboys chasing their first-ever Big 12 title and Texas A&M looking for its first since 1998.
2010 conference champion Oklahoma may inject itself into the national championship picture in 2011. No one would be surprised by that. But considering two programs who historically have had problems scaling their own conference, let alone all of football -- Auburn and Oregon -- have a month to prepare for a national title game, it's not impossible for any of those three rising teams to do the same in 2011. All should return key contributors from 2010 teams and at the very least, have installed a balance to the Big 12 that hasn't always been there.
Baylor made its rise in 2010 and could continue to do so under Art Briles in 2011. Only Kansas ranks outside the top 60 in the computer rankings. The Jayhawks are the only team in the league that didn't have a chance to play for six wins and bowl eligibility. That's remarkable parity.
Nebraska will be gone. That undeniably weakens the league. But thanks to Oklahoma State, Missouri and Texas A&M, the Big 12 won't be starved for nationally relevant games after Red River is decided in early October, even without a national championship contender or a Big 12 championship game.
Now, time to pass out some awards:
Offensive MVP: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State:
No player in the Big 12 was a bigger game-breaker than Blackmon, and no player was more consistent. Even with an ankle injury late in the season that had him basically playing on one foot, he kept alive a streak of at least 100 yards and a receiving touchdown -- a streak that stands at 11 games. That's tied for an NCAA record, and the difficulty of doing so can't be underestimated. There are some great secondaries in the Big 12 -- Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas -- and none of them could stop, or really even slow Blackmon all that much. The Cowboys weren't held below 30 points this year with Blackmon in the lineup, and the idea of an offense putting up 41 points against Nebraska's defense is absurd looking back. What happened when the Cowboys had to play the Big 12's second-worst defense, Kansas State, without Blackmon? They scored 24 points. Enough said.
Defensive MVP: Von Miller, LB/DE, Texas A&M
Miller didn't win the award from the media or coaches, but he should have, and here's why: If you're handing out an award for conference player of the year, performance in conference games should be more heavily considered. In eight Big 12 games, no player was more disruptive to opposing offenses than Miller. Ask Oklahoma and Nebraska. His 8.5 sacks in those eight games are two more than any other player in the Big 12, and he tied Oklahoma's Jeremy Beal with 11.5 tackles for loss. He also tied for the conference lead with three forced fumbles, and sealed the season-ending win over Texas with his first career interception. In conference play, no defender played better, and an early-season ankle injury is the only reason Miller didn't put up equally impressive numbers in four nonconference games. Consider that his best games came in Texas A&M's biggest games. He had a combined 3.5 sacks against Oklahoma and Nebraska, with five tackles for loss in those games and also had 14 tackles with a forced fumble.
Coach of the Year: Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
This one's pretty simple. Gundy's team didn't have very much coming back and was picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 South. Instead, they won 10 games and came within an upset loss to Oklahoma of winning the division outright for the first time. Even though they didn't, Gundy still earned a share of the Big 12 South title for the first time.
Biggest surprise: Oklahoma State's offense
This goes along with Gundy, but consider this an award for Dana Holgorsen, who should have won the Frank Broyles Award as college football's top assistant coach. The Cowboys had a first-year quarterback who hadn't started a game in nine years. They had no proven receivers, and last year's leading receiver, Hubert Anyiam, sat out most of the year with an injury. Four new offensive linemen had to learn on the job, too. But Oklahoma State led the nation in total offense and ranked third in scoring. Blackmon emerged as a new star, and running back Kendall Hunter returned to his 2008 form, when he was an All-American.
Biggest disappointment: Texas
Anybody else come close, even nationally? I say no. The Longhorns were 2-5 at home, with wins over Wyoming and Florida Atlantic. They were blown out by UCLA and Kansas State. A team that began the season in the top 5 finished 5-7 and won't be bowling for the first time since 1997.
Game of the Year: Oklahoma 47, Oklahoma State 41
Find me another game this year with four touchdowns in 92 seconds inside the final five minutes of a game. And it's between two good teams? (Sorry, Kansas 52, Colorado 45) AND the game decided the Big 12 South? AND it's an in-state rivalry?
That's a recipe for a classic, and this one fit the bill.
For the first time since 2006, the Big 12 spent most of the second half of the season as a non-factor in the national championship race. When Missouri suffered a loss to Nebraska on Oct. 30, the league lost its final undefeated team.
For the first time since 2006, there won't be a Big 12 player at the Heisman ceremony.
Texas' freefall was one of the league's lowlights.
But none of that is enough to slap the "Down Year" tag on the Big 12 as a whole.
Nebraska and Colorado's departure was a storyline that colored the conference throughout the year, and 2010 began with three Big 12 teams in the top 10. One was Nebraska. When the Huskers decided to leave, the future of the Big 12 looked to be a two-team conference with one nationally-relevant game a year.
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Tom Pennington/Getty ImagesJeremy Beal and Oklahoma raised the championship trophy, but this was The Year of the Rising Middle Class in the Big 12.
Tom Pennington/Getty ImagesJeremy Beal and Oklahoma raised the championship trophy, but this was The Year of the Rising Middle Class in the Big 12.Everyone wants to label things the Year of the This or Year of the That, but nothing personified the Big 12 more in 2010 than that challenge being answered rather emphatically.
This was The Year of the Rising Middle Class.
Oklahoma State, Missouri and Texas A&M aren't exactly college football blue bloods. They're all in the top 20, and poised to become mainstays. That gave the Big 12 five teams in the top 20 to end the year, made even more impressive considering the league's signature program, per se, is floundering at 5-7 and searching for a new offensive coordinator rather than preparing for a bowl game.
Recognizing the rise of the middle may be hard for some to realize, especially when the Oklahoma Sooners and Nebraska Cornhuskers -- two card-carrying, blue-blood programs -- were battling it out in the Big 12 title game. In the 15-year history of the game, Oklahoma participated eight times to Nebraska's six.
But if the ball bounces differently on a couple Saturdays, it could have just as easily been Missouri against Oklahoma State or Texas A&M, with the Tigers and Cowboys chasing their first-ever Big 12 title and Texas A&M looking for its first since 1998.
2010 conference champion Oklahoma may inject itself into the national championship picture in 2011. No one would be surprised by that. But considering two programs who historically have had problems scaling their own conference, let alone all of football -- Auburn and Oregon -- have a month to prepare for a national title game, it's not impossible for any of those three rising teams to do the same in 2011. All should return key contributors from 2010 teams and at the very least, have installed a balance to the Big 12 that hasn't always been there.
Baylor made its rise in 2010 and could continue to do so under Art Briles in 2011. Only Kansas ranks outside the top 60 in the computer rankings. The Jayhawks are the only team in the league that didn't have a chance to play for six wins and bowl eligibility. That's remarkable parity.
Nebraska will be gone. That undeniably weakens the league. But thanks to Oklahoma State, Missouri and Texas A&M, the Big 12 won't be starved for nationally relevant games after Red River is decided in early October, even without a national championship contender or a Big 12 championship game.
Now, time to pass out some awards:
Offensive MVP: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State:
No player in the Big 12 was a bigger game-breaker than Blackmon, and no player was more consistent. Even with an ankle injury late in the season that had him basically playing on one foot, he kept alive a streak of at least 100 yards and a receiving touchdown -- a streak that stands at 11 games. That's tied for an NCAA record, and the difficulty of doing so can't be underestimated. There are some great secondaries in the Big 12 -- Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas -- and none of them could stop, or really even slow Blackmon all that much. The Cowboys weren't held below 30 points this year with Blackmon in the lineup, and the idea of an offense putting up 41 points against Nebraska's defense is absurd looking back. What happened when the Cowboys had to play the Big 12's second-worst defense, Kansas State, without Blackmon? They scored 24 points. Enough said.
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AP Photo/Dave EinselIn Big 12 play alone, no defensive player dominated like Texas A&M's Von Miller.
AP Photo/Dave EinselIn Big 12 play alone, no defensive player dominated like Texas A&M's Von Miller.Miller didn't win the award from the media or coaches, but he should have, and here's why: If you're handing out an award for conference player of the year, performance in conference games should be more heavily considered. In eight Big 12 games, no player was more disruptive to opposing offenses than Miller. Ask Oklahoma and Nebraska. His 8.5 sacks in those eight games are two more than any other player in the Big 12, and he tied Oklahoma's Jeremy Beal with 11.5 tackles for loss. He also tied for the conference lead with three forced fumbles, and sealed the season-ending win over Texas with his first career interception. In conference play, no defender played better, and an early-season ankle injury is the only reason Miller didn't put up equally impressive numbers in four nonconference games. Consider that his best games came in Texas A&M's biggest games. He had a combined 3.5 sacks against Oklahoma and Nebraska, with five tackles for loss in those games and also had 14 tackles with a forced fumble.
Coach of the Year: Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
This one's pretty simple. Gundy's team didn't have very much coming back and was picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 South. Instead, they won 10 games and came within an upset loss to Oklahoma of winning the division outright for the first time. Even though they didn't, Gundy still earned a share of the Big 12 South title for the first time.
Biggest surprise: Oklahoma State's offense
This goes along with Gundy, but consider this an award for Dana Holgorsen, who should have won the Frank Broyles Award as college football's top assistant coach. The Cowboys had a first-year quarterback who hadn't started a game in nine years. They had no proven receivers, and last year's leading receiver, Hubert Anyiam, sat out most of the year with an injury. Four new offensive linemen had to learn on the job, too. But Oklahoma State led the nation in total offense and ranked third in scoring. Blackmon emerged as a new star, and running back Kendall Hunter returned to his 2008 form, when he was an All-American.
Biggest disappointment: Texas
Anybody else come close, even nationally? I say no. The Longhorns were 2-5 at home, with wins over Wyoming and Florida Atlantic. They were blown out by UCLA and Kansas State. A team that began the season in the top 5 finished 5-7 and won't be bowling for the first time since 1997.
Game of the Year: Oklahoma 47, Oklahoma State 41
Find me another game this year with four touchdowns in 92 seconds inside the final five minutes of a game. And it's between two good teams? (Sorry, Kansas 52, Colorado 45) AND the game decided the Big 12 South? AND it's an in-state rivalry?
That's a recipe for a classic, and this one fit the bill.
The entire season seemed to center around Virginia Tech -- first its failure, and ultimately, its success. The ACC once again placed its national championship hopes in the hands of the Hokies, but that faded fast with the season-opening loss to Boise State. Five days and an inexplicable loss later, Virginia Tech seemed doomed. The Hokies were the joke of the ACC after their loss to James Madison, but nobody in the program was laughing. Instead, they were planning their turnaround. Virginia Tech hasn’t lost since, and will represent the ACC against Stanford in the Discover Orange Bowl.
With the exception of its 0-2 start, Virginia Tech was the most consistent team in the ACC and the clear-cut favorite to win the Coastal Division. Georgia Tech simply wasn’t as good as it was when it won the title in 2009, Miami failed to take another step forward in the fourth season under Randy Shannon, and North Carolina beat itself with NCAA investigations that ultimately derailed the careers of 14 players. The Tar Heels made the headlines for all of the wrong reasons in the first half of the season, but much like Virginia Tech fought back after an 0-2 start to become bowl-eligible. Instead of getting better as the season progressed, Miami seemed to take a step back, losing to Virginia and, in the season finale, to South Florida. Shannon was fired hours later and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland was named interim head coach and tasked with picking up the pieces.
The Atlantic Division race turned out to be the more entertaining, as NC State and Maryland were surprise contenders in late November. Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen earned the ACC’s Coach of the Year for the second-best turnaround in the FBS, transforming his 2-10 2009 season to an eight-win team that was bowl eligible before November. The Terps rebounded from their loss to Florida State and played the spoiler role against NC State in the season finale. Good seasons could have been great ones for both Maryland and NC State, but neither took advantage of the opportunity and Florida State snuck into the title game in Jimbo Fisher’s first year.
It was a signature season for Fisher, who managed to put his stamp on the program just one year after replacing legendary coach Bobby Bowden. Not only did the Seminoles finish 6-2, they were able to beat rival Florida for the first time since 2003, a span of six games. Florida State ended the season as the only team in the state ranked in the BCS standings, beating both Miami and Florida in convincing fashion.
It was a much-needed win against the SEC, as the ACC once again struggled in its nonconference games. With five teams ranked in the preseason polls and only two -- Florida State and Virginia Tech -- still standing in the final BCS standings, the ACC didn’t underachieve it was overrated.
Greg M. Cooper/US PresswireTyrod Taylor finished the season with 2,521 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and a passer rating of 159.04.Offensive MVP: Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor. With three touchdowns against FSU in the title game, Taylor set the school single-season record for touchdown passes with 23. He was the game’s MVP for the second time in his career, and will leave as the winningest quarterback in school history.
Defensive MVP: Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers. The Bronko Nagurski winner is a big-play pass rusher who led the nation in quarterback sacks with 15.5 (1.29 a game). He was second in the country in tackles for loss with 24.5 (151 yards). He had nine tackles, one quarterback sack, two tackles for loss and a pass interception in the Tigers' 16-13 loss to Florida State.
Newcomer of the year: Maryland quarterback Danny O'Brien: He has thrown 21 touchdown passes and just six interceptions. His touchdown total ranks second in school history, while his interception percentage of 1.90 (six picks in 315 attempts) leads all FBS freshmen quarterbacks.
Coach of the Year: Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer: This might have been the best coaching job of Beamer’s career. He rallied his team from an 0-2 start and guided them on an 11-game winning streak, the best turnaround in FBS history. The Hokies became the first team to go undefeated in league play since Florida State in 2000.
Biggest surprise: Maryland. The Terps were picked to finish last in the Atlantic Division and coach Ralph Friedgen’s job was on the line, but Maryland completed the second-best turnaround in the FBS behind Miami (Ohio) and won eight games after a 2-10 season in 2009.
Biggest disappointment: Miami. North Carolina rivaled the Canes for this spot, but considering the way Miami finished the season -– with a loss to South Florida and the firing of Randy Shannon -– it was well below expectations for a team with a veteran quarterback and coach.
Game of the year: Virginia Tech 41, NC State 30. It was one of the most impressive comebacks in school history, as the Hokies rallied from a 17-point deficit and to beat No. 23 NC State on the road. It was a game that put Virginia Tech in the driver’s seat for the Coastal Division race and prevented NC State from doing the same.
With the exception of its 0-2 start, Virginia Tech was the most consistent team in the ACC and the clear-cut favorite to win the Coastal Division. Georgia Tech simply wasn’t as good as it was when it won the title in 2009, Miami failed to take another step forward in the fourth season under Randy Shannon, and North Carolina beat itself with NCAA investigations that ultimately derailed the careers of 14 players. The Tar Heels made the headlines for all of the wrong reasons in the first half of the season, but much like Virginia Tech fought back after an 0-2 start to become bowl-eligible. Instead of getting better as the season progressed, Miami seemed to take a step back, losing to Virginia and, in the season finale, to South Florida. Shannon was fired hours later and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland was named interim head coach and tasked with picking up the pieces.
The Atlantic Division race turned out to be the more entertaining, as NC State and Maryland were surprise contenders in late November. Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen earned the ACC’s Coach of the Year for the second-best turnaround in the FBS, transforming his 2-10 2009 season to an eight-win team that was bowl eligible before November. The Terps rebounded from their loss to Florida State and played the spoiler role against NC State in the season finale. Good seasons could have been great ones for both Maryland and NC State, but neither took advantage of the opportunity and Florida State snuck into the title game in Jimbo Fisher’s first year.
It was a signature season for Fisher, who managed to put his stamp on the program just one year after replacing legendary coach Bobby Bowden. Not only did the Seminoles finish 6-2, they were able to beat rival Florida for the first time since 2003, a span of six games. Florida State ended the season as the only team in the state ranked in the BCS standings, beating both Miami and Florida in convincing fashion.
It was a much-needed win against the SEC, as the ACC once again struggled in its nonconference games. With five teams ranked in the preseason polls and only two -- Florida State and Virginia Tech -- still standing in the final BCS standings, the ACC didn’t underachieve it was overrated.
Greg M. Cooper/US PresswireTyrod Taylor finished the season with 2,521 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and a passer rating of 159.04.Defensive MVP: Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers. The Bronko Nagurski winner is a big-play pass rusher who led the nation in quarterback sacks with 15.5 (1.29 a game). He was second in the country in tackles for loss with 24.5 (151 yards). He had nine tackles, one quarterback sack, two tackles for loss and a pass interception in the Tigers' 16-13 loss to Florida State.
Newcomer of the year: Maryland quarterback Danny O'Brien: He has thrown 21 touchdown passes and just six interceptions. His touchdown total ranks second in school history, while his interception percentage of 1.90 (six picks in 315 attempts) leads all FBS freshmen quarterbacks.
Coach of the Year: Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer: This might have been the best coaching job of Beamer’s career. He rallied his team from an 0-2 start and guided them on an 11-game winning streak, the best turnaround in FBS history. The Hokies became the first team to go undefeated in league play since Florida State in 2000.
Biggest surprise: Maryland. The Terps were picked to finish last in the Atlantic Division and coach Ralph Friedgen’s job was on the line, but Maryland completed the second-best turnaround in the FBS behind Miami (Ohio) and won eight games after a 2-10 season in 2009.
Biggest disappointment: Miami. North Carolina rivaled the Canes for this spot, but considering the way Miami finished the season -– with a loss to South Florida and the firing of Randy Shannon -– it was well below expectations for a team with a veteran quarterback and coach.
Game of the year: Virginia Tech 41, NC State 30. It was one of the most impressive comebacks in school history, as the Hokies rallied from a 17-point deficit and to beat No. 23 NC State on the road. It was a game that put Virginia Tech in the driver’s seat for the Coastal Division race and prevented NC State from doing the same.
The big storyline going into 2010: Could this be the year for a team from a non-automatic qualifying conference to make history and land in the BCS national championship game?
History was definitely made, but in a slightly different way.
No. 3 TCU carried the torch for the non-AQs everywhere, going undefeated for the second straight regular season and landing a spot in the prestigious Rose Bowl -- the fifth team to play in the game from outside the Big Ten or Pac-10 in the BCS era. The Horned Frogs will face Wisconsin in what is shaping up to be a must-win, for the sake of credibility.
Of course, the Horned Frogs are the first non-AQ team to play in that game, and have now become the first non-AQ team to land back-to-back BCS berths after playing in the Fiesta Bowl last season.
And to think just three short weeks ago, all eyes were on Boise State. The Broncos were also undefeated and ranked right behind TCU in the BCS standings. But many people figured if they won out, they would leap the Horned Frogs as the top non-AQ school.
The two had spent the entire season jockeying for position. Both started out ranked in the AP preseason poll -- Boise State at No. 3 and TCU at No. 6. Both returned most of their starters, including veteran quarterbacks. Both seemed poised to make that push for history, since no other non-AQ team had ever started the season ranked so high.
But then Nov. 26 happened.
Boise State walked into Reno to play Nevada needing two more wins, with a potential BCS berth on the line. The Broncos jumped out to a 24-7 halftime lead, but that all vanished. Kyle Brotzman missed a 26-yard field goal that would have won it in regulation, then a 29-yarder on the first possession of overtime. Nevada kicker Anthony Martinez nailed his field goal, and Nevada won 34-31, breaking Boise State hearts everywhere.
TCU got the BCS spot. Boise State ended up in Las Vegas, perhaps a perfect place to forget their sorrows.
But what happened to No. 10 Boise State was no fluke -- and neither was the WAC. Nevada posted the best season in school history at 12-1 and finished No. 15 in the BCS standings. No. 24 Hawaii also won 10 games, and the three shared the league championship. They also ended the season ranked in the Top 25 -- the first time the WAC has had three ranked teams since 1997. The Mountain West, usually the standard-bearer for the non-AQs only had two teams ranked.
As for history being made, there was plenty of that in the other non-AQ conferences. UCF earned the first ranking in school history this year en route to the Conference USA championship. FIU won its first Sun Belt championship and got the first bowl bid in school history. And Miami (Ohio) had the best turnaround in college football this season, turning a 1-11 season into a 9-4 season with a conference title.
In addition to all that, Air Force, Army and Navy are all in bowl games for the first time in the same season.
Offensive MVP: Kellen Moore, Boise State and Colin Kaepernick, Nevada. If the WAC can vote them Co-Offensive Players of the Year, then so can I. Both were outstanding for their respective teams. Moore is the first Heisman finalist in school history after throwing for 3,506 yards, 33 touchdowns and five interceptions. Kaepernick put his team on his back, and joined Cam Newton and Tim Tebow as the only players to run for 20 touchdowns and pass for 20 touchdowns in one season.
Defensive MVP: Tank Carder, TCU. You have to give the nod to the leader on the best defensive unit in the country. TCU ranks No. 1 in total defense for an incredible third straight season. His stats don’t jump off the page -- 54 tackles, 2.5 sacks -- but they don’t have to when you do so many other things to help your team win.
Newcomer of the year: Ronnie Hillman, RB, San Diego State. Well, I got one of my preseason predictions right. Hillman had a year to remember for the Aztecs, set the Mountain West freshman rushing record with 1,304 yards and 14 touchdowns en route to league Freshman of the Year honors. Don’t be surprised if his name pops up in Heisman talk in the next few years.
Coach of the year: Chris Ault, Nevada. This was a tough one with so many worthy candidates. TCU coach Gary Patterson, Miami (Ohio) coach Mike Haywood and San Diego State coach Brady Hoke all deserve consideration. But Ault took his team to the best season in school history, and his Pistol offense is all the rage.
Biggest surprise: Miami (Ohio). As I mentioned above, going from 1-11 to 9-4 is quite an accomplishment for the RedHawks and Haywood. This is a team that was predicted to finish fifth out of seven teams in the MAC East. Now they have rings.
Biggest disappointment: BYU. I got this preseason prediction right as well. The Cougars had won 10 or more games in four straight seasons, but they could not get anything going offensively in 2010 after struggling at quarterback and failing to find any consistent playmakers.
Game of the year: Nevada 34, Boise State 31 (OT). The game was an instant classic. It changed the course of the non-AQ season, and also gave Nevada its first ever win over a Top 5 opponent.
History was definitely made, but in a slightly different way.
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Mark J. Rebilas/US PresswireTCU quarterback Andy Dalton led the Horned Frogs to an undefeated season and a Rose Bowl berth.
Mark J. Rebilas/US PresswireTCU quarterback Andy Dalton led the Horned Frogs to an undefeated season and a Rose Bowl berth.Of course, the Horned Frogs are the first non-AQ team to play in that game, and have now become the first non-AQ team to land back-to-back BCS berths after playing in the Fiesta Bowl last season.
And to think just three short weeks ago, all eyes were on Boise State. The Broncos were also undefeated and ranked right behind TCU in the BCS standings. But many people figured if they won out, they would leap the Horned Frogs as the top non-AQ school.
The two had spent the entire season jockeying for position. Both started out ranked in the AP preseason poll -- Boise State at No. 3 and TCU at No. 6. Both returned most of their starters, including veteran quarterbacks. Both seemed poised to make that push for history, since no other non-AQ team had ever started the season ranked so high.
But then Nov. 26 happened.
Boise State walked into Reno to play Nevada needing two more wins, with a potential BCS berth on the line. The Broncos jumped out to a 24-7 halftime lead, but that all vanished. Kyle Brotzman missed a 26-yard field goal that would have won it in regulation, then a 29-yarder on the first possession of overtime. Nevada kicker Anthony Martinez nailed his field goal, and Nevada won 34-31, breaking Boise State hearts everywhere.
TCU got the BCS spot. Boise State ended up in Las Vegas, perhaps a perfect place to forget their sorrows.
But what happened to No. 10 Boise State was no fluke -- and neither was the WAC. Nevada posted the best season in school history at 12-1 and finished No. 15 in the BCS standings. No. 24 Hawaii also won 10 games, and the three shared the league championship. They also ended the season ranked in the Top 25 -- the first time the WAC has had three ranked teams since 1997. The Mountain West, usually the standard-bearer for the non-AQs only had two teams ranked.
As for history being made, there was plenty of that in the other non-AQ conferences. UCF earned the first ranking in school history this year en route to the Conference USA championship. FIU won its first Sun Belt championship and got the first bowl bid in school history. And Miami (Ohio) had the best turnaround in college football this season, turning a 1-11 season into a 9-4 season with a conference title.
In addition to all that, Air Force, Army and Navy are all in bowl games for the first time in the same season.
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AP Photo/Greg Wahl-StephensKellen Moore's 33 touchdown passes made him a Heisman finalist.
AP Photo/Greg Wahl-StephensKellen Moore's 33 touchdown passes made him a Heisman finalist.Defensive MVP: Tank Carder, TCU. You have to give the nod to the leader on the best defensive unit in the country. TCU ranks No. 1 in total defense for an incredible third straight season. His stats don’t jump off the page -- 54 tackles, 2.5 sacks -- but they don’t have to when you do so many other things to help your team win.
Newcomer of the year: Ronnie Hillman, RB, San Diego State. Well, I got one of my preseason predictions right. Hillman had a year to remember for the Aztecs, set the Mountain West freshman rushing record with 1,304 yards and 14 touchdowns en route to league Freshman of the Year honors. Don’t be surprised if his name pops up in Heisman talk in the next few years.
Coach of the year: Chris Ault, Nevada. This was a tough one with so many worthy candidates. TCU coach Gary Patterson, Miami (Ohio) coach Mike Haywood and San Diego State coach Brady Hoke all deserve consideration. But Ault took his team to the best season in school history, and his Pistol offense is all the rage.
Biggest surprise: Miami (Ohio). As I mentioned above, going from 1-11 to 9-4 is quite an accomplishment for the RedHawks and Haywood. This is a team that was predicted to finish fifth out of seven teams in the MAC East. Now they have rings.
Biggest disappointment: BYU. I got this preseason prediction right as well. The Cougars had won 10 or more games in four straight seasons, but they could not get anything going offensively in 2010 after struggling at quarterback and failing to find any consistent playmakers.
Game of the year: Nevada 34, Boise State 31 (OT). The game was an instant classic. It changed the course of the non-AQ season, and also gave Nevada its first ever win over a Top 5 opponent.
Wrapping up the Big East regular season
December, 8, 2010
12/08/10
9:00
AM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
In 2009, the Big East title came down to one game in the final week of the season. Cincinnati outlasted Pittsburgh in a 45-44 instant classic.
This year, the Big East title came to down to the last game of the regular season. Connecticut outslugged South Florida 19-16 during which the first -- and only -- offensive touchdown wasn't scored until the fourth quarter.
That disparity summed things up for the league this year. There were no dominant teams, no marquee nonconference victories, no national title contenders. Heck, there were no ranked teams most of the fall. Every team had major flaws, and the league race was marked by a lack of crisp execution -- at least on the offensive end.
West Virginia coach Bill Stewart calls the Big East a "black-and-blue" league, and that was definitely true in 2010. His Mountaineers finished second nationally in scoring defense, and six of the eight conference teams ranked among the top-23 nationally in that statistic. That owed to some excellent defensive performances, but also to the offensive issues that each team faced.
Pittsburgh and Rutgers dealt with offensive line problems. South Florida and Connecticut went through quarterback struggles. West Virginia and Cincinnati couldn't hold onto the ball. Injuries hurt Syracuse and Louisville.
Offensive inefficiency should probably have been expected, given that five league teams opened the year with sophomore starting quarterbacks. An inability to score contributed to the Big East's putrid 3-12 record against BCS auto-bid conference opponents. But one benefit of mediocrity: it created an exciting and unpredictable league title chase.
Every league team had hope of winning the BCS bid at some point. Syracuse and Louisville, which had nested in the cellar the past three years, both rose up and made bowls. Cincinnati, the two-time league champ, came back to the pack and then got lapped. Rutgers hit rock bottom. South Florida reversed its trend and played better in October and November than September. West Virginia started slow and finished strong in league play, while Pitt took the opposite track.
In the end, though, Connecticut got hot at the right time, winning its final five league games to claim its first-ever BCS bid. In other years, an 8-4 record and finish outside the Top 25 of the BCS standings wouldn't be nearly good enough to win the Big East. But this wasn't like other years, and the conference can only hope it was a one-year dip on the way to a brighter future.
Offensive MVP: Jordan Todman, RB, Connecticut
Todman finished second in the country in rushing yards per game and carried the weight of the offense on his shoulders during the Huskies' season-ending five-game winning streak. He averaged more than 30 carries per game in that span. No way UConn makes a BCS game without him.
Defensive MVP: Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh
Opposing offenses double-teamed him more than any other Big East player, and yet he still could not be blocked. He finished with nine sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. Pitt barely missed the injured Greg Romeus because of Sheard's play.
Newcomer of the year: Bruce Irvin, DE, West Virginia
I initially resisted giving this award to Irvin because he was such a specialist; the junior-college transfer played almost exclusively on third down as a pass-rushing artist. But he did what he did so well, leading the Big East with 12 sacks in that limited role. It's scary to think what he could do next year in a full-time job.
Coach of the year: Doug Marrone, Syracuse
In a narrow nod over Louisville's Charlie Strong, Marrone gets the call for leading Syracuse back to a bowl for the first time since 2004 and winning four conference road games. The Orange stumbled at the end of the season but were still in the mix for the league's BCS bid until their final conference game.
Biggest surprise: (tie) Syracuse and Louisville
You couldn't find a whole lot of people this summer who were picking either the Orange or the Cardinals to get to a bowl. That both did says a lot about the upside-down nature of this season.
Biggest disappointment: Pittsburgh
Rutgers and Cincinnati disappointed, too, in finishing 4-8 each. But Pitt was ranked No. 15 to start the year and had the talent to do great things. The Panthers went 7-5, and it cost Dave Wannstedt his job.
Game of the year: Connecticut 16, West Virginia 13 (OT), Oct. 29
We didn't know it at the time, but this was the de facto Big East title game. It was a sloppy game in which West Virginia fumbled seven times and lost four of them, including one at the goal line in overtime. There wasn't much scoring -- only two total touchdowns. Connecticut used grit and toughness to surprisingly come out on top. In other words, this was the perfect microcosm of the Big East 2010 season.
This year, the Big East title came to down to the last game of the regular season. Connecticut outslugged South Florida 19-16 during which the first -- and only -- offensive touchdown wasn't scored until the fourth quarter.
That disparity summed things up for the league this year. There were no dominant teams, no marquee nonconference victories, no national title contenders. Heck, there were no ranked teams most of the fall. Every team had major flaws, and the league race was marked by a lack of crisp execution -- at least on the offensive end.
West Virginia coach Bill Stewart calls the Big East a "black-and-blue" league, and that was definitely true in 2010. His Mountaineers finished second nationally in scoring defense, and six of the eight conference teams ranked among the top-23 nationally in that statistic. That owed to some excellent defensive performances, but also to the offensive issues that each team faced.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Fred BeckhamConnecticut rode running back Jordan Todman and his 1,574 yards to a Big East title and a BCS berth.
AP Photo/Fred BeckhamConnecticut rode running back Jordan Todman and his 1,574 yards to a Big East title and a BCS berth.Offensive inefficiency should probably have been expected, given that five league teams opened the year with sophomore starting quarterbacks. An inability to score contributed to the Big East's putrid 3-12 record against BCS auto-bid conference opponents. But one benefit of mediocrity: it created an exciting and unpredictable league title chase.
Every league team had hope of winning the BCS bid at some point. Syracuse and Louisville, which had nested in the cellar the past three years, both rose up and made bowls. Cincinnati, the two-time league champ, came back to the pack and then got lapped. Rutgers hit rock bottom. South Florida reversed its trend and played better in October and November than September. West Virginia started slow and finished strong in league play, while Pitt took the opposite track.
In the end, though, Connecticut got hot at the right time, winning its final five league games to claim its first-ever BCS bid. In other years, an 8-4 record and finish outside the Top 25 of the BCS standings wouldn't be nearly good enough to win the Big East. But this wasn't like other years, and the conference can only hope it was a one-year dip on the way to a brighter future.
Offensive MVP: Jordan Todman, RB, Connecticut
Todman finished second in the country in rushing yards per game and carried the weight of the offense on his shoulders during the Huskies' season-ending five-game winning streak. He averaged more than 30 carries per game in that span. No way UConn makes a BCS game without him.
Defensive MVP: Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh
Opposing offenses double-teamed him more than any other Big East player, and yet he still could not be blocked. He finished with nine sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. Pitt barely missed the injured Greg Romeus because of Sheard's play.
Newcomer of the year: Bruce Irvin, DE, West Virginia
I initially resisted giving this award to Irvin because he was such a specialist; the junior-college transfer played almost exclusively on third down as a pass-rushing artist. But he did what he did so well, leading the Big East with 12 sacks in that limited role. It's scary to think what he could do next year in a full-time job.
Coach of the year: Doug Marrone, Syracuse
In a narrow nod over Louisville's Charlie Strong, Marrone gets the call for leading Syracuse back to a bowl for the first time since 2004 and winning four conference road games. The Orange stumbled at the end of the season but were still in the mix for the league's BCS bid until their final conference game.
Biggest surprise: (tie) Syracuse and Louisville
You couldn't find a whole lot of people this summer who were picking either the Orange or the Cardinals to get to a bowl. That both did says a lot about the upside-down nature of this season.
Biggest disappointment: Pittsburgh
Rutgers and Cincinnati disappointed, too, in finishing 4-8 each. But Pitt was ranked No. 15 to start the year and had the talent to do great things. The Panthers went 7-5, and it cost Dave Wannstedt his job.
Game of the year: Connecticut 16, West Virginia 13 (OT), Oct. 29
We didn't know it at the time, but this was the de facto Big East title game. It was a sloppy game in which West Virginia fumbled seven times and lost four of them, including one at the goal line in overtime. There wasn't much scoring -- only two total touchdowns. Connecticut used grit and toughness to surprisingly come out on top. In other words, this was the perfect microcosm of the Big East 2010 season.
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