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The official list for the NFL combine has been released. A total of 48 players from the ACC have been invited to audition for the NFL from February 23 – March 1. When categorized by school, it's somewhat of a reality check to see how many of the best players in the conference are moving on, and which programs will take the biggest hit. It's impossible not to wonder how good North Carolina could have been had all of the following players remained eligible. The Tar Heels will send the most players to the combine with 11.

Here are the players who will represent the ACC:

BOSTON COLLEGE (3)

• Anthony Castonzo
• Rich Lapham
• Mark Herzlich

CLEMSON (7)

• Da'Quan Bowers
• Marcus Gilchrist
• Chris Hairston
• Jamie Harper
• Jarvis Jenkins
• Byron Maxwell
• DeAndre McDaniel

FLORIDA STATE (3)

• Rodney Hudson
• Christian Ponder
• Markus White

GEORGIA TECH (3)

• Anthony Allen
• Mario Butler
• Jerrard Tarrant

MARYLAND (3)

• Torrey Smith
• Adrian Moten
• Da'Rel Scott

MIAMI (9)

• Allen Bailey
• Damien Berry
• Matt Bosher
• Orlando Franklin
• Graig Cooper
• Leonard Hankerson
• Brandon Harris
• Colin McCarthy
• DeMarcus Van Dyke

NORTH CAROLINA (11)

• Marvin Austin
• Kendric Burney
• Bruce Carter
• Greg Little
• Shaun Draughn
• Robert Quinn
• Da'Norris Searcy
• Quan Sturdivant
• Johnny White
• Deunta Williams
• T.J. Yates

NC STATE (2)

• Nate Irving
• Owen Spencer

VIRGINIA (2)

• Danny Aiken
• Ras-I Dowling

VIRGINIA TECH (5)

• Rashad Carmichael
• Darren Evans
• John Graves
• Tyrod Taylor
• Ryan Williams

It's a question I get asked pretty often: What was the best atmosphere of any game in the Big 12 this season?

Now, to be fair, I can't weigh in on games I didn't attend this year, so you can find the list of games I did attend this year at the bottom of this post.

But until then, here's my top 5:

1. Texas A&M vs. Nebraska: This game was in a league of its own in 2010. The white towel-waving 12th Man was out in deafening force, making life hard on Nebraska and spurring their team to a season-defining 9-6 win over Nebraska to validate the Aggies late-season charge. The postgame field-storming was a nice touch for the seniors' final game at Kyle Field, too. Wrecking Crew? Yes sir, they showed up in this one.

2. Missouri vs. Oklahoma: Missouri had never beaten a No. 1 team. Coach Gary Pinkel had never beaten Oklahoma or Texas. Pinkel, Blaine Gabbert and the Tigers did it on homecoming with a prime-time audience. A record-breaking 18,000 fans showed up to ESPN's pregame show, "College GameDay," that morning, and a sellout crowd was raucous from start to finish later that night. Gahn McGaffie's touchdown return on the opening kick sent Faurot Field over the top, and Missouri stayed undefeated with a 36-27 win over the Sooners and celebrated with a field-storming of their own and a chance to take the goal posts back to Harpo's in downtown Columbia to be sliced up with hacksaws and distributed to fans.

3. Nebraska vs. Missouri: Nebraska gets credit for one quarter, but that's all it took to KO Missouri in the de facto Big 12 North championship game. The crowd showed up early and was buzzing for the early afternoon kickoff, but the Huskers led 24-0 after one quarter and won 31-17 on the back of a 307-yard rushing day from Roy Helu Jr., who sent the traditional red balloons floating out of Memorial Stadium early with a 66-yard touchdown run on Nebraska's first offensive play.

4. Oklahoma vs. Florida State: The Sooner fans knew their team's home winning streak -- the nation's longest -- was in jeopardy with Florida State coming to town, and they did their part, being consistently loud and helping contribute to a rough day for Seminoles quarterback Christian Ponder, whose Heisman hopes came to a screeching halt. The Sooners did their part, too, sending the crowd further into a frenzy by scoring 37 consecutive points in the 47-17 win.

5. Texas vs. Oklahoma: There's no atmosphere like it anywhere else in the Big 12, and as usual, the Red River Rivalry delivered a great game and a great performance from the fans. There wasn't quite as much at stake this year as in past games at the State Fair of Texas, but the Sooners' 28-10 fourth-quarter lead was nearly erased. A late fumble from Landry Jones trickled out of bounds to let the half of the Cotton Bowl wearing red exhale in a 28-20 victory.

Honorable mention: Texas A&M vs. LSU, Oklahoma vs. Nebraska

Here are games I attended that were up for consideration:

• Week 1: SMU at Texas Tech
• Week 2: Florida State at Oklahoma
• Week 3: Texas at Texas Tech
• Week 4: UCLA at Texas
• Week 5: Oklahoma vs. Texas in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas
• Week 6: Nebraska at Kansas State; Texas A&M vs. Arkansas at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas
• Week 7: Missouri at Texas A&M
• Week 8: Oklahoma at Missouri
• Week 9: Missouri at Nebraska
• Week 10: Baylor at Oklahoma State
• Week 11: Nebraska at Texas A&M
• Week 12: Oklahoma at Oklahoma State
• Championship Week: Oklahoma vs. Nebraska at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas
• Bowls: Oklahoma vs. Connecticut (Fiesta Bowl); Texas A&M vs. LSU (Cotton Bowl)

Here’s a quick recap of Florida State’s 26-17 win against South Carolina:

How the game was won: With two of the game’s top offensive players -- Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder and South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore -- sidelined with injuries in the first half the difference in the game was Florida State’s defense. Greg Reid, Brandon Jenkins and Markus White – just to name a few – were all over the field and Jenkins was in Stephen Garcia’s face late in the fourth quarter. South Carolina didn’t give itself much of a chance to win with five turnovers, and couldn't stop the Noles' running game.

Stat of the game: South Carolina had four turnovers in the first half and finished with three interceptions and two fumbles. Florida State wasn't always able to capitalize on them, but it's hard to win when you don't have the ball, and South Carolina surrendered it five too many times.

Player of the game: Cornerback Greg Reid. He had five tackles, two forced fumbles, and four pass breakups, not to mention his contributions as a punt returner with 71 yards. He also delivered the hit on Marcus Lattimore that knocked him out of the game and caused a fumble.

Unsung hero of the game: FSU running back Chris Thompson. He had 24 carries for 142 yards and a touchdown, and two catches for 17 yards. His 27-yard touchdown run in the second quarter put FSU ahead 13-0.

What Florida State learned: The future is now for EJ Manuel. The Christian Ponder era has officially ended, and Manuel has now led the Noles to back-t0-back bowl wins -- not bad for a backup.

What it means: Florida State is heading in the right direction under Jimbo Fisher, who became the first coach in school history to win his first bowl game. The team won 10 games for the first time since 2003, won the Atlantic Division, and has plenty to build on heading into the offseason.

First it was Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker, who broke a rib in the first half of a loss against South Florida, but not before he threw an interception.

Then it was Miami quarterback Jacory Harris, who was benched after he threw three interceptions in the first half of a loss to Notre Dame.

And now, Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder threw the ball into the dirt on a fourth-and-1 from the South Carolina 2-yard line.

Expectations were soaring for all three of these guys heading into this season, but for various reasons, including injuries, none of them lived up to the billing. Unfortunately for them and for the ACC, that hasn't changed this bowl season. It has to be particularly disheartening and frustrating for Ponder and Parker, whose collegiate careers are coming to a close.

Here’s a quick preview of Florida State’s game against South Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Bowl:

WHO TO WATCH: FSU’s quarterbacks. If Christian Ponder is the starter, it will be interesting to see how he plays after a lengthy layoff that included missing the ACC championship game and surgery because of his elbow injury. If EJ Manuel is the starter, he already has a Gator Bowl MVP performance to build on. Ponder is more accurate and obviously has a better grasp on the offense because of his experience, but regardless of who is under center, the Seminoles should find some success against a secondary that ranks No. 107 in the country in pass defense.

WHAT TO WATCH: FSU’s defense on third downs. Virginia Tech was successful on 13 of 18 third-down conversions against FSU in the ACC title game, and the Seminoles will have to do much better than that against a team that features standout playmakers Alshon Jeffery and Marcus Lattimore. They’ll take advantage of every mistake.

WHY TO WATCH: Florida State and South Carolina are both coming off appearances in their respective conference championship games, and there’s no love lost between Florida State fans and former Florida coach Steve Spurrier. This will mark the first time the Chick-fil-A Bowl has featured both the ACC and SEC runners-up, and it is one of only three non-BCS bowls with two ranked teams competing.

PREDICTION: South Carolina 28, Florida State 24. The Seminoles defense still has something to prove after its performance in the ACC championship game, and it will struggle to stop the Gamecocks’ top playmakers much like it did the Hokies.

South Carolina returns to the Georgia Dome for the second time in less than a month after losing to Auburn in the SEC championship game and will face Florida State on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Here’s a quick preview of the Chick-fil-A Bowl:

WHO TO WATCH: The Gamecocks have an impressive array of young talent, but freshman running back Marcus Lattimore proved to be one of those difference-makers that comes around only so often. He has 1,198 rushing yards to lead all SEC running backs and also has 19 touchdowns, one away from tying the SEC single-season record for a freshman. Lattimore has been at his best on the biggest stages, too, and is one of those guys who can carry the ball as many times as you want to give it to him. The Gamecocks were looking for somebody to come in and jump-start their running game this season, and Lattimore was just exactly what they ordered.

WHAT TO WATCH: First-year offensive line coach Shawn Elliott was able to bring some stability to a South Carolina offensive line this season that had taken its lumps the past two years. The Gamecocks were far from dominant up front, but they battled and were much improved. They face a steep challenge against a Florida State defense that leads the country with 46 sacks. Moreover, it looks like the Gamecocks will be without their top lineman. Elliott said he doesn’t expect senior left guard Garrett Chisolm to be able to play after re-injuring his knee in practice. Senior Terrence Campbell will likely start in Chisolm’s place.

WHY WATCH: Bowl games and the Gamecocks haven’t been a good mix. They’re just 4-11 all-time in the postseason, and that includes a couple of miserable performances in their past two bowl outings – a 20-7 loss to Connecticut in the Papajohns.com Bowl last season and a 31-10 loss to Iowa two years ago in the Outback Bowl. South Carolina needs to play well to get that bowl monkey off its back, and the Gamecocks also don’t want to end an otherwise historic season with back-to-back losses.

PREDICTION: Florida State 28, South Carolina 21. The Gamecocks’ lousy bowl history is one thing, but the big thing working against them is losing their best offensive lineman for this game. The Seminoles will come after South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia more than ever, and with Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder back in the lineup, the Seminoles should be able to take advantage of a South Carolina secondary that has struggled in pass coverage this season.

Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder, who has been chosen for this year's Senior Bowl, has been throwing for two days and said he expects to be fully cleared on Sunday.

"From that day forward we'll go on a day-to-day basis and see how it feels," Ponder said of his throwing elbow on Thursday's Senior Bowl teleconference. "I guess it's going to be the doctor's call. If there's no risk of injury during the game, then I'll play."

Ponder said the surgery he had following the ACC championship game appeared to do the trick. It's still not clear if he'll play in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, or how much he'll be able to weigh in on the decision.

"I don't know," he said. "Obviously I'd love to play. It's my last game in Garnet and Gold. But at the same time you have to balance the risk of injury. There's a lot to think about in that whole decision-making process."

1. Florida State senior quarterback Christian Ponder, a National Football Foundation scholar-athlete, said in New York on Tuesday that the ailing elbow that kept him out of the ACC Championship Game will benefit greatly from two weeks of rest. He will see a doctor on Thursday, and expects to miss the first week of bowl practice as the Seminoles prepare for South Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. But, Ponder said, he will be ready to play.

2. Playoffs or bowls? Two small college NFF scholar-athletes who have participated in NCAA playoffs endorsed the concept Tuesday. Division III St. Thomas back Ben Wartman called it “grueling,” and “fun” in nearly the same breath. Added Division II Minnesota-Duluth back Isaac Odim, “It’s a lot of work….But I definitely think it would be possible for an eight-team (FBS) playoff.”

3. Alabama senior quarterback Greg McElroy, also an NFF scholar-athlete, showed no ill effects of the concussion he received in the second half of the loss to Auburn 12 days ago. McElroy gave an impassioned defense of the BCS and the bowls. Not only will the two best teams play for the national championship, McElroy said, but “there are 70 teams across the nation that will get the opportunity to play just a little bit longer.”

» Power Rankings: ACC | Big 12 | Big East | Big Ten | Pac-10 | SEC | Non-AQ

As we head into bowl season, the ACC power rankings remain status quo from last week, with Virginia Tech at the top. Florida State had a chance to change that but couldn’t do it, falling to the Hokies 44-33 in the ACC championship game. The best team in the conference will represent the league against Stanford in the Discover Orange Bowl. Here’s a look at how the rest of the league shakes out heading into bowl season:

1. Virginia Tech (11-2, 8-0 ACC; LW: No. 1): Quarterback Tyrod Taylor, the MVP of the ACC title game, couldn’t be stopped and the Hokies were phenomenal on third downs (13 of 18) against the Florida State defense. They’ll need more of the same against Stanford.

2. Florida State (9-4, 6-2 ACC; LW: No. 2): The Seminoles couldn’t make the stops defensively and lost the turnover battle. Backup quarterback EJ Manuel played a respectable game in place of injured quarterback Christian Ponder, but the Noles only had 53 rushing yards.

3. Maryland (8-4, 5-3; LW: No. 3): The Terps were hoping for a higher bowl than the Military Bowl Presented By Northrop Grumman, but poor home attendance likely outweighed an eight-win season and the second-best turnaround in the FBS. Maryland beat NC State, but the Wolfpack got the better bowl.

4. NC State (8-4, 5-3; LW: No. 4): The Wolfpack will be making their first appearance in the Champs Sports Bowl, where it will face West Virginia (9-3) on Dec. 28 in the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium. NC State is looking for its first bowl win in four seasons under coach Tom O’Brien.

5. Miami (7-5, 5-3; LW: No. 5): The Hurricanes’ unsettled coaching situation didn’t deter the Hyundai Sun officials from picking them, and despite their struggles, the matchup against Notre Dame will feature two programs with rich tradition.

6. North Carolina (7-5, 4-4; LW: No. 6): UNC will be making its third straight bowl trip under coach Butch Davis, but its first appearance in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, facing Tennessee on Dec. 30. It will be the first meeting between the two teams from neighboring states since 1961 and their first time facing each other in a bowl game.

7. Boston College (7-5, 4-4; LW: No. 7): The Eagles became the first ACC team to follow a five-game losing streak with a five-game winning streak. They’re heading back to San Francisco for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, where they’ll face a potent Nevada offense.

8. Clemson (6-6, 4-4; LW: No. 8): The Tigers don’t have to travel far, as they’ll face South Florida in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C. It’s the first meeting between the programs, and Clemson will be able to count on quarterback Kyle Parker, who decided to stick with the team instead of leaving early to prepare for his time with the Colorado Rockies.

9. Georgia Tech (6-6, 4-4; LW: No. 9): The Jackets will face Air Force in the Advocare V100 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. The game will feature two of the nation’s top rushing offenses, which means the defenses will make the difference.

10. Wake Forest (3-9, 1-7; LW: No. 10): The Deacs could use the extra bowl practices, but once again are home for the holidays. They at least have a road win over Vanderbilt to build off of heading into the offseason instead of a 10-game losing streak.

11. Duke (3-9, 1-7; LW: No. 11): Fortunately for Blue Devils fans, it’s basketball season, but those within the football program are confident they’re still taking steps in the right direction to make Duke a contender.

12. Virginia (4-8, 1-7; LW: No. 12): Recruiting will be key for the staff in the offseason, as it’s the only way to turn things around in Charlottesville. So far, coach Mike London has that going in the right direction.

South Carolina Gamecocks (9-4) vs. Florida State Seminoles (9-4)

Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

South Carolina take by SEC blogger Chris Low: South Carolina had only played one game indoors in its entire history prior to last Saturday’s 56-17 loss to Auburn in the SEC championship game.

Now, the Gamecocks (9-4) will play their second game indoors in less than a month, as they return to the Georgia Dome to face Florida State on Dec. 31 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Merely getting to the SEC championship game was an accomplishment for the Gamecocks when you consider they’d never previously been. Their performance would suggest they didn’t belong, but a lot of that had to do with Auburn.

South Carolina has some of the finest young talent in the SEC in freshman running back Marcus Lattimore, sophomore receiver Alshon Jeffery and sophomore cornerback Stephon Gilmore, although Gilmore is coming off a rough outing in the SEC championship game.

When Lattimore has had big games this season, the Gamecocks have won.

Defensively, they’ve been shredded through the air and were again against Cam Newton and Auburn last Saturday. But they’re good up front and led the SEC with 39 sacks this season. Their undoing has been giving up too many big plays, and they’ve also been an inconsistent tackling team.

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Florida State take by ACC blogger Heather Dinich: Overall, it’s been an impressive season for Florida State, considering the Seminoles won nine games, finished 6-2 in the ACC, won the Atlantic Division and played for the league title in Jimbo Fisher’s first year as a head coach.

Still, this is the consolation prize for the Seminoles, the runners-up in the ACC championship game, and it’s not going to get any easier. Florida State’s defense, which has made significant strides this year under first-year coordinator Mark Stoops, couldn’t find an answer for Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor in the 44-33 loss to the Hokies. It’s going to have to find one for standout South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore and receiver Alshon Jeffery.

The Seminoles rank No. 2 in the nation sacks and are No. 17 in tackles for loss, but really struggled to get Virginia Tech off the field on third downs. Florida State has also had problems at quarterback, where starter Christian Ponder missed the title game because blood was found in the fluid drained from his elbow last week. Backup E.J. Manuel threw for almost 300 yards but had two interceptions in his place.

FSU was also held to just 53 rushing yards against Virginia Tech, so there are plenty of areas for improvement heading into the final game of the season, but also much to build on for next year.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel is looking composed tonight in the face of pressure and on third-down situations. He's developed and gotten better as a passer since being named the Gator Bowl MVP last year, and is moving the chains in place of injured starter Christian Ponder.

The interception he threw earlier was less a mistake on his part than a great play by Bruce Taylor. Florida State fans should be confident in the future of the position, and while you never want to see a player miss time for an injury, this experience will only benefit the Noles in the future.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher loves having a competitive advantage, and if that means having both Christian Ponder and E.J. Manuel on the field for warm-ups, so be it. Both quarterbacks were out there throwing, and Ponder didn't seem to be hindered by his elbow, but there's no way to know right now how much pain he is in, if any. At one point during warm-ups, Manuel was taking snaps from starting center Ryan McMahon.

On Virginia Tech's side, the Hokies will use warm-ups to determine the status of cornerback Rashad Carmichael, who was listed as probable with an ankle injury on the injury report. He was in full uniform and out stretching with the team, which is progress from a week ago, when he didn't dress.

The cold here today won't help any injured player stay loose. Weather.com is calling for rain/snow (40 percent chance of precipitation) and 28 degrees tonight.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Keep an eye on the quarterback situation here in Bank of America Stadium. FSU quarterback Christian Ponder's status is undetermined, and backup EJ Manuel has taken most of the reps with the first team this week.

A source said Ponder did nothing in practice on Monday, next to nothing on Tuesday, and then a little more as the week progressed. Ponder had fluid drained from his elbow again on Sunday. Manuel, the MVP of last year's Gator Bowl, is a proven backup -- especially when the staff makes use of his feet and runs the option.

Technically, Ponder is medically cleared to play, but it's the same situation as it was against Clemson when Manuel started, so don't be surprised to see Ponder sidelined. If he's needed, though, there's no question he's cleared to play.

Both Jimbo Fisher and Frank Beamer said on Friday that the weather won't be a factor in the game -- both teams have to play in it -- but it's cold, and there's been a mix of sleet and rain. It hasn't dampened the scene outside, though, as the tailgating is in full swing and there's a championship buzz for blocks around the stadium. From the hotels to the scene downtown on Friday night, it has seemed like Virginia Tech fans have taken over the city, but it will be easier to tell once the stadium is filled, and league officials are expecting it to be a record crowd.

Regardless of who lines up at quarterback for Florida State, it should still be one of the more memorable games in the short history of its existence.

Time for our final regular-season edition of what to watch, where we highlight 10 story lines to keep an eye on this weekend. Special thanks to ESPN Stats & Information for some of the nuggets sprinkled throughout.

1. Upsets, anyone? Most expect Auburn and Oregon to win their games this weekend and meet in Arizona for the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game. But how about a little history lesson: The No. 1 team in the BCS standings has lost its conference championship game each of the past three seasons. There’s more: A team ranked in the BCS top two has lost its final game of the regular season 13 times in the previous 12 years. The last time neither of the top two teams lost on the first weekend of December was 2005. So the No. 1 Tigers and No. 2 Ducks are on upset alert.

2. Cam the Man. The NCAA ruled earlier this week that Auburn quarterback Cam Newton is eligible to play in the SEC championship game against South Carolina, much to the outrage of many people around the country. Quibble all you want about the decision, there is no stopping Newton from stepping onto the field, where he has been the best player in the country. He gets one more shot to definitively make his case for the Heisman.

3. Will Auburn make like Houdini again? The Tigers have made a living this season off being a comeback team, and we saw that in full effect last week against Alabama. Auburn erased a 24-point deficit to win 28-27. It was the eighth time in 12 games the Tigers had to come back – including its win against South Carolina this season. In fact, this is the first season in school history where Auburn has won four games after trailing by double-digits.

4. Can Oregon State pull the upset against Oregon? The Beavers would have a better chance if they had James Rodgers playing in this game. They showed some fight two weeks ago in a win against USC, but then got shut out against Stanford last week. The Beavers have lost three of their past four, including games to UCLA and Washington State. Jacquizz Rodgers is going to need a big game to help Oregon State win the time of possession battle and keep the ball away from the high-powered Ducks offense.

5. Big 12 injury report. Oklahoma running back DeMarco Murray and Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez come limping into the game with injuries. Murray hurt his knee last week against Oklahoma State, but is expected to play. Martinez sat out last week against Colorado with an ankle and toe injury. Having two of their best players hobbled by injury is less than ideal for both teams. Nebraska coach Bo Pelini suggested this week that he might play Martinez and Cody Green. The bigger impact could be felt with the Huskers, who have played inconsistently with Green at quarterback.

6. Christian Ponder vs. Tyrod Taylor. Two of the best quarterbacks in the ACC battle it out in the conference championship game, and the key to the game for each team: slowing the other down. Ponder has struggled this year because of injuries, but he has played better since he missed the Clemson game, throwing for 391 yards, four touchdowns and one interception over his past two games. Taylor, who was just selected ACC Player of the Year, is going to face a formidable front, one that leads the nation in sacks with 43.

7. Who emerges as the Big East champion? There are a few scenarios: If Connecticut beats USF, the Huskies win the title. If Connecticut loses and West Virginia beats Rutgers, the Mountaineers are in. If Pittsburgh beats Cincinnati and Connecticut and West Virginia lose, the Panthers are in. If Connecticut, Pittsburgh and West Virginia all lose, there would be a five-way tie, but Connecticut wins all the tiebreakers so the Huskies would be the Big East rep in the BCS. Got all that?

8. How does Boise State bounce back? The Broncos are in the unusual spot of having to play a game the week after losing. That hasn’t happened since 2007. They get Utah State at home on a day a senior class that has gone 46-5 will be honored. Of course, there is also the pride of the blue turf on the line. Boise State would finish WAC play with an all-time 40-0 record at home with a win. Utah State is 1-53 against opponents ranked in the AP poll including 0-42 on the road.

9. Non-AQ title games. There are two other championship games this weekend: Northern Illinois plays Miami (Ohio) tonight for the MAC title, and SMU plays UCF for the Conference USA title on Saturday. The Huskies (10-2) have won nine straight and are ranked No. 25 in the BCS standings. UCF is ranked No. 25 in the coaches’ poll. Both are favored to win.

10. BCS selection show. Sunday is the day all the bowl announcements will be made, making the selection show must-see TV for college football fans everywhere. If Oregon and Auburn win, then most of the matchups seem clear. But if either team loses, the BCS standings will be very important in determining who goes to the national championship game. No. 3 TCU has the most hope of any other team to sneak in, but we will know for sure come Sunday night.

Florida State senior quarterback Christian Ponder has been named the recipient of the 2010 James Tatum Award.

The Tatum Award is given annually in memory of the late Jim Tatum to the top senior student-athlete (in athletic eligibility) among the league's football players. Tatum, a two-time ACC Coach of the Year, coached in the fifties at both Maryland and North Carolina and believed strongly in the concept of the student-athlete.

Ponder graduated from Florida State after just two and a half years in May of 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance, compiling a 3.73 undergraduate GPA. He then completed his MBA degree at FSU last May, compiling a cumulative 3.703 graduate GPA. He is enrolled in Florida State’s graduate program in Sports Management.

Ponder currently ranks third in the ACC in pass efficiency (137.46) and is third in passing percentage, completing 62.1 percent of his passes with 20 touchdown passes and only eight interceptions. He is ranked 22nd on the ACC career total offense list with 7,696 yards and is 24th in career passing yardage with 6,866 yards. He ranks among the top six at Florida State in almost every statistical category for a quarterback.

In addition to his academic and athletic achievements, Ponder has given of his time extensively in community service as a volunteer to such organizations as the Leon County Animal Shelter, the American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross, the Children’s Home Society, the Children’s Miracle Network, the Dick Howser Center for Childhood Services, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Haiti Earthquake Relief, Tallahassee Boy’s Town, Tallahassee Miracle League, Tobacco Free Florida and the United Way of the Big Bend.

Ponder becomes the third player from Florida State to be honored with the Tatum Award, joining former standout Seminole student-athletes David Castillo (2005) and Daryl Bush (1996).