NCAA football bowl games, 2007–08
Encyclopedia
The 2007-08 NCAA College Football Bowl Games post-season schedule followed the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS regular season
in college football
, which was one of the most inconsistent regular seasons in recent memory, where no school was immune from losing a game to fall from a top ranking.
The NCAA
divided Division I into two divisions for football in 1978. The top level, originally known as "Division I-A" and officially changed to the "Football Bowl Subdivision" in 2006, includes teams that play in bowl games. The second level, originally known as "Division I-AA" and renamed the "Football Championship Subdivision" in 2006, consists of smaller schools and conferences, most of which play in a playoff system (although a few conferences, such as the Ivy League
, choose not to participate in the playoff). The larger schools, who do not have a playoff system, concludes with a series of bowl games that have developed as a reward for teams that do well in the regular season.
The 2007-08 schedule was as large a lineup as the 2006-07
lineup – all as part of 36 post-season games (32 not counting the post-BCS all-star games) that started with the Poinsettia Bowl
on December 20, 2007, and ended with the Texas vs. The Nation all-star game on February 2, 2008. In total, 64 schools out of the 119 schools in the Bowl Subdivision had played in the post-season. This was the result of the NCAA's decision to expand schedules to twelve regular season mainland games (not counting games either played in Hawaii or conference championships games in the Atlantic Coast Conference
(ACC), Big 12 Conference
, Southeastern Conference
(SEC), Mid-American Conference
(MAC) or Conference USA
) and allow teams with a 6-6 record to be bowl eligible
if either the team or their conference has negotiated a bowl contract.
For the 2007-08 season, NCAA bylaws stipulated that any team that finished with at least a 6-6 overall regular season record can only be selected to fill a conference tie-in bowl slot once all other available conference teams are chosen.
The Big Ten
had ten teams who finished with a 6-6 or better regular season record, but only were allocated six slots not including BCS-qualifying Ohio State
and Illinois
. As a result, Northwestern
and Iowa
who finished with a 6-6 record did not qualify for a bowl game. Other teams that were left out of the bowl games were Louisville
of the Big East
; and the SEC's South Carolina
, despite the fact that their conference had two BCS-qualifying teams (LSU
and Georgia
). The MAC's and Sun Belt
members Troy
and also failed to receive invitations. The Troy Trojans (at 8-4) were the most notable absentee from the bowl games, losing their season finale to Florida Atlantic
on the last day of the season.
In contrast, Mountain West members TCU
was invited to the Texas Bowl
as the Big 12
could not fill all of its slots, because not enough teams were left after Kansas
was chosen as an at-large team to join conference champion Oklahoma
.
Meanwhile, Miami (Ohio)
went 6-7, losing the MAC Championship Game
. Had the RedHawks won, they would have been eligible. As a result, the NCAA on April 30, 2008 later approved two new bowl games for the 2008-09 post season
: The EagleBank Bowl (née Congressional Bowl), which will be played at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC will pit an ACC team against either Army
or Navy
, while the new St. Petersburg Bowl, to be played at Tropicana Field
in the Florida City namesake
will pit Conference USA and Big East schools against one another.
ing changes between the regular season and the bowl season, the following teams played their postseason contests with interim head coaches:
In addition, the following teams had coaches that either resigned or retired from their teams, but continued to work for their bowl games:
In the first bowl game of the season, the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
on December 20 at Qualcomm Stadium
in San Diego, California
, the Utes of the University of Utah
from the Mountain West Conference
defeated the independent (no conference affiliation) United States Naval Academy
Midshipmen, 35-32. Each team got $750,000 payouts, as the Utes' share was divided amongst the members of their conference, while Navy kept the entire amount.
At the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
held December 21 at the Louisiana Superdome
in New Orleans, Louisiana
, the Florida Atlantic University
Owls of the Sun Belt Conference
, in their first FBS appearance as conference champions, defeated the University of Memphis
Tigers from Conference USA
, 44-27. Both conferences got $325,000 in payouts in the first of three post-season games to be played in the Crescent City.
The Papajohns.com Bowl at Legion Field
in Birmingham, Alabama
on December 22 featured the University of Cincinnati
Bearcats of the Big East Conference
and the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles of Conference USA. This was the last game for 17-year coach Jeff Bower of Southern Miss who made his coaching debut at Southern Miss at Legion Field against Alabama
. However, the Bearcats won the game 31-21, earning their first 10 win season in over five decades. Both conferences were paid $300,000 for the contest.
The New Mexico Bowl on December 22 was contested by the University of New Mexico
Lobos of the Mountain West and the University of Nevada, Reno
Wolf Pack of the Western Athletic Conference
. On their home field of University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico
, the Lobos shutout the Wolf Pack, 23-0, to win their first postseason win since 1961. For the Wolf Pack, it was the first shutout they suffered since 1980. Both conferences got a stipend of $750,000 for each school's participation in the season's fourth bowl game.
The Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl
was played on December 22 at Sam Boyd Stadium
on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
in Las Vegas, Nevada
. In the only regular season rematch of the season, the Cougars of Brigham Young University
, the Mountain West Conference champions, escaped with an 17-16 victory over the University of California, Los Angeles
Bruins of the Pacific-10 Conference. The conferences each divided up checks for $1 million as receipt for their teams playing. The game was not decided until Eathyn Manumaluena blocked Kai Forbath's game-winning 28-yard field goal attempt as time expired, avenging a 27-17 loss back on September 8 at UCLA's home field, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
.
The Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
at Aloha Stadium
in Honolulu, Hawaii
, saw the East Carolina University
Pirates of Conference USA defeat the WAC's Boise State University
Broncos, 41-38. Boise State came back from a 38-14 third-quarter deficit, tying the game when Marty Tadman
returned a Pirates fumble for a touchdown with 1:25 left. The Pirates answered with a game-ending 34-yard field goal from Ben Hartman to win their first bowl game since 2000. The conferences of both schools received a check for $750,000 apiece.
The University of Hawaii Warriors
, the traditional Hawaii Bowl team as per its "Hawaii guarantee" agreement, did not play in this season's contest since they qualified for a BCS bowl. Additionally, the game was held on December 23 instead of the traditional annual date of December 24 (Christmas Eve
) due to ESPN
's commitments to broadcast a Monday Night Football
game between the Denver Broncos
and the San Diego Chargers
.
The Motor City Bowl
was played at Ford Field
in Detroit, Michigan
on December 26. The Big Ten
representatives, the Purdue University
Boilermakers, withstood a furious comeback from the MAC
champion Central Michigan University
Chippewas to win on a game-ending field goal, 51-48. The Chips came back from a 34-13 halftime deficit to tie it with 1:09 to play in regulation. Purdue then drove to the CMU 23-yard line, where kicker Chris Summers kicked a 40-yard field goal to end the game. Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter
threw 35-54 for three touchdowns, two interceptions, and a Motor City Bowl record 546 yards, which was also the fourth-highest passing yard total in post-season history. His counterpart, CMU quarterback Dan LeFevour, accounted for 406 (292 passing, 114 rushing) of CMU's 435 total yards and all 6 of his team's touchdowns (4 passing, 2 rushing). As for Butch Jones
, the CMU coach, who made his head coaching debut in last year's contest against Middle Tennessee State
, reports had him looking into the vacant West Virginia
job with a second interview scheduled after this game, but that never materialized. The conferences each received $750,000 for their teams' participation.
The Boston College
Eagles of the ACC
narrowly defeated the Michigan State University
Spartans, 24-21, in the Champs Sports Bowl
on December 28 at the Citrus Bowl
in Orlando, Florida
, the first of two post-season contests played there. The Eagles entered the game after losing the ACC Championship Game
. Meanwhile, the Spartans, who were not expected to even play in a bowl, barely qualified for a bowl game after upsetting Penn State in the Land Grant Trophy
game. Each conference received a stipend of $2.2 million for their teams.
The Texas Bowl
was played on December 28, when the Texas Christian University
Horned Frogs, representing the Mountain West Conference, played Conference USA's University of Houston
Cougars in a pseudo home game at Reliant Stadium
in Houston, Texas
, not far from the Astrodome
where the Cougars played until moving back on campus to Robertson Stadium
in 1999. The Horned Frogs won the game, 20-13, in their first meeting since the disbanding of the Southwest Conference. Because the Big 12 failed to meet the minimum of eight schools for bowl eligibility (and a larger payout), the conferences received $612,500.
In another game played on December 28, the Pac-10's Oregon State University
Beavers scored the game's final touchdown in the fourth quarter for a 21-14 victory against the ACC's
University of Maryland, College Park
Terrapins in the Emerald Bowl
at AT&T Park
in San Francisco, California
, which normally serves as the home to the Major League Baseball
team San Francisco Giants
. The conferences involved received a $750,000 payment from the organizers.
The ACC's Wake Forest University
Demon Deacons, defeated the University of Connecticut
Huskies from the Big East, 24-10, on December 29 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl at Charlotte, North Carolina
's Bank of America Stadium
. Each conference got a $750,000 payment for the schools' involvement.
The AutoZone Liberty Bowl
was held on December 29 at the self-named Memorial Stadium
in Memphis, Tennessee
. The Conference USA champions, the University of Central Florida
Golden Knights, lost in a defensive battle to the SEC
representatives, the Mississippi State University
Bulldogs, 10-3. The conferences received a $1.7 million check for the schools to divide amongst themselves.
The December 29 Valero Alamo Bowl
at the Alamodome
in San Antonio, Texas
saw the Big Ten's Nittany Lions from the Pennsylvania State University
prevail over the Big 12's Texas A&M University
Aggies by a score of 24-17 to finish in the nation ranked 25th. This was Penn State head coach Joe Paterno
's 500th game. Texas A&M was led by interim coach Gary Darnell, after Dennis Franchione was excused, mired in scandal. Both schools earned a $2.2 million check for their conferences. This was the first season that Valero Energy was the title sponsor of the game, which was without one a season earlier after MasterCard International withdrew after the 2006 contest.
The PetroSun Independence Bowl
in Shreveport, Louisiana
at Independence Stadium on December 30 saw the SEC's University of Alabama
Crimson Tide score 27 first half points against the Big 12's University of Colorado at Boulder
Buffaloes. Alabama then prevented a late Colorado comeback to hold on to win, 30-24. Each conference received a payout of $1.1 million.
The Bell Helicopters Armed Forces Bowl
was played on December 31 at Amon G. Carter Stadium
on the campus of Texas Christian University
in Fort Worth, Texas
. The Pac 10's University of California, Berkeley
Golden Bears defeated the United States Air Force Academy
Falcons from the Mountain West, 42-36. The conferences received $750,000 as a receipt for the teams participating.
Another contest on December 31 was the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl at Bronco Stadium
on the campus of Boise State University
in Boise, Idaho
, best known for its blue "Smurf Turf". The former MPC Bowl reverted back to its original "Humanitarian Bowl" name after Roady's Truck Stops replaced Micron Technology
as its sponsor. In this season's game, the WAC's California State University, Fresno
Bulldogs beat the Georgia Institute of Technology
(more commonly known as Georgia Tech) Yellow Jackets from the ACC, 40-28. Each conference received a $750,000 payout to be divided among fellow members.
The Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl
at LP Field
in Nashville, Tennessee
was held on December 31. The University of Kentucky
Wildcats made their second consecutive Music City Bowl appearance, having defeated Clemson
, coached by Tommy Bowden
during the 2006-07 season. This year, they played another ACC team coached by a Bowden, this time the Florida State University
Seminoles of father Bobby
. The Seminoles came into the game missing thirty-four players due to injuries, violations of team rules, and suspensions stemming from a large cheating scandal. The Wildcats won 35-28 to finish 8-5 for the second straight year, giving them back-to-back bowl wins for the first time since 1952. Also for the second straight year, Wildcats quarterback André Woodson
was the game's MVP. Each conference got a payment of $1.5 million to be divided amongst their members.
At the Insight Bowl
played at Sun Devil Stadium
on the campus of Arizona State University in the Phoenix, Arizona
suburb of Tempe
on December 31, the Oklahoma State University-Stillwater Cowboys from the Big 12 beat the Indiana University
Hoosiers of the Big Ten, 49-33. In spite of the loss, IU fulfilled a dream for their late head coach Terry Hoeppner
before his untimely passing earlier this year to play one more game for a total of "13", the team's motto for the 2007 season. As payment, the participating conferences each received $1.2 million.
The second International Bowl
was contested at Rogers Centre
in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
on January 5, 2008. The Big East's Rutgers University
Scarlet Knights defeated the MAC's Ball State University
Cardinals, 52-30. Rutgers running back, Ray Rice
rushed for 280 yards and four touchdowns to earn MVP honors. The conferences involved each got $750,000 to split between their schools.
The GMAC Bowl
was played in Mobile, Alabama
's Ladd Peebles Stadium
on January 6, 2008. The Conference USA's Golden Hurricane of University of Tulsa
dominated the Bowling Green State University
Falcons from the Mid-American Conference, 63-7. The 63 points posted by the Hurricane was the most since beating Drake University
, 70-7 in 1970. In addition, the 56-point margin of victory set an NCAA record for most lopsided win in any bowl, bettering Alabama's 55-point blowout of Syracuse
, 61-6, in the 1953 Orange Bowl. The bowl paid their leagues $750,000 apiece for their teams.
television network
s such as CBS
, ABC
or Fox
instead of cable network
s like ESPN
, ESPN2
or NFL Network
.
The Pacific Life Holiday Bowl
was played on December 27 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, which also hosted the Poinsettia Bowl a week earlier. The University of Texas at Austin
Longhorns, the representatives of the Big 12
, coached by Mack Brown
, defeated the Pac-10's Arizona State University
Sun Devils under the leadership of Dennis Erickson
, 52-34. Each conference will get a $2.2 million payout as receipt of the schools playing.
The Brut Sun Bowl
was contested on December 31 at the eponymous named stadium
in El Paso, Texas
on the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso
, pitting the Pac 10's University of Oregon
Ducks and the Big East's University of South Florida
Bulls. After a first half that saw both teams tied at one point at 11-11, the Ducks scored 38 points in the second half to clinch a 56-21 win. Both schools netted a payout of $1.9 million for their conference coffers.
The Chick-fil-A Bowl
was played on December 31 in the Georgia Dome
in Atlanta, Georgia
between two teams with the same moniker: Clemson University
from the ACC and Auburn University
from the SEC, both referred to as "Tigers." During the contest, Auburn unveiled a new spread offense implemented by new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin
. Despite an early bowl-record 83-yard touchdown run by Clemson's C.J. Spiller, Auburn was able to record a 23-20 victory when freshman backup quarterback Kodi Burns ended the first overtime game in Chick-fil-A Bowl history with a seven yard walk-off touchdown. The payouts were $3.25 million for the higher priority selection from the ACC and $2.4 million for the SEC representative. The Chick-fil-A Bowl was the highest-rated ESPN
-broadcast bowl game of the 2007-2008 season, and the highest rated in the game's history.
In the first of two Big Ten-SEC matchups played on New Years' Day, the University of Tennessee
Volunteers defeated the Badgers from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
, 21-17, in the Outback Bowl
at Tampa, Florida
's Raymond James Stadium
. Both conferences were guaranteed a $3 million paycheck.
Despite having one of their most successful seasons in school history, the University of Missouri-Columbia
Tigers were only selected to play at the non-BCS AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic on January 1 after suffering their only two losses for the year to Oklahoma (the latter in the Big 12 Championship Game). Mizzou then blew out their bowl game opponent, the University of Arkansas
Razorbacks from the SEC, 38-7. The conferences received $3 million apiece. Tigers running back Tony Temple
set game records with 281 yards on the ground and four touchdowns while Razorback runner Darren McFadden
was limited to 102 yards.
This was the second-to-last Cotton Bowl Classic to be played at the namesake stadium
in Dallas, Texas
; the game will move to nearby Cowboys Stadium in Arlington
beginning 2010.
The Big 12's Texas Tech University
Red Raiders defeated the ACC's University of Virginia
Cavaliers, 31-28, in the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl
at Jacksonville, Florida
's Municipal Stadium on January 1. Alex Trlica
kicked the game-winning 41-yard field goal with :07 left in the game. The kick capped off a 17-point burst by Texas Tech in the final 3:31 to come from behind. Red Raiders quarterback Graham Harrell
completed 44 out of 69 passes for 407 yards and three touchdowns. Cavaliers running back Mikell Simpson
scored on a 96-yard touchdown run, the longest run in NCAA bowl history, in the losing effort. A $5.5 million payout awaited both participating conferences. Konica Minolta replaced Toyota as title sponsor as of this game.
In his final game, head coach Lloyd Carr
's University of Michigan
Wolverines of the Big Ten upset the University of Florida
Gators led by Heisman Trophy
winning sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow
, 41-35 at the Capital One Bowl
on January 1. The game was the second bowl contest held at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida during the 2007-08 bowl season. The participating conferences received the largest payout of any non-BCS game at $4.25 million per conference.
(BCS) game had a payout of between $14 million and $17 million to each conference. Three conferences – the Big Ten, the Big 12 and the SEC – earned a second berth as a result of at-large selections. In those cases, an additional $6 million was given to be divided between all schools in those conferences. Because the University of Hawaii earned an at-large berth in the Sugar Bowl, the MAC, WAC, Mountain West, Conference USA and Sun Belt conferences divided $18 million for their schools.
In the first BCS Game on January 1, 2008, the University of Southern California
Trojans defeated the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Fighting Illini, 49-17 in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi at self-named facility
in Pasadena, California
. The Trojans victory one of the most lopsided wins in the history of the game often referred to as "The Granddaddy of Them All". Quarterback John David Booty
was named offensive MVP of the game.
The Trojans were Pac-10 champions for the third straight year, overcoming an upset loss by Stanford in October
at home as a 40-point favorite. Meanwhile, the Fighting Illini finished as the only other team from the Big Ten in the regular season Top 14 BCS rankings. After they beat The Ohio State University Buckeyes in one of the biggest upsets of the regular season, Illinois finished in second place in the Big Ten, and qualified for the Rose Bowl after the conference champion Buckeyes earned a berth in the BCS National Championship Game.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl
on January 1, the second bowl contest played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, pitted the University of Hawaii at Mānoa
Warriors against the University of Georgia
Bulldogs. The Warriors completed an unbeaten regular season with the "run and shoot" offense of head coach June Jones
, clinching the WAC championship. The Bulldogs finished with a 10-2 overall record, tied for first place in the SEC Eastern Division (UGA did not qualify for the SEC Championship Game
, however, because they lost a head-to-head tiebreaker
the Tennessee Volunteers). UGA took advantage of errors by Hawaii en route to an easy 41-10 victory. Almost a week later, Jones resigned to take the job at Southern Methodist University
.
The Tosititos Fiesta Bowl
was played at Glendale, Arizona
's University of Phoenix Stadium
on January 2, 2008. The West Virginia University
Mountaineers upset the Big 12 champion University of Oklahoma
Sooners, 48-28.
The Mountaineers entered the game as the Big East champions, but were spoiled on the last day of the regular season in the Backyard Brawl
against the University of Pittsburgh
as the number two team in the rankings. The Sooners were coming off a win over Missouri in the Big 12 Championship Game.
The loss was the fourth straight in the BCS and second consecutive in the Fiesta Bowl for head coach Bob Stoops
' Sooners, who lost a memorable game a year earlier
to Boise State
. Bill Stewart
, who led the Mountaineers after Rich Rodriguez
bolted for Michigan after the regular season, was rewarded for his work in this game by being named permanent head coach for the 2008 season.
On January 3, 2008, while much of the country was focused on the first major preliminary event of the 2008 Presidential Election campaign in the USA, the Iowa caucuses, the Big 12's University of Kansas
Jayhawks defeated the ACC Champion Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
(Virginia Tech) Hokies, 24-21, at the FedEx Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Florida
's Dolphin Stadium
.
The 2008 Allstate BCS National Championship Game
was the third post-season contest at New Orleans' Louisiana Superdome and was played on January 7, 2008. The SEC Champion Louisiana State University
Tigers overcame a 10-0 deficit to beat the Big Ten Champion Ohio State University Buckeyes, 38-24, in front of a crowd of 79,651. The LSU Tigers thus became the first team to win two BCS titles and the first to win a national championship with two losses (both in triple overtime to Kentucky and Arkansas).
* - The Sun Belt is ineligible for the Bowl Challenge Cup
as they failed to have the minimum three teams to qualify.
† - Clinched 2007-08 Bowl Challenge Cup.
NOTE: BCS conferences had a 6-2 mark against their "mid-major" brethren in 2007-08.
Associated Press
1. LSU (60 First Place votes)
2. Georgia (3)
3. USC (1)
4. Missouri
5. Ohio State
6. West Virginia
7. Kansas (1)
8. Oklahoma
9. Virginia Tech
10. Boston College
(tie) Texas
12. Tennessee
13. Florida
14. Brigham Young
15. Auburn
16. Arizona State
17. Cincinnati
18. Michigan
19. Hawaii
20. Illinois
21. Clemson
22. Texas Tech
23. Oregon
24. Wisconsin
25. Oregon State
USA Today Coaches Poll
1. LSU (60 first place votes)*
2. USC
3. Georgia
4. Ohio State
5. Missouri
6. West Virginia
7. Kansas
8. Oklahoma
9. Virginia Tech
10. Texas
11. Boston College
12. Tennessee
13. Arizona State
14. Auburn
(tie) Brigham Young
16. Florida
17. Hawaii
18. Illinois
19. Michigan
20. Cincinnati
21. Wisconsin
22. Clemson
23. Texas Tech
24. Oregon
25. Penn State
* - By rule, the AFCA
members who participate in the poll must list the BCS Title Game winner on all ballots in the first place position.
2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 30, 2007, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 7, 2008, where the top...
in college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
, which was one of the most inconsistent regular seasons in recent memory, where no school was immune from losing a game to fall from a top ranking.
The NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
divided Division I into two divisions for football in 1978. The top level, originally known as "Division I-A" and officially changed to the "Football Bowl Subdivision" in 2006, includes teams that play in bowl games. The second level, originally known as "Division I-AA" and renamed the "Football Championship Subdivision" in 2006, consists of smaller schools and conferences, most of which play in a playoff system (although a few conferences, such as the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
, choose not to participate in the playoff). The larger schools, who do not have a playoff system, concludes with a series of bowl games that have developed as a reward for teams that do well in the regular season.
The 2007-08 schedule was as large a lineup as the 2006-07
NCAA football bowl games, 2006-07
The 2006-07 NCAA College Football Bowl Games post-season schedule followed the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS regular season in college football. The NCAA divided Division I into two divisions for football in 1978. The top level, originally known as "Division I-A" and officially changed to the "Football...
lineup – all as part of 36 post-season games (32 not counting the post-BCS all-star games) that started with the Poinsettia Bowl
2007 Poinsettia Bowl
The 2007 Poinsettia Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Utah Utes on December 20, 2007 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. Utah defeated Navy 35–32 in a game that came down to the final seconds. It was one of 32 games in the...
on December 20, 2007, and ended with the Texas vs. The Nation all-star game on February 2, 2008. In total, 64 schools out of the 119 schools in the Bowl Subdivision had played in the post-season. This was the result of the NCAA's decision to expand schedules to twelve regular season mainland games (not counting games either played in Hawaii or conference championships games in the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
(ACC), Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
, Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC), Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
(MAC) or Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
) and allow teams with a 6-6 record to be bowl eligible
Bowl eligible
Bowl eligibility in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision College Football is the standard through which teams become available for selection to participate in postseason bowl games. When a team achieves this state, it is described as "bowl-eligible"...
if either the team or their conference has negotiated a bowl contract.
Selection of the teams
The Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
had ten teams who finished with a 6-6 or better regular season record, but only were allocated six slots not including BCS-qualifying Ohio State
2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team competed in football on behalf of the Ohio State University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes were coached by Jim Tressel and played their home games in Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio...
and Illinois
2007 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
The 2007 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois in the 2007–2008 college football season. The team's head coach was Ron Zook. The Illini played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois...
. As a result, Northwestern
2007 Northwestern Wildcats football team
The 2007 Northwestern Wildcats football team represented Northwestern University in the Big Ten Conference during the 2007–2008 college football season. Pat Fitzgerald, in his second season at Northwestern, was the team's head coach...
and Iowa
2007 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
The 2007 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa during the 2007 college football season. Heading into the season, several players left the team while several other players ran into criminal allegations...
who finished with a 6-6 record did not qualify for a bowl game. Other teams that were left out of the bowl games were Louisville
2007 Louisville Cardinals football team
The 2007 Louisville Cardinals football team represented the University of Louisville in the 2007 college football season. The team, led by Steve Kragthorpe in his first year at the school, played their home games in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium and were in their third year in the Big East...
of the Big East
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
; and the SEC's South Carolina
2007 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
The 2007 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference during the college football season of 2007-2008. The Gamecocks were led by Steve Spurrier in his third season as USC head coach and played their home games in Williams-Brice...
, despite the fact that their conference had two BCS-qualifying teams (LSU
2007 LSU Tigers football team
The 2007 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University during the college football season of 2007–2008, winning the Southeastern Conference championship and the national championship. The team's Head Coach was Les Miles who entered his third year at the helm of LSU Football...
and Georgia
2007 Georgia Bulldogs football team
The 2007 Georgia Bulldogs football team competed on behalf of the University of Georgia in American football against teams from other colleges and universities. The Bulldogs tied for first place in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference but lost a tie-breaker with the University of...
). The MAC's and Sun Belt
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
members Troy
2007 Troy Trojans football team
The 2007 Troy Trojans football team represented Troy University in the college football season of 2008–2009. The Trojans played their home games at Movie Gallery Stadium in Troy, Alabama and competed in the Sun Belt Conference. The Trojans were co-champions of the conference with Florida Atlantic,...
and also failed to receive invitations. The Troy Trojans (at 8-4) were the most notable absentee from the bowl games, losing their season finale to Florida Atlantic
2007 Florida Atlantic Owls football team
The 2007 Florida Atlantic University Owls football team represented Florida Atlantic University in the 2007 college football season. The team was coached by Howard Schnellenberger and played their home games at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, FL...
on the last day of the season.
In contrast, Mountain West members TCU
2007 TCU Horned Frogs football team
The 2007 Texas Christian Horned Frog football team represented Texas Christian University in the 2007 college football season. The team was coached by Gary Patterson, who took over the program in December 2000. The Frogs play their home games in Amon G...
was invited to the Texas Bowl
2007 Texas Bowl
The 2007 Texas Bowl, part of the 2007-08 NCAA football bowl games season, was played on December 28, 2007 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas....
as the Big 12
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
could not fill all of its slots, because not enough teams were left after Kansas
2007 Kansas Jayhawks football team
The 2007 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas for the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision intercollegiate football season of 2007-2008...
was chosen as an at-large team to join conference champion Oklahoma
2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team
The 2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football season of 2007-2008, winning the Big 12 Conference Championship for the fifth time in eight years. The team was led by head coach Bob Stoops...
.
Meanwhile, Miami (Ohio)
2007 Miami RedHawks football team
The 2007 Miami RedHawks football team represented the Miami University in the college football season of 2007. The team was coached by Shane Montgomery and played their homes game in Yager Stadium in Oxford, Ohio.-Pre-season:...
went 6-7, losing the MAC Championship Game
2007 MAC Championship Game
The 2007 Marathon MAC Championship Game was played on December 1, 2007 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The game featured the winner of each division of the Mid-American Conference. The game featured the Miami RedHawks, of the East Division, and the , of the West Division. The Chippewas beat the...
. Had the RedHawks won, they would have been eligible. As a result, the NCAA on April 30, 2008 later approved two new bowl games for the 2008-09 post season
NCAA football bowl games, 2008-09
The 2008–09 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision College Football Post-Season, which followed the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season contained a record number of bowl games scheduled in history, as a total of 37 bowl games were played starting on December 20, 2008 with four contests,...
: The EagleBank Bowl (née Congressional Bowl), which will be played at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC will pit an ACC team against either Army
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
or Navy
Navy Midshipmen football
The Navy Midshipmen football team represents the United States Naval Academy in NCAA Division I-A college football. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school and coached by Ken Niumatalolo since December 2007...
, while the new St. Petersburg Bowl, to be played at Tropicana Field
Tropicana Field
Tropicana Field is a domed stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, which has been the home of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays since the team's inaugural season in 1998, when they were the Devil Rays. It has also served as the host stadium for the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl, an NCAA-sanctioned college...
in the Florida City namesake
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
will pit Conference USA and Big East schools against one another.
Coaching changes
As a result of head coachHead coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
ing changes between the regular season and the bowl season, the following teams played their postseason contests with interim head coaches:
| Team | Bowl | Season coach | Interim head coach | Result | 2008 head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas 2007 Arkansas Razorbacks football team The 2007 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2007–2008 football season. The Razorbacks played six home games at Donald W... |
Cotton | Houston Nutt Houston Nutt Houston Dale Nutt, Jr. is an American football coach and former player. Most recently he was the head football coach at the University of Mississippi from 2008 to 2011. Previously, he served as the head coach at Murray State University , Boise State University , and the University of Arkansas... |
Reggie Herring | Lost | Bobby Petrino Bobby Petrino Bobby Petrino is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arkansas, a position he has held since the 2008 season... |
| Georgia Tech 2007 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team The 2007 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology in the college football season of 2007–2008. The team's coach was former Dallas Cowboys, Samford Bulldogs, and Troy Trojans coach Chan Gailey... |
Humanitarian 2007 Humanitarian Bowl The 2007 Roady's Humanitarian Bowl, part of the 2007-08 NCAA football bowl games season, was played on December 31, 2007 at Bronco Stadium on the campus of Boise State University in Boise, Idaho.... |
Chan Gailey Chan Gailey Thomas Chandler "Chan" Gailey, Jr. is an American professional and college football coach. Gailey is the current head coach of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League ; he was formerly the head coach of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets college football... |
Jon Tenuta | Lost | Paul Johnson Paul Johnson (American football coach) Paul Johnson is an American football coach. He is currently the head coach at the Georgia Institute of Technology, a position he has held since the 2008 season. Previously, Johnson served as the head coach at Georgia Southern University from 1997 to 2001 and at the United States Naval Academy... |
| Texas 2007 Texas Bowl The 2007 Texas Bowl, part of the 2007-08 NCAA football bowl games season, was played on December 28, 2007 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.... |
Art Briles Art Briles Arthur Ray Briles is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at Baylor University, a position he has held since the 2008 season. From 2002 to 2007, Briles was the head coach at the University of Houston.-Playing career:A native of Rule, Texas, Briles... |
Chris Thurmond | Lost | Kevin Sumlin Kevin Sumlin -External links:*... |
|
| Navy | Poinsettia 2007 Poinsettia Bowl The 2007 Poinsettia Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Utah Utes on December 20, 2007 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. Utah defeated Navy 35–32 in a game that came down to the final seconds. It was one of 32 games in the... |
Paul Johnson | Ken Niumatalolo Ken Niumatalolo Ken Niumatalolo is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the United States Naval Academy, a position he has held since the 2007 season. Niumatalolo played college football at the University of Hawaii. As a quarterback he led the then-Rainbows... |
Lost | same |
| Texas A&M 2007 Texas A&M Aggies football team The 2007 Texas A&M Aggies football team represented Texas A&M University in the 2007-2008 college football season. The team was coached by Dennis Franchione, who had coached at A&M since the 2003 season, but resigned at the conclusion of the annual game with the University of Texas... |
Alamo 2007 Alamo Bowl The 2007 Valero Alamo Bowl is a college football bowl game that was part of the 2007–2008 bowl season of the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 15th Alamo Bowl and the first Alamo Bowl sponsored by the Valero Energy Corporation... |
Dennis Franchione Dennis Franchione Dennis Wayne Franchione , also known as Coach Fran, is an American football coach. He is currently the head football coach at Texas State University, a position he held from 1990 to 1991, when the school was known as Southwest Texas State University, and resumed in 2011... |
Gary Darnell Gary Darnell Gary Brent Darnell is a former American college football player and coach. Darnell is native of Arkansas and an alumnus of Oklahoma State University, where he played college football... |
Lost | Mike Sherman Mike Sherman Michael Francis "Mike" Sherman is the head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies football team. Prior to coaching the Aggies, he served as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers from the 2000–05 seasons. Sherman led the Packers to five consecutive winning seasons from 2000–04 and three divisional titles... |
| UCLA 2007 UCLA Bruins football team The 2007 UCLA Bruins football team represented UCLA in the college football 2007-2008 season. They played their home games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California and were coached by Karl Dorrell for the regular season. It was Dorrell's fifth, and final season as the UCLA head coach. UCLA's... |
Las Vegas 2007 Las Vegas Bowl The 2007 Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl was an NCAA-sanctioned Division I post-season college football bowl game between the UCLA Bruins and the Brigham Young University Cougars. The Las Vegas Bowl gets its first choice of bowl-eligible teams from the Mountain West Conference and the fourth/fifth choice ... |
Karl Dorrell Karl Dorrell Karl Dorrell is a football coach, currently an assistant coach with the Miami Dolphins of the NFL. He was previously the head coach of the UCLA Bruins, the first African American head football coach in the school's history... |
DeWayne Walker | Lost | Rick Neuheisel Rick Neuheisel Richard Gerald "Rick" Neuheisel, Jr. , is an American football coach, former player, and attorney. He was most recently the head football coach at University of California, Los Angeles, a position he held from 2008 to 2011... |
| West Virginia 2007 West Virginia Mountaineers football team The 2007 West Virginia Mountaineers football team began play on September 1, 2007. The team was coached by Rich Rodriguez until he announced on December 16, 2007 that he was leaving West Virginia to coach the Michigan Wolverines. The head coaching position remained vacant after his announcement,... |
Fiesta 2008 Fiesta Bowl The 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl was a college football bowl game sponsored by Tostitos. It was part of the 2007–2008 Bowl Championship Series of the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Played annually since 1971, first at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe,... |
Rich Rodriguez Rich Rodriguez Richard A. "Rich" Rodriguez is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arizona. Rodriguez previously served as the head football coach at Salem University , Glenville State College , West Virginia University , and the University... |
Bill Stewart Bill Stewart (football coach) Bill "Stew" Stewart is an American football coach. He was named interim head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers after Rich Rodriguez left for Michigan in December 2007. After leading the Mountaineers to a 48–28 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl, he was formally... |
Won | Same |
In addition, the following teams had coaches that either resigned or retired from their teams, but continued to work for their bowl games:
| Team | Bowl | Current coach | Result | 2008 head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan 2007 Michigan Wolverines football team The 2007 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 2007 college football season. This was Lloyd Carr's final season as Michigan head coach. The 2007 season began with a stunning loss to Appalachian State, but the Wolverines won eight straight games after... |
Capital One 2008 Capital One Bowl The 2008 Capital One Bowl was held on January 1, 2008 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The game featured the University of Michigan Wolverines—who finished the 2007 season tied for second in the Big Ten Conference with an overall record of 8–4 —and the #12 University of... |
Lloyd Carr Lloyd Carr Lloyd H. Carr is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Michigan from 1995 through the 2007 season. Under Carr, the Wolverines compiled a record of 122–40 and won or shared five Big Ten Conference titles... |
Won | Rich Rodriguez |
| Southern Mississippi | Papajohns.com 2007 PapaJohns.com Bowl The 2007 PapaJohns.com Bowl was a postseason college football match between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The University of Cincinnati represented the Big East Conference and the University of Southern Mississippi represented... |
Jeff Bower | Lost | Larry Fedora Larry Fedora -References:... |
Non-BCS Bowls
- NOTE: Rankings used are the final regular season BCS Rankings whenever noted, and all payouts are in US DollarUnited States dollarThe United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
s.
Poinsettia Bowl
- Utah2007 Utah Utes football teamThe 2007 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah in the college football season of 2007-2008. The team was coached by 3rd year head football coach Kyle Whittingham...
35, Navy 32
In the first bowl game of the season, the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
Poinsettia Bowl
The Poinsettia Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A college football bowl game that was created in 2005. The game was created by the organizers of the Holiday Bowl and is played annually at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The game is currently sponsored by the San Diego...
on December 20 at Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area....
in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, the Utes of the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
from the Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
defeated the independent (no conference affiliation) United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
Midshipmen, 35-32. Each team got $750,000 payouts, as the Utes' share was divided amongst the members of their conference, while Navy kept the entire amount.
New Orleans Bowl
- Florida Atlantic2007 Florida Atlantic Owls football teamThe 2007 Florida Atlantic University Owls football team represented Florida Atlantic University in the 2007 college football season. The team was coached by Howard Schnellenberger and played their home games at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, FL...
44, 27
At the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
New Orleans Bowl
The New Orleans Bowl is a post-season college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played annually at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana since 2001. The game was sponsored by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts from 2002 to 2004 and was officially called the Wyndham New...
held December 21 at the Louisiana Superdome
Louisiana Superdome
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, the Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University, also referred to as FAU or Florida Atlantic, is a public, coeducational, research university located in , United States. The university has six satellite campuses located in the Florida cities of Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, and in Fort...
Owls of the Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
, in their first FBS appearance as conference champions, defeated the University of Memphis
University of Memphis
The University of Memphis is an American public research university located in the Normal Station neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee and is the flagship public research university of the Tennessee Board of Regents system....
Tigers from Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
, 44-27. Both conferences got $325,000 in payouts in the first of three post-season games to be played in the Crescent City.
PapaJohns.com Bowl
- (22) Cincinnati2007 Cincinnati Bearcats football teamThe 2007 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented the University of Cincinnati in the 2007 college football season. The team, coached by Brian Kelly, played its home games in Nippert Stadium, as it has since 1923...
31, Southern Miss 21
The Papajohns.com Bowl at Legion Field
Legion Field
Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak...
in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
on December 22 featured the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
Bearcats of the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
and the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles of Conference USA. This was the last game for 17-year coach Jeff Bower of Southern Miss who made his coaching debut at Southern Miss at Legion Field against Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
. However, the Bearcats won the game 31-21, earning their first 10 win season in over five decades. Both conferences were paid $300,000 for the contest.
New Mexico Bowl
- New Mexico2007 New Mexico Lobos football teamThe 2007 New Mexico Lobos football team represented The University of New Mexico in the college football season of 2007–2008. The team was coached by Rocky Long...
23, 0
The New Mexico Bowl on December 22 was contested by the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
Lobos of the Mountain West and the University of Nevada, Reno
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
Wolf Pack of the Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
. On their home field of University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
, the Lobos shutout the Wolf Pack, 23-0, to win their first postseason win since 1961. For the Wolf Pack, it was the first shutout they suffered since 1980. Both conferences got a stipend of $750,000 for each school's participation in the season's fourth bowl game.
Las Vegas Bowl
- (17) Brigham Young2007 BYU Cougars football teamThe 2007 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 2007 college football season.In this year BYU clinched its second consecutive Mountain West Conference championship title outright after defeating Utah on 24 November...
17, UCLA2007 UCLA Bruins football teamThe 2007 UCLA Bruins football team represented UCLA in the college football 2007-2008 season. They played their home games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California and were coached by Karl Dorrell for the regular season. It was Dorrell's fifth, and final season as the UCLA head coach. UCLA's...
16
The Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl
Las Vegas Bowl
The Maaco Bowl Las Vegas is an NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A post-season college football bowl game that has been played annually at 40,000-seat Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. since 1992. From 1992 to 1996, matchups featured the champion teams from the Big West and Mid-American...
was played on December 22 at Sam Boyd Stadium
Sam Boyd Stadium
Sam Boyd Stadium is a football stadium located in Whitney, Nevada, an unincorporated community in the Las Vegas metropolitan area; the mailing address of the stadium is "Las Vegas". The stadium is named after Sam Boyd, a major figure in the hotel/casino industry in Las Vegas. The stadium consists...
on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...
in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. In the only regular season rematch of the season, the Cougars of Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, the Mountain West Conference champions, escaped with an 17-16 victory over the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
Bruins of the Pacific-10 Conference. The conferences each divided up checks for $1 million as receipt for their teams playing. The game was not decided until Eathyn Manumaluena blocked Kai Forbath's game-winning 28-yard field goal attempt as time expired, avenging a 27-17 loss back on September 8 at UCLA's home field, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
.
Hawaii Bowl
- East Carolina2007 East Carolina Pirates football teamThe 2007 East Carolina Pirates football team represented East Carolina University in the college football season of 2007-08 and playws their home games in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium...
41, (24) Boise State2007 Boise State Broncos football teamThe 2007 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2007 college football season. The Broncos, led by second year head coach Chris Petersen, play their home games at Bronco Stadium, most famous for its blue artificial turf surface, often referred to as the...
38
The Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Hawaii Bowl
The Hawaii Bowl is a post-season National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision college football bowl game that has been played annually at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii since 2002. Typically played on either Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, the game matches teams from either...
at Aloha Stadium
Aloha Stadium
Aloha Stadium is a stadium located in the Halawa CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. Currently Aloha Stadium is home to the University of Hawaii Warriors football team...
in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
, saw the East Carolina University
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
Pirates of Conference USA defeat the WAC's Boise State University
Boise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
Broncos, 41-38. Boise State came back from a 38-14 third-quarter deficit, tying the game when Marty Tadman
Marty Tadman
Marty Tadman was a starting safety on Boise State's 2006-2007 Fiesta Bowl winning team, at which he earned the Defensive Player of the Game award. In the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, Tadman had two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.-External links:...
returned a Pirates fumble for a touchdown with 1:25 left. The Pirates answered with a game-ending 34-yard field goal from Ben Hartman to win their first bowl game since 2000. The conferences of both schools received a check for $750,000 apiece.
The University of Hawaii Warriors
2007 Hawaii Warriors football team
The 2007 Hawaii Warriors football team represented the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in the 2007 NCAA Division I-Bowl Subdivision college football season....
, the traditional Hawaii Bowl team as per its "Hawaii guarantee" agreement, did not play in this season's contest since they qualified for a BCS bowl. Additionally, the game was held on December 23 instead of the traditional annual date of December 24 (Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
) due to ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's commitments to broadcast a Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
game between the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Motor City Bowl
- Purdue2007 Purdue Boilermakers football teamThe 2007 Purdue Boilermakers football represented Purdue University in the Big Ten Conference during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Joe Tiller, in his 11th season at Purdue, was the team's head coach. The Boilermakers' home games were played at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette,...
51, 48
The Motor City Bowl
Motor City Bowl
The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl is a post-season college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played annually since 1997. The first five games were played at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. Starting in 2002, the game was moved to 65,000-seat Ford Field in downtown...
was played at Ford Field
Ford Field
Ford Field is an indoor American football stadium located in Detroit, Michigan, USA, that is the current home field of the NFL's Detroit Lions. It is owned by the Detroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority. It regularly seats 65,000, though it is expandable up to 70,000 for football and 80,000 for...
in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
on December 26. The Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
representatives, the Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
Boilermakers, withstood a furious comeback from the MAC
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
champion Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
Chippewas to win on a game-ending field goal, 51-48. The Chips came back from a 34-13 halftime deficit to tie it with 1:09 to play in regulation. Purdue then drove to the CMU 23-yard line, where kicker Chris Summers kicked a 40-yard field goal to end the game. Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter
Curtis Painter
Curtis Jeffrey Painter is a quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers.-High school career:...
threw 35-54 for three touchdowns, two interceptions, and a Motor City Bowl record 546 yards, which was also the fourth-highest passing yard total in post-season history. His counterpart, CMU quarterback Dan LeFevour, accounted for 406 (292 passing, 114 rushing) of CMU's 435 total yards and all 6 of his team's touchdowns (4 passing, 2 rushing). As for Butch Jones
Butch Jones
-External links:*...
, the CMU coach, who made his head coaching debut in last year's contest against Middle Tennessee State
2006 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team
The 2006 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team represented Middle Tennessee State University in the 2006 college football season. Middle Tennessee entered the 2006 season coming off a losing 4-7 record in 2005, which saw the dismissal of former head coach Andy McCollum. The team's new head...
, reports had him looking into the vacant West Virginia
West Virginia Mountaineers football
The West Virginia Mountaineers football team represents West Virginia University in the NCAA FBS division of college football. Dana Holgorsen is the team's 33rd head coach. He has held the position since he was promoted in June 2011 after the resignation of Bill Stewart. The Mountaineers play their...
job with a second interview scheduled after this game, but that never materialized. The conferences each received $750,000 for their teams' participation.
Champs Sports Bowl
- (14) Boston College 24, Michigan State2007 Michigan State Spartans football teamThe 2007 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2007–2008 college football season. Mark Dantonio began his first season as the Spartans' head coach. The Spartans play their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.-Schedule:-2008 NFL...
21
The Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
Eagles of the ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
narrowly defeated the Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
Spartans, 24-21, in the Champs Sports Bowl
Champs Sports Bowl
The Champs Sports Bowl is an annual college football bowl game that is played in Orlando, Florida, at the Citrus Bowl. The bowl is operated by Florida Citrus Sports, a non-profit group which also organizes the Capital One Bowl and Florida Classic...
on December 28 at the Citrus Bowl
Citrus Bowl
The Florida Citrus Bowl is a stadium in Orlando, Florida, USA, built for football, which currently seats around 70,000 people....
in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, the first of two post-season contests played there. The Eagles entered the game after losing the ACC Championship Game
2007 ACC Championship Game
The 2007 Dr. Pepper Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game featured the Boston College Eagles and the Virginia Tech Hokies in a regular-season college football game that determined the conference's champion for the 2007 season. Virginia Tech defeated Boston College 30–16 to win the ACC...
. Meanwhile, the Spartans, who were not expected to even play in a bowl, barely qualified for a bowl game after upsetting Penn State in the Land Grant Trophy
Land Grant Trophy
The Land Grant Trophy is presented to the winner of each football game between Michigan State and Penn State. The Michigan State Spartans are the current holder of the Land Grand Trophy after beating Penn State 28-22 in State College, PA; the victory ensured that the Spartans won a share of the...
game. Each conference received a stipend of $2.2 million for their teams.
Texas Bowl
- TCU2007 TCU Horned Frogs football teamThe 2007 Texas Christian Horned Frog football team represented Texas Christian University in the 2007 college football season. The team was coached by Gary Patterson, who took over the program in December 2000. The Frogs play their home games in Amon G...
20, 13
The Texas Bowl
Texas Bowl
The Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas, formerly known as the Texas Bowl, is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I FBS college football bowl game that was held for the first time in 2006 in Houston, Texas. The bowl replaced the now-defunct Houston Bowl, which was played annually from 2000 to 2005...
was played on December 28, when the Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
Horned Frogs, representing the Mountain West Conference, played Conference USA's University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
Cougars in a pseudo home game at Reliant Stadium
Reliant Stadium
Reliant Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Houston, Texas, USA. Reliant Stadium has a seating capacity of 71,500, a total square footage of with of natural grass playing surface....
in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, not far from the Astrodome
Reliant Astrodome
Reliant Astrodome, also known as the Houston Astrodome or simply the Astrodome, is the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, located in Houston, Texas, USA. The stadium is part of the Reliant Park complex...
where the Cougars played until moving back on campus to Robertson Stadium
Robertson Stadium
John O'Quinn Field at Corbin J. Robertson Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Houston, located on the campus of the University of Houston. It is the home of the Houston Cougars football and women's soccer teams...
in 1999. The Horned Frogs won the game, 20-13, in their first meeting since the disbanding of the Southwest Conference. Because the Big 12 failed to meet the minimum of eight schools for bowl eligibility (and a larger payout), the conferences received $612,500.
Emerald Bowl
- Oregon State2007 Oregon State Beavers football teamThe 2007 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State University in the college football season of 2007-2008. The team's head coach is Mike Riley. Home games are played at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Oregon.-Season notes:...
21, Maryland2007 Maryland Terrapins football teamThe 2007 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football season. It was the Terrapins' 55th season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference and its third within the...
14
In another game played on December 28, the Pac-10's Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
Beavers scored the game's final touchdown in the fourth quarter for a 21-14 victory against the ACC's
University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
Terrapins in the Emerald Bowl
Emerald Bowl
The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl is a post-season college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played annually at 40,800-seat AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, in San Francisco, California, since 2002...
at AT&T Park
AT&T Park
AT&T Park is a ballpark located in the South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, at the corner of Third and King Streets, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball since 2000....
in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, which normally serves as the home to the Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
team San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. The conferences involved received a $750,000 payment from the organizers.
Meineke Car Care Bowl
- Wake Forest2007 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football teamThe 2007 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Jim Grobe in his seventh season at the school and played its home games at BB&T Field. The team began its season with an Atlantic Coast...
24, (25) UConn2007 Connecticut Huskies football teamThe 2007 Connecticut Huskies football team represented the University of Connecticut in the 2007 college football season as a member of the Big East Conference. The team was coached by Randy Edsall and played its home games at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut...
10
The ACC's Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
Demon Deacons, defeated the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
Huskies from the Big East, 24-10, on December 29 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl at Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
's Bank of America Stadium
Bank of America Stadium
Bank of America Stadium is a 73,778-seat football stadium located on of land in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It is the home facility of the Carolina Panthers NFL franchise. It also hosts the annual Belk Bowl which features teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big East...
. Each conference got a $750,000 payment for the schools' involvement.
Liberty Bowl
- Mississippi State2007 Mississippi State Bulldogs football teamThe 2007 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University during the 2007 college football season. The team's head coach was Sylvester Croom, who served his fourth season in the position...
10, Central Florida2007 UCF Knights football teamThe 2007 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Their head coach is George O'Leary...
3
The AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Liberty Bowl
The Liberty Bowl is an annual U.S. American college football bowl game played in December of each year from 1959 to 2007 and in January in 2009 and 2010. The Liberty Bowl was sponsored by AXA Financial and was known as the AXA Liberty Bowl from 1997 to 2003...
was held on December 29 at the self-named Memorial Stadium
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium is a football stadium, located at the Mid-South Fairgrounds, in Midtown Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The stadium is the site of the annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl, and is the home field of the University of Memphis Tigers football team...
in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. The Conference USA champions, the University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
Golden Knights, lost in a defensive battle to the SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
representatives, the Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
Bulldogs, 10-3. The conferences received a $1.7 million check for the schools to divide amongst themselves.
Alamo Bowl
- Penn State2007 Penn State Nittany Lions football teamThe 2007 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2007 college football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania....
24, Texas A&M2007 Texas A&M Aggies football teamThe 2007 Texas A&M Aggies football team represented Texas A&M University in the 2007-2008 college football season. The team was coached by Dennis Franchione, who had coached at A&M since the 2003 season, but resigned at the conclusion of the annual game with the University of Texas...
17
The December 29 Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamo Bowl
The Alamo Bowl is a major American college football bowl game played annually since 1993 in the 65,000-seat Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. It matches the second choice team from the Pacific-12 Conference and the third choice team from the Big 12 Conference.Traditionally, the Alamo Bowl has been...
at the Alamodome
Alamodome
The Alamodome is a domed 65,000 seat, multi-purpose facility that is primarily used as a football/basketball stadium and convention center in San Antonio, Texas, U.S...
in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
saw the Big Ten's Nittany Lions from the Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
prevail over the Big 12's Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
Aggies by a score of 24-17 to finish in the nation ranked 25th. This was Penn State head coach Joe Paterno
Joe Paterno
Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with...
's 500th game. Texas A&M was led by interim coach Gary Darnell, after Dennis Franchione was excused, mired in scandal. Both schools earned a $2.2 million check for their conferences. This was the first season that Valero Energy was the title sponsor of the game, which was without one a season earlier after MasterCard International withdrew after the 2006 contest.
Independence Bowl
- Alabama2007 Alabama Crimson Tide football teamThe 2007 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season trying to improve from a disappointing 6–7 record in the 2006 season. The Tide was led by its new head coach Nick Saban, a former head coach of rival LSU. Despite a...
30, Colorado2007 Colorado Buffaloes football teamThe 2007 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Dan Hawkins in his second season at Colorado and played their home games at Folsom Field. Colorado finished 6-7 after losing in the...
24
The PetroSun Independence Bowl
Independence Bowl
The Independence Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game that is played annually at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, so named because it was inaugurated in the United States bicentennial year, 1976....
in Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
at Independence Stadium on December 30 saw the SEC's University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
Crimson Tide score 27 first half points against the Big 12's University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
Buffaloes. Alabama then prevented a late Colorado comeback to hold on to win, 30-24. Each conference received a payout of $1.1 million.
Armed Forces Bowl
- Cal2007 California Golden Bears football teamThe 2007 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the college football 2007-2008 season. They played their home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California and were coached by Jeff Tedford....
42, Air Force2007 Air Force Falcons football teamThe 2007 United States Air Force Academy Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the college football season of 2007–2008, getting second place in the Mountain West Conference, and losing the Armed Forces Bowl to California...
36
The Bell Helicopters Armed Forces Bowl
Armed Forces Bowl
The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl is an annual postseason college football bowl game that was inaugurated in 2003 as the Fort Worth Bowl under corporate sponsorship of PlainsCapital Bank. In 2005, the game was without corporate sponsorship...
was played on December 31 at Amon G. Carter Stadium
Amon G. Carter Stadium
Amon G. Carter Stadium is an open-air football stadium on the campus of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. It is the home stadium of the TCU Horned Frogs football team. It was named after Amon G...
on the campus of Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
. The Pac 10's University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
Golden Bears defeated the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
Falcons from the Mountain West, 42-36. The conferences received $750,000 as a receipt for the teams participating.
Humanitarian Bowl
- Fresno State2007 Fresno State Bulldogs football teamThe 2007 Fresno State football team represent California State University, Fresno in the 2007 college football season. This season will be the Bulldogs' 27th in their current home of Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, California, and their 11th with Pat Hill as head coach.-Pre-Season:At the end of the 2006...
40, Georgia Tech2007 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football teamThe 2007 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology in the college football season of 2007–2008. The team's coach was former Dallas Cowboys, Samford Bulldogs, and Troy Trojans coach Chan Gailey...
28
Another contest on December 31 was the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl at Bronco Stadium
Bronco Stadium
Bronco Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Boise, Idaho, the home field of the Boise State Broncos of the Mountain West Conference. Since 1997, it has hosted the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Bronco Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Boise, Idaho, the home field of the Boise State Broncos...
on the campus of Boise State University
Boise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
in Boise, Idaho
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
, best known for its blue "Smurf Turf". The former MPC Bowl reverted back to its original "Humanitarian Bowl" name after Roady's Truck Stops replaced Micron Technology
Micron Technology
Micron Technology, Inc. is an American multinational corporation based in Boise, Idaho, USA, best known for producing many forms of semiconductor devices. This includes DRAM, SDRAM, flash memory, SSD and CMOS image sensing chips. Consumers may be more familiar with its consumer brand Crucial...
as its sponsor. In this season's game, the WAC's California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno, often referred to as Fresno State University and synonymously known in athletics as Fresno State , is one of the leading campuses of the California State University system, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.The campus sits at the foot of...
Bulldogs beat the Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
(more commonly known as Georgia Tech) Yellow Jackets from the ACC, 40-28. Each conference received a $750,000 payout to be divided among fellow members.
Music City Bowl
- Kentucky2007 Kentucky Wildcats football teamThe 2007 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the college football season of 2007-2008. The team's head football coach was Rich Brooks, in his 5th year as Kentucky's head coach. The Wildcats played their home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky...
35, Florida State2007 Florida State Seminoles football teamThe 2007 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University during the 2007 college football season. Florida State entered the 2007 season coming off a 2006 that ended with an overall record of 7-6, which was head coach Bobby Bowden's worst record since going 6-5 in 1981,...
28
The Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl
Music City Bowl
The Music City Bowl is a post-season American college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played in Nashville, Tennessee, since 1998.-Site:The first Music City Bowl was played at Vanderbilt Stadium in 1998...
at LP Field
LP Field
LP Field is a football stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, owned by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County....
in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
was held on December 31. The University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
Wildcats made their second consecutive Music City Bowl appearance, having defeated Clemson
2006 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2006 Clemson football team represented Clemson University in the 2006 college football season The team was coached by Tommy Bowden and played their homes game in the Memorial Stadium.-Notable:...
, coached by Tommy Bowden
Tommy Bowden
Tommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008...
during the 2006-07 season. This year, they played another ACC team coached by a Bowden, this time the Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
Seminoles of father Bobby
Bobby Bowden
Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons...
. The Seminoles came into the game missing thirty-four players due to injuries, violations of team rules, and suspensions stemming from a large cheating scandal. The Wildcats won 35-28 to finish 8-5 for the second straight year, giving them back-to-back bowl wins for the first time since 1952. Also for the second straight year, Wildcats quarterback André Woodson
André Woodson
Andre' Woodson, Jr. is an American football quarterback. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft and is currently a free agent. Woodson played collegiately at the University of Kentucky...
was the game's MVP. Each conference got a payment of $1.5 million to be divided amongst their members.
Insight Bowl
- 49, Indiana2007 Indiana Hoosiers football teamThe 2007 Indiana Hoosiers football team represented Indiana University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hoosiers were coached by Bill Lynch, who was in his first season as head coach following the death of Terry Hoeppner. The Hoosiers played their home games in Memorial...
33
At the Insight Bowl
Insight Bowl
The Insight Bowl is an NCAA college football bowl game played in Arizona since 1989. From 1989 to 1999, the games were played at Arizona Stadium in Tucson. The game moved to Phoenix in 2000 and was played at Chase Field until 2005. After the 2005 playing the Insight Bowl moved to Sun Devil Stadium...
played at Sun Devil Stadium
Sun Devil Stadium
Sun Devil Stadium is an outdoor football stadium, located on the campus of Arizona State University, in Tempe, Arizona, United States. The stadium's current seating capacity is 71,706 and the playing surface is natural grass...
on the campus of Arizona State University in the Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
suburb of Tempe
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
on December 31, the Oklahoma State University-Stillwater Cowboys from the Big 12 beat the Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
Hoosiers of the Big Ten, 49-33. In spite of the loss, IU fulfilled a dream for their late head coach Terry Hoeppner
Terry Hoeppner
Terry Hoeppner was an American college football coach who served as head coach of the Miami RedHawks from 1999 to 2004 and the Indiana Hoosiers from 2005 to 2006...
before his untimely passing earlier this year to play one more game for a total of "13", the team's motto for the 2007 season. As payment, the participating conferences each received $1.2 million.
International Bowl
- Rutgers2007 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football teamFor the first time in the history of Rutgers football, the team entered a season ranked - 16th in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls. The Scarlet Knights finished the season with an 8-5 record that included a 52-30 victory over the Ball State Cardinals in the 2008 International Bowl...
52, Ball State2007 Ball State Cardinals football teamThe 2007 Ball State Cardinals football team competed in football on behalf of the Ball State University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season...
30
The second International Bowl
International Bowl
The International Bowl was a National Collegiate Athletic Association collegiate American football bowl game played in Toronto from 2007 through 2010...
was contested at Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium, in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League...
in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on January 5, 2008. The Big East's Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
Scarlet Knights defeated the MAC's Ball State University
Ball State University
Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
Cardinals, 52-30. Rutgers running back, Ray Rice
Ray Rice
Raymell Maurice Rice is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Rutgers. He is currently ranked as the Baltimore Ravens third all-time rusher in...
rushed for 280 yards and four touchdowns to earn MVP honors. The conferences involved each got $750,000 to split between their schools.
GMAC Bowl
- 63, Bowling Green2007 Bowling Green Falcons football teamThe 2007 Bowling Green Falcons football team represented Bowling Green State University in the 2007 NCAA football season. The team was coached by Gregg Brandon and played their home games in Doyt Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio. It was the 89th season of play for the Falcons. Bowling Green...
7
The GMAC Bowl
GMAC Bowl
The GoDaddy.com Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football bowl game that has been played annually at Ladd Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama since 1999. It currently matches teams from the Sun Belt Conference and the Mid-American Conference, and...
was played in Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
's Ladd Peebles Stadium
Ladd Peebles Stadium
Ladd Peebles Stadium is a stadium in Mobile, Alabama. It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field for the Senior Bowl, the GoDaddy.com Bowl, the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic, and the University of South Alabama Jaguars...
on January 6, 2008. The Conference USA's Golden Hurricane of University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
dominated the Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
Falcons from the Mid-American Conference, 63-7. The 63 points posted by the Hurricane was the most since beating Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
, 70-7 in 1970. In addition, the 56-point margin of victory set an NCAA record for most lopsided win in any bowl, bettering Alabama's 55-point blowout of Syracuse
Syracuse Orange football
The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision...
, 61-6, in the 1953 Orange Bowl. The bowl paid their leagues $750,000 apiece for their teams.
New Year's Day and other Prestigious Non-BCS Bowl Games
The following seven bowl games are either held traditionally on January 1 or have featured large payouts. In addition, a majority of these games are aired on broadcastBroadcast network
A broadcast network is an organization, such as a corporation or other voluntary association, that provides live television or recorded content, such as movies, newscasts, sports, Public affairs programming, and other television programs for broadcast over a group of radio stations or television...
television network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
s such as CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, ABC
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
or Fox
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
instead of cable network
Cable network
A cable channel is a television channel available via cable television. Such channels are usually also available via satellite television, including direct broadcast satellite providers such as DirecTV, Dish Network and BSkyB...
s like ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
or NFL Network
NFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
.
Holiday Bowl
- (19) Texas 52, (11) Arizona State2007 Arizona State Sun Devils football teamThe 2007 Arizona State Sun Devils football team represented Arizona State University in the college football season of 2007-2008. The team played its home games at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.-Schedule:-San Jose State:...
34
The Pacific Life Holiday Bowl
Holiday Bowl
The Holiday Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A college football bowl game that has been played annually at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, since 1978. Beginning with the 2010 playing the bowl will officially be known as the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl after...
was played on December 27 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, which also hosted the Poinsettia Bowl a week earlier. The University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
Longhorns, the representatives of the Big 12
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
, coached by Mack Brown
Mack Brown
William Mack Brown is head coach of The University of Texas at Austin Longhorn football team.Prior to his head coach position at Texas, Brown was head coach at Appalachian State, Tulane, and North Carolina. Brown is credited with revitalizing the Texas and North Carolina football programs...
, defeated the Pac-10's Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
Sun Devils under the leadership of Dennis Erickson
Dennis Erickson
Dennis Erickson is an American football coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Arizona State University until November 28, 2011, a position he had held since the 2007 season. In 2008 the Arizona Board of Regents had approved a contract extension to keep Erickson at Arizona...
, 52-34. Each conference will get a $2.2 million payout as receipt of the schools playing.
Sun Bowl
- Oregon2007 Oregon Ducks football teamThe 2007 Oregon Ducks football team represents the University of Oregon in the college football season of 2007. The team is coached by Mike Bellotti and plays their home games at Autzen Stadium....
56, (21) South Florida2007 South Florida Bulls football teamThe 2007 University of South Florida Bulls football team represented the University of South Florida in the 2007 college football season. Their head coach was Jim Leavitt, and the USF Bulls will played all of their home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL...
21
The Brut Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl
The Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl...
was contested on December 31 at the eponymous named stadium
Sun Bowl Stadium
The Sun Bowl is an outdoor football stadium, on the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso. It is home to the UTEP Miners of Conference USA , and the late December college football bowl game, the Hyundai Sun Bowl...
in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
on the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso
University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Texas System. Its campus is located on the bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. The school was founded in 1914 as The Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy,...
, pitting the Pac 10's University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
Ducks and the Big East's University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
Bulls. After a first half that saw both teams tied at one point at 11-11, the Ducks scored 38 points in the second half to clinch a 56-21 win. Both schools netted a payout of $1.9 million for their conference coffers.
Chick-fil-A Bowl
- (23) Auburn2007 Auburn Tigers football teamThe 2007 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Head coach Tommy Tuberville returned for his ninth season at Auburn, the third longest tenure among SEC head coaches in 2007. He was joined by returning offensive coordinator Al...
23, (15) Clemson2007 Clemson Tigers football teamThe 2007 Clemson football team represented Clemson University in the 2007 college football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Tommy Bowden and played their home games in Memorial Stadium.- Notable :...
20 (OT)
The Chick-fil-A Bowl
Chick-fil-A Bowl
The Chick-fil-A Bowl, formerly called the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and before that simply called the Peach Bowl, is an annual college football bowl game played in Atlanta, Georgia since December 1968. The first three Peach Bowls were played at Grant Field on the Georgia Tech campus in Atlanta....
was played on December 31 in the Georgia Dome
Georgia Dome
The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
between two teams with the same moniker: Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
from the ACC and Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
from the SEC, both referred to as "Tigers." During the contest, Auburn unveiled a new spread offense implemented by new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin
Tony Franklin (coach)
Tony Franklin is an American college football coach, currently serving as the offensive coordinator for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs of Western Athletic Conference....
. Despite an early bowl-record 83-yard touchdown run by Clemson's C.J. Spiller, Auburn was able to record a 23-20 victory when freshman backup quarterback Kodi Burns ended the first overtime game in Chick-fil-A Bowl history with a seven yard walk-off touchdown. The payouts were $3.25 million for the higher priority selection from the ACC and $2.4 million for the SEC representative. The Chick-fil-A Bowl was the highest-rated ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
-broadcast bowl game of the 2007-2008 season, and the highest rated in the game's history.
Outback Bowl
- (16) Tennessee2007 Tennessee Volunteers football teamThe 2007 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the college football season of 2007–2008. They won the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference before falling to the eventual national champion LSU Tigers in the SEC Championship Game...
21, (18) Wisconsin2007 Wisconsin Badgers football teamThe 2007 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by head coach Bret Bielema, the Badgers completed the season with a 9-4 record, including a 5-3 mark in Big Ten Conference play...
17
In the first of two Big Ten-SEC matchups played on New Years' Day, the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
Volunteers defeated the Badgers from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, 21-17, in the Outback Bowl
Outback Bowl
The Outback Bowl is an annual New Year's Day college football bowl game played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The event was originally called the Hall of Fame Bowl from 1986 to 1994 until being renamed in 1995 for its new title sponsor, Outback Steakhouse...
at Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
's Raymond James Stadium
Raymond James Stadium
Raymond James Stadium, also known as the "Ray Jay", is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Tampa, Florida. It is home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the NCAA's South Florida Bulls football team. The stadium seats 65,857 , and it is expandable to 75,000 for special events...
. Both conferences were guaranteed a $3 million paycheck.
Cotton Bowl Classic
- (6) Missouri2007 Missouri Tigers football teamThe 2007 Missouri Tigers football team represented the University of Missouri in college football's 2007 season. The team was coached by Gary Pinkel and played their home games at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium....
38, Arkansas2007 Arkansas Razorbacks football teamThe 2007 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2007–2008 football season. The Razorbacks played six home games at Donald W...
7
Despite having one of their most successful seasons in school history, the University of Missouri-Columbia
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
Tigers were only selected to play at the non-BCS AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic on January 1 after suffering their only two losses for the year to Oklahoma (the latter in the Big 12 Championship Game). Mizzou then blew out their bowl game opponent, the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
Razorbacks from the SEC, 38-7. The conferences received $3 million apiece. Tigers running back Tony Temple
Tony Temple
Tony Temple is the former starting running back for the Missouri Tigers football team representing the University of Missouri. Temple played for the Tigers from 2004 to 2007...
set game records with 281 yards on the ground and four touchdowns while Razorback runner Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden is an American football running back who currently plays for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Arkansas from 2005 to 2007...
was limited to 102 yards.
This was the second-to-last Cotton Bowl Classic to be played at the namesake stadium
Cotton Bowl (stadium)
The Cotton Bowl is a stadium which opened in 1929 and became known as "The House That Doak Built" due to the immense crowds that former SMU running back Doak Walker drew to the stadium during his college career in the late 1940s. Originally known as Fair Park Stadium, it is located in Fair Park,...
in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
; the game will move to nearby Cowboys Stadium in Arlington
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
beginning 2010.
Gator Bowl
- Texas Tech2007 Texas Tech Red Raiders football teamThe 2007 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team represented Texas Tech University in the college football season of 2007–2008. The team was coached by Mike Leach...
31, (20) Virginia2007 Virginia Cavaliers football teamThe 2007 Virginia Cavaliers football team represented the University of Virginia in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's coach is coach Al Groh. They played their home games at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia.- Preseason :...
28
The Big 12's Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
Red Raiders defeated the ACC's University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
Cavaliers, 31-28, in the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl
Gator Bowl
The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally...
at Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
's Municipal Stadium on January 1. Alex Trlica
Alex Trlica
Alex Trlica was a kicker for the Texas Tech Red Raiders football team.As of January 9, 2007, Trlica held the NCAA record for successful point after tries. During his college career, he made 233 consecutive PATs without a miss...
kicked the game-winning 41-yard field goal with :07 left in the game. The kick capped off a 17-point burst by Texas Tech in the final 3:31 to come from behind. Red Raiders quarterback Graham Harrell
Graham Harrell
Graham Harrell is an American football quarterback. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers and is currently on their scout team. He played college football at Texas Tech.-Early years:...
completed 44 out of 69 passes for 407 yards and three touchdowns. Cavaliers running back Mikell Simpson
Mikell Simpson
Mikell V. Simpson is an American college football player. He was most recently a running back for the Virginia Cavaliers of the University of Virginia.-Early years:...
scored on a 96-yard touchdown run, the longest run in NCAA bowl history, in the losing effort. A $5.5 million payout awaited both participating conferences. Konica Minolta replaced Toyota as title sponsor as of this game.
Capital One Bowl
- Michigan2007 Michigan Wolverines football teamThe 2007 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 2007 college football season. This was Lloyd Carr's final season as Michigan head coach. The 2007 season began with a stunning loss to Appalachian State, but the Wolverines won eight straight games after...
41, (12) Florida2007 Florida Gators football teamThe 2007 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2007 college football season...
35
In his final game, head coach Lloyd Carr
Lloyd Carr
Lloyd H. Carr is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Michigan from 1995 through the 2007 season. Under Carr, the Wolverines compiled a record of 122–40 and won or shared five Big Ten Conference titles...
's University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
Wolverines of the Big Ten upset the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
Gators led by Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winning sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow
Timothy Richard "Tim" Tebow is an American football player who is currently the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Broncos as the 25th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft...
, 41-35 at the Capital One Bowl
Capital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
on January 1. The game was the second bowl contest held at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida during the 2007-08 bowl season. The participating conferences received the largest payout of any non-BCS game at $4.25 million per conference.
Bowl Championship Series
Each Bowl Championship SeriesBowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
(BCS) game had a payout of between $14 million and $17 million to each conference. Three conferences – the Big Ten, the Big 12 and the SEC – earned a second berth as a result of at-large selections. In those cases, an additional $6 million was given to be divided between all schools in those conferences. Because the University of Hawaii earned an at-large berth in the Sugar Bowl, the MAC, WAC, Mountain West, Conference USA and Sun Belt conferences divided $18 million for their schools.
Rose Bowl Game
- (7) Southern California2007 USC Trojans football teamThe 2007 University of Southern California Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California during the college football season of 2007–2008, winning a share of the Pacific-10 Conference Championship and winning the 2008 Rose Bowl...
49, (13) Illinois2007 Illinois Fighting Illini football teamThe 2007 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois in the 2007–2008 college football season. The team's head coach was Ron Zook. The Illini played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois...
17
In the first BCS Game on January 1, 2008, the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
Trojans defeated the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
Fighting Illini, 49-17 in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi at self-named facility
Rose Bowl (stadium)
The Rose Bowl is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pasadena, California, U.S., in Los Angeles County. The stadium is the site of the annual college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl, held on New Year's Day. In 1982, it became the home field of the UCLA Bruins college football team of the Pac-12...
in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. The Trojans victory one of the most lopsided wins in the history of the game often referred to as "The Granddaddy of Them All". Quarterback John David Booty
John David Booty
John David Booty is an American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He last played for the Houston Texans until being cut on September 4, 2010. He played college football at USC.Booty has also been a member of the Tennessee Titans...
was named offensive MVP of the game.
The Trojans were Pac-10 champions for the third straight year, overcoming an upset loss by Stanford in October
2007 Stanford vs. Southern California football game
The 2007 Stanford vs. Southern California football game was a college football game held on October 6, 2007, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. In a remarkable upset, the visiting Stanford Cardinal won 24–23. Southern California was favored by 41 points over Stanford,...
at home as a 40-point favorite. Meanwhile, the Fighting Illini finished as the only other team from the Big Ten in the regular season Top 14 BCS rankings. After they beat The Ohio State University Buckeyes in one of the biggest upsets of the regular season, Illinois finished in second place in the Big Ten, and qualified for the Rose Bowl after the conference champion Buckeyes earned a berth in the BCS National Championship Game.
Sugar Bowl
- (5) Georgia2007 Georgia Bulldogs football teamThe 2007 Georgia Bulldogs football team competed on behalf of the University of Georgia in American football against teams from other colleges and universities. The Bulldogs tied for first place in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference but lost a tie-breaker with the University of...
41, (10) Hawaii2007 Hawaii Warriors football teamThe 2007 Hawaii Warriors football team represented the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in the 2007 NCAA Division I-Bowl Subdivision college football season....
10
The Allstate Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
on January 1, the second bowl contest played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, pitted the University of Hawaii at Mānoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
The University of Hawaii at Mānoa is a public, co-educational university and is the flagship campus of the greater University of Hawaii system...
Warriors against the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
Bulldogs. The Warriors completed an unbeaten regular season with the "run and shoot" offense of head coach June Jones
June Jones
June Sheldon Jones, III is the American football head coach for Southern Methodist University.-Playing career:Jones played the quarterback position on three college teams: Oregon , Hawaii , and Portland State . It is during his time at Portland State that he was introduced to the Run and Shoot...
, clinching the WAC championship. The Bulldogs finished with a 10-2 overall record, tied for first place in the SEC Eastern Division (UGA did not qualify for the SEC Championship Game
2007 SEC Championship Game
The 2007 SEC Championship Game was played on December 1, 2007 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. The game determined the 2007 football champion of the Southeastern Conference. The LSU Tigers, winners of the Western division of the SEC, defeated the Tennessee Volunteers, who won the Eastern...
, however, because they lost a head-to-head tiebreaker
Tiebreaker
In games and sports, a tiebreaker or tiebreak is used to determine a winner from among players or teams that are tied at the end of a contest, or a set of contests.-In matches:In some situations, the tiebreaker may consist of another round of play...
the Tennessee Volunteers). UGA took advantage of errors by Hawaii en route to an easy 41-10 victory. Almost a week later, Jones resigned to take the job at Southern Methodist University
SMU Mustangs
The SMU Mustangs is the name of the athletic teams representing Southern Methodist University. The Mustangs participate in the NCAA's Division I as a member of Conference USA. In 2005, SMU accepted an invitation to the Western Division of Conference USA, and left the Western Athletic Conference...
.
Fiesta Bowl
- (9) West Virginia2007 West Virginia Mountaineers football teamThe 2007 West Virginia Mountaineers football team began play on September 1, 2007. The team was coached by Rich Rodriguez until he announced on December 16, 2007 that he was leaving West Virginia to coach the Michigan Wolverines. The head coaching position remained vacant after his announcement,...
48, (4) Oklahoma2007 Oklahoma Sooners football teamThe 2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football season of 2007-2008, winning the Big 12 Conference Championship for the fifth time in eight years. The team was led by head coach Bob Stoops...
28
The Tosititos Fiesta Bowl
Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
was played at Glendale, Arizona
Glendale, Arizona
Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 226,721....
's University of Phoenix Stadium
University of Phoenix Stadium
University of Phoenix Stadium, opened August 1, 2006, is a multipurpose football stadium located in Glendale, Arizona. It is the home of the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League and the annual Fiesta Bowl...
on January 2, 2008. The West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
Mountaineers upset the Big 12 champion University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
Sooners, 48-28.
The Mountaineers entered the game as the Big East champions, but were spoiled on the last day of the regular season in the Backyard Brawl
Backyard Brawl
The Backyard Brawl is an annual football game between the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and the West Virginia University Mountaineers. The term "Backyard Brawl" has also been used to refer to college basketball games played annually or semi-iannually and may also be used to refer to other...
against the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
as the number two team in the rankings. The Sooners were coming off a win over Missouri in the Big 12 Championship Game.
The loss was the fourth straight in the BCS and second consecutive in the Fiesta Bowl for head coach Bob Stoops
Bob Stoops
Robert Anthony "Bob" Stoops is the head coach of the University of Oklahoma football team. During the 2000 season, Stoops led the Sooners to an Orange Bowl victory and a national championship....
' Sooners, who lost a memorable game a year earlier
2007 Fiesta Bowl
The 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl was a college football bowl game played as part of the 2006–2007 Bowl Championship Series of the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season...
to Boise State
2006 Boise State Broncos football team
The 2006 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2006 college football season. The Broncos won the Western Athletic Conference championship with an undefeated 12–0 regular-season record , their second unbeaten regular season in the past three years...
. Bill Stewart
Bill Stewart (football coach)
Bill "Stew" Stewart is an American football coach. He was named interim head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers after Rich Rodriguez left for Michigan in December 2007. After leading the Mountaineers to a 48–28 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl, he was formally...
, who led the Mountaineers after Rich Rodriguez
Rich Rodriguez
Richard A. "Rich" Rodriguez is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arizona. Rodriguez previously served as the head football coach at Salem University , Glenville State College , West Virginia University , and the University...
bolted for Michigan after the regular season, was rewarded for his work in this game by being named permanent head coach for the 2008 season.
Orange Bowl
- (8) Kansas2007 Kansas Jayhawks football teamThe 2007 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas for the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision intercollegiate football season of 2007-2008...
24, (3) Virginia Tech2007 Virginia Tech Hokies football teamThe 2007 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season...
21
On January 3, 2008, while much of the country was focused on the first major preliminary event of the 2008 Presidential Election campaign in the USA, the Iowa caucuses, the Big 12's University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
Jayhawks defeated the ACC Champion Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
(Virginia Tech) Hokies, 24-21, at the FedEx Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Florida
Miami Gardens, Florida
Miami Gardens is a Miami suburban city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name comes from one of the major roadways through the area, Miami Gardens Drive. According to the 2010 U.S...
's Dolphin Stadium
Dolphin Stadium
Sun Life Stadium is an American football stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, a suburb of Miami. It is the home stadium of the Miami Dolphins National Football League team, and the University of Miami Hurricanes football team. It also hosts the Orange Bowl, an annual college football bowl game. It...
.
2008 BCS National Championship Game
- (2) LSU2007 LSU Tigers football teamThe 2007 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University during the college football season of 2007–2008, winning the Southeastern Conference championship and the national championship. The team's Head Coach was Les Miles who entered his third year at the helm of LSU Football...
38, (1) Ohio State2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football teamThe 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team competed in football on behalf of the Ohio State University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes were coached by Jim Tressel and played their home games in Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio...
24
The 2008 Allstate BCS National Championship Game
2008 BCS National Championship Game
The 2008 Allstate BCS National Championship Game was played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Monday, January 7, 2008, and featured the #1 and #2 college football teams in the United States as determined by the BCS Poll to decide the BCS National Championship for the 2007...
was the third post-season contest at New Orleans' Louisiana Superdome and was played on January 7, 2008. The SEC Champion Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
Tigers overcame a 10-0 deficit to beat the Big Ten Champion Ohio State University Buckeyes, 38-24, in front of a crowd of 79,651. The LSU Tigers thus became the first team to win two BCS titles and the first to win a national championship with two losses (both in triple overtime to Kentucky and Arkansas).
Bowl Challenge Cup
| Conference | Bowl Appearances | Final Poll Top 25 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Record | % | Winners | Losers | # | Teams | AP Rank | CP Rank |
* - The Sun Belt is ineligible for the Bowl Challenge Cup
Bowl Challenge Cup
The Bowl Challenge Cup was created by ESPN in 2002 as a competition among the conferences in the NCAA's Division I-A, now called the Football Bowl Subdivision, to see which one was the best in the college football bowl games that take place...
as they failed to have the minimum three teams to qualify.
† - Clinched 2007-08 Bowl Challenge Cup.
NOTE: BCS conferences had a 6-2 mark against their "mid-major" brethren in 2007-08.
Associated PressAP PollThe Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
1. LSU (60 First Place votes)2. Georgia (3)
3. USC (1)
4. Missouri
5. Ohio State
6. West Virginia
7. Kansas (1)
8. Oklahoma
9. Virginia Tech
10. Boston College
(tie) Texas
12. Tennessee
13. Florida
14. Brigham Young
15. Auburn
16. Arizona State
17. Cincinnati
18. Michigan
19. Hawaii
20. Illinois
21. Clemson
22. Texas Tech
23. Oregon
24. Wisconsin
25. Oregon State
USA Today Coaches PollCoaches PollThe USA Today Coaches' Poll is the current name for a weekly ranking of the top 25 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and Division I college basketball teams....
1. LSU (60 first place votes)*2. USC
3. Georgia
4. Ohio State
5. Missouri
6. West Virginia
7. Kansas
8. Oklahoma
9. Virginia Tech
10. Texas
11. Boston College
12. Tennessee
13. Arizona State
14. Auburn
(tie) Brigham Young
16. Florida
17. Hawaii
18. Illinois
19. Michigan
20. Cincinnati
21. Wisconsin
22. Clemson
23. Texas Tech
24. Oregon
25. Penn State
American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
members who participate in the poll must list the BCS Title Game winner on all ballots in the first place position.
Post-BCS All-Star Games
| All-Star Game | Date | Location | Television | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornerstone Bancard Hula Bowl Hula Bowl The Hula Bowl was an independently administered post-season invitational college football game held each year in Hawaii from 1947 to 2008. The game was last played at Aloha Stadium in the Hālawa district of Honolulu, Hawaii. At one point the longest-running sporting event in Hawaii, it had been... |
January 12, 2008 | Aloha Stadium Aloha Stadium Aloha Stadium is a stadium located in the Halawa CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. Currently Aloha Stadium is home to the University of Hawaii Warriors football team... , Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and... |
ESPN ESPN Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming.... |
Aina (East) 38, Kai (West) 7 |
| East-West Shrine Game East-West Shrine Game The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners... |
January 19, 2008 | Robertson Stadium Robertson Stadium John O'Quinn Field at Corbin J. Robertson Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Houston, located on the campus of the University of Houston. It is the home of the Houston Cougars football and women's soccer teams... , Houston, Texas Houston, Texas Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ... |
ESPN2 ESPN2 ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,... |
West 31, East 17 |
| Under Armour Senior Bowl Senior Bowl The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium... |
January 26, 2008 | Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama Mobile, Alabama Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest... |
NFL Network NFL Network NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation... |
South 17, North 16 |
| Western Refining Texas vs. The Nation Game Texas vs. The Nation Game The NFLPA Game is a post-season college football all-star game that was established in 2006 as the concluding game of the college football post-season. The game is currently played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The game was previously known as the Texas vs... |
February 2, 2008 | Sun Bowl Stadium Sun Bowl Stadium The Sun Bowl is an outdoor football stadium, on the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso. It is home to the UTEP Miners of Conference USA , and the late December college football bowl game, the Hyundai Sun Bowl... , UTEP University of Texas at El Paso The University of Texas at El Paso is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Texas System. Its campus is located on the bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. The school was founded in 1914 as The Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy,... , El Paso, Texas El Paso, Texas El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States... |
CSTV | Texas 41, The Nation 14 |