The Unforgettable Season: A Look Back at NCAA Football 2007
The 2007 NCAA Division I FBS season was a rollercoaster of upsets, broken records, and unexpected turns that captivated college football fans across the nation. From the stunning opening weekend to the climactic BCS National Championship Game, the season delivered unforgettable moments and cemented its place in college football history. The regular season began on August 30, 2007, and ended on December 1, 2007. The postseason concluded on January 7, 2008, with the BCS National Championship Game in New Orleans.
A Season of Chaos: "Year of the Upset"
The 2007 season will forever be remembered as the "Year of the Upset." A remarkable 59 times, an unranked or lower-ranked opponent triumphed over a higher-ranked team during the regular season. This unprecedented level of chaos kept fans on the edge of their seats and challenged the established order of college football.
The season's opening weekend set the tone for the madness to come. FCS program Appalachian State traveled to Michigan Stadium and pulled off a monumental upset, defeating No. 5 Michigan. This victory was immediately hailed as one of the greatest upsets in college football history, sending shockwaves throughout the sport.
The "Curse of No. 2"
Adding to the unpredictability, the 2007 season was also plagued by the so-called "Curse of No. 2." Seemingly cursed, the team ranked No. 2 in the nation faced a series of stunning defeats:
- Stanford defeated No. 2 USC, 24-23, on October 6 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC was favored to win the game by 41 points, having carried winning streaks of 35 games at home and 24 games in Pac-10 play into the matchup.
- Oregon State defeated No. 2 California.
- Rutgers defeated No. 2 South Florida.
- Florida State defeated No. 2 Boston College.
- Arizona defeated No. 2 Oregon.
- No. 4 Missouri defeated No. 2 Kansas, 36-28, on November 24 at Arrowhead Stadium in a Border War rivalry game.
- Pittsburgh defeated No. 2 West Virginia, 13-9, on December 1 at Mountaineer Field in a Backyard Brawl rivalry game.
Adding to the chaos, No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams suffered losses in the same week multiple times throughout the season. This hadn't happened since 1996, highlighting the extraordinary parity and unpredictability of the 2007 campaign.
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- No. 1 LSU lost to Kentucky 43-37 in three overtimes.
- No. 1 LSU lost to Arkansas 50-48 in three overtimes on November 23.
- No. 2 Kansas lost to No. 4 Missouri.
- No. 1 Missouri lost to No. 9 Oklahoma 38-17 in the Big 12 Championship Game.
Conference Championships and BCS Implications
The conference championship games further shaped the landscape of the BCS standings. Key results included:
- No. 1 Missouri lost to No. 9 Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Game.
- UCF clinched its first C-USA title.
- Brennan set a passing TD mark to claim Hawaii's first outright WAC title.
The BCS National Championship
The season culminated in the BCS National Championship Game in New Orleans, where the No. 2-ranked Louisiana State Tigers (LSU) faced the No. 1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. LSU emerged victorious, securing the national title in a hard-fought contest. For just the second time in the Bowl Championship Series era, no FBS team finished the season undefeated.
Coaching Changes
The conclusion of the 2007 season triggered a significant wave of coaching changes across the FBS landscape. Several high-profile programs sought new leadership, leading to a carousel of hirings and firings.
- Houston hired Sumlin.
- Michigan coach Carr stepped down after 13 seasons. Rodriguez left West Virginia to coach Michigan.
- Orgeron was fired at Ole Miss, and Nutt moved quickly to Mississippi.
- Nebraska AD Osborne fired Callahan. Nebraska chose LSU assistant Pelini as the new coach.
- NIU coach Joe Novak retired. Huskies hired a former coach of the year from Southern Illinois.
- SMU fired football coach Phil Bennett. Jones left Hawaii and agreed to be SMU coach.
- Bower didn't return for his 18th season at Southern Miss. Fedora went to Southern Miss.
- A&M coach resigned after 5 rocky seasons. Sherman became the next Aggies coach.
- UCLA fired coach Dorrell. Former UCLA quarterback Neuheisel was named head coach.
- WSU fired head coach Doba. Wulff returned to Pullman to coach his alma mater.
- Baylor football coach Morriss was out in his 5th season. Houston's Briles took the Baylor job.
- Duke fired Roof after a 1-11 finish. Cutcliffe embraced the rebuilding opportunity at Duke.
- Gailey was fired at Tech after six seasons. Johnson accepted the offer to become the Yellow Jackets coach.
- Nutt turned down an offer to remain Razorbacks coach. Petrino left the NFL for the Arkansas job.
Key Moments and Record-Breaking Performances
Beyond the upsets and coaching changes, the 2007 season was filled with individual brilliance and record-breaking performances. Some notable highlights include:
- Kentucky's Woodson broke the record for passes without an interception. Woodson's record-setting streak of pass attempts without an interception began on November 4, 2006, against Georgia.
- McFadden and Jones broke the NCAA record for combined rushing yards.
- Maclin set a single-season freshman record for all-purpose yards.
- Brennan set a passing TD mark.
- Patrick ran for a career-best 202 yards.
- Smith's 14th straight 300-yard game led Tulsa past Bowling Green.
Award Winners
The season's top performers were recognized with prestigious awards:
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- Tim Tebow won awards.
- LSU's Dorsey beat out OSU's Laurinaitis for the Nagurski Award.
- Razorback Jonathan Luigs won the Rimington Trophy.
- Texas center Griffin won the Draddy Award as the top scholar-athlete.
- Virginia's Long won the Hendricks Award.
- Tulsa QB Smith won an award for academic and athletic achievements.
- Mangino was honored for leading Kansas to a dramatic turnaround and was named Walter Camp Coach of the Year.
- Buckeyes defensive coordinator won the award for top assistant.
- Tebow, McFadden, and Smith were on the AP All-America first team.
Final Rankings and Bowl Games
The final AP Poll reflected the season's chaotic nature, with several teams experiencing significant shifts in their rankings. The top teams included:
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Louisiana State Tigers
- USC Trojans
- Oklahoma Sooners
- West Virginia Mountaineers
- Florida Gators
- Auburn Tigers
- Texas Longhorns
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Miami Hurricanes
- Florida State Seminoles
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Michigan Wolverines
- California Golden Bears
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Iowa Hawkeyes
- Tennessee Volunteers
- Arizona State Sun Devils
- Virginia Tech Hokies
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Clemson Tigers
- Alabama Crimson Tide
The bowl season provided a final opportunity for teams to showcase their talents. Utah defeated Navy.
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