The Unpredictable Gridiron: Reliving the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS Football Season

The 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season stands as a testament to the thrilling unpredictability of college football. Often dubbed the "Year of the Upset," it was a season defined by stunning upsets, unexpected twists, and a captivating narrative that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end. The season began in late August and concluded on January 7, 2008, with a dramatic BCS National Championship Game.

A Season of Surprises

The 2007 season was highlighted by the remarkable frequency with which ranked teams fell to lower-ranked or unranked opponents. An unranked or lower-ranked opponent defeated a higher-ranked team 59 times over the course of the regular season. The media aptly named it the "Year of the Upset."

Appalachian State Shocks the World

The chaos began on the first weekend of the season when FCS program Appalachian State defeated No. 5 Michigan on the road at Michigan Stadium in what was immediately hailed as one of the greatest upsets in the history of college football. The Mountaineers' 34-32 victory sent shockwaves through the college football landscape and set the tone for a season of unprecedented parity.

The "Curse of No. 2"

Adding to the season's bizarre narrative was the "Curse of No. 2", where the team ranked No. 2 in the AP Poll seemed destined for defeat. The No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams had not lost in the same week of the season since 1996. In 2007 alone, No. 1 and No. 2 both lost in the same week multiple times.

Key Games and Upsets

The 2007 season was filled with memorable games and stunning upsets. Here's a look at some of the most notable:

Appalachian State vs. Michigan: The Mountaineers' 34-32 victory over the Wolverines on September 1 is arguably the most significant upset in college football history.
Stanford vs. USC: On October 6, Stanford visited USC with backup quarterback Tavita Pritchard under center. In Pritchard's first start of his career, he connected with Richard Sherman - yes, that NFL stud Richard Sherman - on 4th-and-20 to keep the Cardinal's game-winning drive alive, which ended with a touchdown pass on 4th-and-goal. Stanford defeated No. 2 USC, 24-23, on October 6 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. This result was particularly notable for the fact that 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.
Kentucky vs. LSU: Kentucky handed top-ranked LSU its first loss of the season when the Tigers traveled to Lexington for a triple-overtime thriller. LSU kicker Colt David missed a 57-yard field goal as time expired, forcing overtime, where both teams traded a touchdown, then a field goal, before the Tigers couldn't answer the Wildcats' touchdown in the third overtime period. Did we mention that No. 2 California also lost by three points despite having the ball on Oregon State's 12-yard line with five seconds to play? No. 1 LSU lost to Kentucky 43-37 in three overtimes.
Illinois vs. Ohio State: Illinois shocks top-ranked Ohio State in Columbus.
Missouri vs. Kansas: No. 4 Missouri defeated No. 2 Kansas, 36-28, on November 24 at Arrowhead Stadium in a Border War rivalry game.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile
Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia: Pittsburgh defeated No. 2 West Virginia, 13-9, on December 1 at Mountaineer Field in a Backyard Brawl rivalry game.

Conference Championships and BCS

The regular season concluded with conference championship games that further shaped the BCS landscape.

Conference Champions

ACC: Virginia Tech
Big 12: Oklahoma
Pac-10: Arizona State
SEC: LSU

BCS National Championship

The season culminated in the BCS National Championship Game, where No. 2 LSU faced No. 1 Ohio State. LSU emerged victorious, defeating Ohio State and claiming the national title.

Individual Achievements

The 2007 season also saw several outstanding individual performances.

Heisman Trophy

Florida's Tim Tebow became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy. He threw for 3,286 yards and 32 touchdowns while rushing for 895 yards and 23 scores, leading the Gators to a 9-4 record and a Capital One Bowl victory over Michigan.

Coaching Changes

The 2006-07 offseason featured significant turnover among head coaches in NCAA Division I FBS programs, with 24 changes announced before the 2007 season commenced. These transitions stemmed from factors such as disappointing team performances, retirements, lateral moves to other programs, NFL opportunities, and the tragic death of Indiana's Terry Hoeppner in June 2007.

Notable Coaching Changes

Alabama: Hired Nick Saban
North Carolina: Hired Butch Davis
Louisville: Hired Steve Kragthorpe
Miami: Promoted Randy Shannon
Michigan: Hired Rich Rodriguez

Rule Changes and Conference Realignment

The 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season featured limited but notable structural adjustments to conference memberships and program statuses, primarily involving the reintegration of an independent program and the initiation of a subdivision transition.

Temple Joins MAC

A key change occurred with Temple University, which transitioned from independent status to full membership in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) effective July 1, 2007.

Western Kentucky Transitions to FBS

Another significant development was Western Kentucky University's (WKU) elevation from NCAA Division I FCS to FBS status, marking the first such transition since the subdivision's formal distinction in 2006 and increasing the total number of FBS programs from 119 to 120.

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