Year in Review 2008

College football's final week of the regular season is here. Alas. In recognition, we're going to break from the norm and review the biggest stories from yet another riveting season on the college gridiron. A joint Agony Meter-Crystal Ball will come later this week.

Here are the story lines of the year... (Feel free to add your own in the comments below...)

BCS Injustices. Texas beats Oklahoma, but the Sooners win the Big 12 South. USC, Penn State and Utah want a shot at the national title. An undefeated Boise State finds itself on the outside of the big bowl picture looking in. Folks, how many ways can we spell P-L-A-Y-O-F-F?

Big 12 South. Move over, SEC. This one conference division served as the epicenter for college football in 2008. So many big games, so many story lines, so much offensive talent. If only the Big 12 could replicate such excitement every year.

Big 12 Quarterbacks. They pretty much all have ungodly talent --- yes, even that little chubby munchkin who throws passes at Missouri.

Turmoil at Notre Dame. What began as a promising season has ended in train-wreck fashion for the Irish. Late-season losses to Pittsburgh, Boston College, Syracuse and USC and a near loss to Navy have thrown the program and its haters into a tizzy.

Quick Turnaround at Alabama. I dunno if any prognosticator thought that 'Bama coach Nick Saban was planning on the Two-Year Turnaround. But not long removed from Saban's hiring, here is the Tide, ranked No. 1, with a shot at the national and SEC titles.

Woeful State of Washington. Do they still play football in this state? Where has all the talent gone? Washington and Washington State went a combined 2-22 this season --- with one of those wins coming in the Apple Cup game when Washington State beat Washington. (To make matters even worse, the pro Seattle Seahawks are 2-10.)

When BCS Busters Attack. Utah, BYU, TCU, Boise State, Ball State, Tulsa. T'was a good year for non-BCS conferences. A number of teams had a real shot at running the table. Utah appears to be the best of the bunch.

ACC Musical Chairs. The division champions, Boston College and Virginia Tech, each have 5-3 records. It is fitting for a conference in which parity reigned.

Joe Pa's got Penn State back. Take that, critics. An 11-1 record and a Rose Bowl berth. Who's retiring now?

Michigan Stinks. The subhead pretty much says it all. Coach Rich Rodriguez learns a firsthand lesson in Program Rebuilding the hard way.

Other thoughts...

Biggest Surprises: Ball State, Alabama, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Northwestern, Ole Miss, Utah, Boston College.

Biggest Disappointments: Clemson, LSU, Auburn, Missouri, Notre Dame, Michigan, Georgia, West Virginia, Arizona State, Tennessee.

Games of the Year (as ranked by Ted Kim --- winners in bold):

1. Texas at Texas Tech: Longhorn comeback foiled by last-second, iconic Michael Crabtree catch.

2. Oklahoma versus Texas (Dallas): Two heavyweights duke it out in a neutral field classic.

3. USC at Oregon State: Upset of the Year, so far. An overmatched Beavers team takes it to the Trojans at home.

4. Pittsburgh at Notre Dame: A quadruple-overtime thriller that starts the Irish's late-season slide.

5. Alabama at LSU: The Tide misses a chip-shot field goal in regulation, only to win in overtime.

6. Penn State at Ohio State: A competitive defensive struggle unfolds with the Big Ten in the balance.

7. Oregon State at Utah: Before a bleacher-shaking crowd, Utah pulls a shocking come-from-behind victory to keep its perfect season alive.

8. BYU at Utah: The Utes clinch an undefeated season and a BCS bowl before a raucous home crowd.

9. Oklahoma at Oklahoma State: Offensive fireworks make for great television and actual bedlam.

10. Penn State at Iowa: Fantastic game ends in heartbreak for Penn State fans in Upset of the Year III (Behind only USC-Oregon State and Ole Miss-Florida).

11. Georgia Tech at Georgia: Tech runs and the Dawgs pass, making for lots of momentum swings and a 45-42 Jackets' upset.

12. Ole Miss at Florida: Upset of the Year II, behind only USC-Oregon State. The Rebels stop Gators QB Tim Tebow on a crucial 4th and 1.

13. Syracuse at Notre Dame: The Orange come back from 13 down in the fourth quarter to spring an improbable comeback.

14. Texas Tech at Oklahoma: It was a Sooner blowout, yes. But the sheer hype and spectacle of it all made it memorable.

15. TCU at Utah: Utah narrowly wins yet another Mountain West showdown.

Honorable mention: Ole Miss at Wake Forest, Alabama at Georgia, Kansas versus Missouri (Kansas City), Alabama versus Clemson (Atlanta), Missouri at Texas, Florida State at Georgia Tech, West Virginia at Pittsburgh, Ball State at Central Michigan, Kansas at South Florida, Notre Dame at North Carolina, Auburn at Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State at Missouri, Baylor at Texas Tech.

Stay tuned for individual awards...