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2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season

The 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the highest level of college football competition in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

2008 NCAA Division I FBS season

119 + 1 transitional[n 1]

August 28 – December 6

Georgia

December 20, 2008 – January 31, 2009

34

Sam Bradford (quarterback, Oklahoma)

Dolphin Stadium,
Miami Gardens, Florida

Florida

The regular season began on August 28, 2008 and ended on December 6, 2008. The postseason concluded on January 8, 2009 with the BCS National Championship Game in Miami Gardens, Florida, which featured the top two teams ranked by the Bowl Championship Series (BCS): the No. 2 Florida Gators (No. 1 in the AP Poll) and No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners (No. 2 in the AP Poll).[1] Florida defeated Oklahoma by a score of 24–14 to win their second BCS title in three years and third overall national championship in school history. The Utah Utes were selected national champions by Anderson & Hester after beating the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2009 Sugar Bowl, finishing the season as the nation's only undefeated team.[2]

Teams have 40 seconds from the time a ball is declared dead to snap the ball. The 25 second play clock will still be used for administrative stoppages and penalties.

The 15 second play clock after a TV timeout (adopted in the ) is repealed and returned to 25 seconds.

2007 season

Outside of the final two minutes of each half, if a runner goes out of bounds, the game clock restarts after the ball is spotted.

The penalty for kicking the ball out of bounds on the kickoff is increased, placing the ball at the 40-yard line, similar to the NFL.

Reinforcing that contact that leads with the crown of the helmet to another player (targeting) is a foul, penalized 15 yards.

All face-mask penalties result in a 15-yard penalty. Incidental contact with the face mask is no longer penalized.

Sideline warnings are now penalized five yards for the first two occurrences, and 15 yards (unsportsmanlike conduct) for the third and subsequent violations. Previously the officials gave teams two warnings before a five-yard penalty was called.

All are now subject to a 15-yard penalty.

horse-collar tackles

If a coach challenges a play, and he wins the challenge, then he is given a second challenge to use later in the game, but each coach has a maximum of two challenges per game even if both are decided in his favor.

The NCAA football rules committee made rule changes for 2008, including the following:[3][4]

USC

LSU

Alabama

Texas

Oklahoma State

Texas Tech

Jones AT&T Stadium

Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

2008 SEC Championship Game

Rankings reflect the AP Poll. Rankings for Week 8 and beyond will list BCS Rankings first and AP Poll second. Teams that failed to be a top 10 team for one poll or the other will be noted.

Conference champions[edit]

Conference championship games[edit]

Rankings reflect the Week 14 AP Poll before the games were played.

Awards and honors[edit]

Heisman Trophy voting[edit]

The Heisman Trophy is given to the year's most outstanding player

2008 Big 12 Conference South Division 3-way tie controversy