2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season explained

The 2010 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).

The regular season began on September 2, 2010, and ended on December 11, 2010. The postseason concluded on January 10, 2011, with the BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Auburn Tigers defeated the Oregon Ducks to complete an undefeated season and win their sixth national title in school history.

Rule changes

• Wedge blocks are now banned on kickoffs.
• Messages on eye-black, such as those worn by Tim Tebow, Reggie Bush, and Case Keenum are no longer allowed.^{[1] [2]}

Conference realignment

See main article: 2010–2014 NCAA conference realignment.

Multiple conferences announced changes in membership throughout 2010, triggering a major realignment that would eventually affect all 11 FBS leagues. Due to conference notice requirements, these changes would not take effect until 2011 at the earliest.

The first change came on June 10, when the Pacific-10 Conference announced that Colorado had accepted their invitation to join from the Big 12.

The following day, June 11, saw two schools change conferences. The Mountain West Conference announced that Boise State had accepted their invitation to join from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), while Nebraska ended its longstanding affiliation with the Big Eight/Big 12 to join the Big Ten Conference. Both moves would take effect starting with the 2011–2012 academic year.

In the following days, it was widely speculated that the five public schools in the Big 12 South Division (Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State) would leave for the Pac-10 to create a 16-team "superconference." However, a last-minute deal announced on June 14 saw Texas remain in the Big 12, prompting the other four schools to follow suit. The Pac-10 then extended an invitation to Utah on June 16, who accepted the next day. With the addition of Colorado and Utah, the Pac-10 announced that the conference would change its name to the Pac-12 upon the two new members joining in July 2011.

On August 18, the Mountain West responded to rumors of the imminent departure of Brigham Young by inviting WAC members Fresno State, Nevada, and Utah State. Utah State declined the offer, but Fresno State and Nevada accepted later that day. Following threats of legal action by the WAC, the two schools agreed to stay in the WAC through the 2011–12 season in exchange for a greatly reduced exit fee. BYU officially announced their departure from the Mountain West on September 1. The BYU football team would become an FBS Independent while all other sports would move West Coast Conference for the 2011–12 season.^[3]

On November 11, the Western Athletic Conference announced that Texas State, then a member of the FCS Southland Conference, and UTSA, which planned to launch a football team in 2011, would upgrade their football programs to FBS level, join the WAC in 2012, and become full FBS members in 2013.

On November 29, TCU announced it would leave the Mountain West to join the Big East in 2012. The Mountain West replaced TCU by adding Hawaiʻi as a football-only member on December 10; Hawaiʻi's other sports would join the Big West Conference.

New and updated stadiums

No new stadiums opened in the 2010 season. However, expansion projects at several stadiums were completed in time for the season:

• Alabama: The seventh major expansion of Bryant–Denny Stadium increased the capacity from 92,138 to 101,821.
• East Carolina

The east end zone at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium was enclosed, increasing capacity from 43,000 to 50,000.

• Louisville: A second deck was added to the east side of Papa John's Cardinal Stadium, increasing capacity from its original 42,000 to over 56,000.
• Michigan: Michigan Stadium once again claimed the title of largest college football stadium. The new capacity was officially announced on July 14 as 109,901.
• Texas Tech: Renovations to Jones AT&T Stadium increased the capacity to 60,454 and a new building on the stadium's eastern side added an additional 26 suites and 500 club seats.

Season notes

• USC was not eligible to be ranked in the USA Today Coaches Poll due to NCAA sanctions. They were also prohibited from playing in a bowl.^[4]
• On September 11, Virginia Tech, then No. 13 in the AP Poll, was stunned at home by in-state FCS team James Madison. The Dukes' 21–16 victory was only the second by an FCS school over a ranked FBS team, after Appalachian State's historic upset of Michigan in 2007.^[5]
• The University of Texas reached an agreement with ESPN to distribute the Longhorn Network on cable systems in the fall of 2011. The deal is for 10 years and guarantees Texas $12 million annually on top of the television revenue UT would receive as part of the Big 12's current television contracts with ABC/ESPN and Fox. The Longhorn Network would be the first sports-centric network for a university and was slated to broadcast third-tier programming, but UT men's athletic director DeLoss Dodds has asked the Big 12 to be allowed to air one football game, and a smattering of men's basketball games.http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/143447
• The CBS telecast of the Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn on November 26, 2010, earned a 7.5 rating, the highest for any game of the 2010 college football season through week 13.^[6]

Regular season top 10 matchups

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.

• Week 1
  • No. 3 Boise State defeated No. 10 Virginia Tech, 33–30 (FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland)
• Week 4
  • No. 1 Alabama defeated No. 10 Arkansas, 24–20 (Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Arkansas)
• Week 5
  • No. 1 Alabama defeated No. 7 Florida, 31–6 (Bryant–Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
  • No. 4 Oregon defeated No. 9 Stanford, 52–31 (Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon)
• Week 8
  • No. 4/5 Auburn defeated No. 6/6 LSU, 24–17 (Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama)
• Week 10
  • No. 3/4 TCU defeated No. 5/6 Utah, 47–7 (Rice–Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah)
  • No. 10/12 LSU defeated No. 6/5 Alabama, 24–17 (Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
• Week 13
  • No. 2/2 Auburn defeated No. 11/9 Alabama, 28–27 (Bryant–Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

Conference summaries

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

Conference championship games

Conference	Champion	Runner-up	Score	Offensive Player of the Year	Defensive Player of the Year	Coach of the Year
ACC	No. 12 Virginia Tech	No. 20 Florida State	44–33	Tyrod Taylor, QB, Virginia Tech[7]	Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson	Ralph Friedgen, Maryland[8]
Big 12	No. 10 Oklahoma	No. 13 Nebraska	23–20	Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State[9]	Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska	Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
C-USA	UCF	SMU	17–7	Dwayne Harris, WR/KR, East Carolina (MVP)[10] G.J. Kinne, QB, Tulsa	Bruce Miller, DE, UCF	George O'Leary, UCF[11]
MAC	Miami (OH)	No. 24 Northern Illinois	26–21	Chad Spann, RB, Northern Illinois[12]	Roosevelt Nix, DT, Kent State	Mike Haywood, Miami
SEC	No. 2 Auburn	No. 18 South Carolina	56–17	Cam Newton, QB, Auburn[13]	Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU	Steve Spurrier, South Carolina

Other conference champions

Notes and References

1. Web site: The 411 on eye black: NCAA bans messages. 15 April 2010. ESPN.com.
2. News: NCAA rules committee says no to Case Keenum's eye-black messages . Campbell, Steve . . 2010-02-12 . 2011-04-14.
3. Web site: BYU to join WCC, go independent in football. 2010-08-31. ESPN.com. 2017-07-22.
4. News: USC won't be ranked in coaches' poll . ESPN.com . July 8, 2010 . January 5, 2011.
5. News: Va. Tech suffers 2nd loss in 6 days as James Madison pulls off upset . Associated Press . ESPN.com . September 11, 2010 . September 11, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100914120124/http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=302540259. 14 September 2010 . dead.
6. News: Auburn-Alabama pulls biggest college football TV rating of year . Staff Reporters . USA Today . November 27, 2010 . December 3, 2010.
7. Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor Named ACC Player of the Year . Atlantic Coast Conference . December 1, 2010 . December 1, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101231043343/http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120110aaa.html . 31 December 2010 . dead . dmy-all .
8. Maryland's Friedgen Named ACC Coach of the Year . Atlantic Coast Conference . November 30, 2010 . December 30, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121008044540/http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/113010aac.html . October 8, 2012 . dead . mdy-all .
9. All-Big 12 Football Awards Announced . Big 12 Conference . November 30, 2010 . November 30, 2010.
10. Conference USA Announces Football Players of the Year . Conference USA . December 8, 2010 . December 30, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101216033352/http://conferenceusa.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120810aai.html . December 16, 2010 . dead . mdy-all .
11. UCF's O'Leary Named C-USA Football Coach of the Year . Conference USA . December 8, 2010 . December 30, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101212095004/http://conferenceusa.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120810aaf.html . December 12, 2010 . dead . mdy-all .
12. MAC Announces 2010 Football Post Season Awards . Mid-American Conference . December 1, 2010 . December 1, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101216215551/http://mac-sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9400&ATCLID=205039478 . 16 December 2010 . dead . dmy-all .
13. News: SEC Football Individual Awards Announced . Southeastern Conference . December 8, 2010 . December 8, 2010.
14. BIG EAST Announces 2010 Postseason Football Honors . Big East Conference . December 8, 2010 . December 30, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110121125152/http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/217502/BIG-EAST-Announces-2010-Postseason-Football-Honors.aspx . 21 January 2011 . dead . dmy-all .
15. Big Ten Announces 2010 Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Honors . Big Ten Conference . November 29, 2010 . November 29, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101222184331/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112910aae.html . 22 December 2010 . dead . dmy-all .
16. Mountain West Announces 2010 Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Honors . Mountain West Conference . November 30, 2010 . November 30, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101231065335/http://www.themwc.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/113010aac.html . 31 December 2010 . dead . dmy-all .
17. Pac-10 Football Awards and All-Conference Team Announced . Pacific-10 Conference . December 7, 2010 . December 30, 2010 . December 10, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101210194541/http://www.pac-10.org/News/tabid/863/Article/217454/pac-10-football-awards-and-all-conference-team-announced.aspx . dead .
18. FIU's Hilton Headlines 2010 All-Sun Belt Conference Football Teams . Sun Belt Conference . December 8, 2010 . December 30, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110718192214/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22157&SPID=1808&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4100&ATCLID=205044121 . July 18, 2011 . dead . mdy-all .
19. All-WAC Football Teams and Players of the Year Announced . Western Athletic Conference . December 6, 2010 . December 30, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120325085824/http://www.wacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=45959&SPID=4122&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=10100&ATCLID=205043223.html . March 25, 2012 . dead . mdy-all .
20. Web site: Buckeyes vacate wins from last football season. 2011-07-08. ESPN.com. 2017-07-22.
21. Web site: College Football Poll.com. www.collegefootballpoll.com. 2010-12-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20101215140400/http://collegefootballpoll.com/2010_archive_awards.html. 2010-12-15. dead.
22. News: Vanderbilt coach Johnson retires . Chris . Low . ESPN.com . July 14, 2010 . July 14, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100716203940/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5379454. 16 July 2010 . live.
23. Brewster Relieved of Head Coaching Duties . University of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics . October 17, 2010 . October 17, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110711112839/http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=205013823 . July 11, 2011 .
24. North Texas fires Todd Dodge . ESPN.com . October 20, 2010 . October 20, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101023004303/http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/ncf/news/story?id=5706243. 23 October 2010 . live.
25. News: Source: Embattled Dan Hawkins Out at Colorado . ESPN.com . November 9, 2010 . November 9, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101110081842/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5782842. 10 November 2010 . live.
26. Doug Martin To Step Down Following Friday's Game With Ohio . Kent State Athletics . November 21, 2010 . November 27, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101213172123/http://kentstatesports.com/sports/fball/2010-11/releases/20101121unj5js . 13 December 2010 . dead . dmy-all .
27. News: Stan Parrish out at Ball State . Associated Press . ESPN.com . November 24, 2010 . November 27, 2010.
28. Pete Lembo Named Head Football Coach . Ball State University Athletics . December 20, 2010 . December 21, 2010.
29. News: Robbie Caldwell steps down at Vandy . Chris . Low . ESPN.com . November 27, 2010 . November 27, 2010.
30. News: James Franklin takes over at Vandy . Associated Press . ESPN.com . December 17, 2010 . December 17, 2010.
31. News: Miami fires coach Randy Shannon . Heather . Dinich . ESPN.com . November 27, 2010 . November 27, 2010.
32. Miami Hires Al Golden as Head Football Coach. University of Miami Athletics. December 12, 2010. 13 December 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101216060541/http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121210aae.html. 16 December 2010. dead. dmy-all.
33. News: Indiana fires coach Bill Lynch . ESPN.com . November 28, 2010 . November 28, 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20131020192331/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5860140 . October 20, 2013 .
34. News: Kevin Wilson hired as Indiana's coach . Associated Press . ESPN.com . December 7, 2010 . December 7, 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140307013337/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5896426 . March 7, 2014 .
35. News: Steve Roberts resigns after nine years . Associated Press . ESPN.com . November 29, 2010 . December 2, 2010.
36. News: Hugh Freeze hired at Arkansas St. . Bruce . Feldman . ESPN.com . December 2, 2010 . December 2, 2010.
37. News: La.-Lafayette fires Rickey Bustle . Associated Press . ESPN.com . November 29, 2010 . November 29, 2010.
38. Web site: Cajuns to Introduce Hudspeth on Monday. University of Louisiana-Lafayette Athletics. December 12, 2010. 13 December 2010 .
39. News: Dan McCarney starts at North Texas . Tim . MacMahon . ESPNDallas.com . November 30, 2010 . December 6, 2010.
40. News: Minnesota hires Jerry Kill as coach . ESPN.com . December 5, 2010 . December 6, 2010.
41. News: Tom Matukewicz named NIU football interim head coach. "NIU Today". December 9, 2010. 9 December 2010 . 17 December 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101217081837/http://today.niu.edu/2010/12/07/12132/. dead.
42. News: Northern Illinois taps Dave Doeren . ESPNChicago.com . December 13, 2010 . December 13, 2010.
43. Embree Named Colorado's Head Football Coach . University of Colorado Athletics . December 6, 2010 . December 20, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110102151220/http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=205043086. 2 January 2011 . live.
44. News: Urban Meyer stepping down at Florida . ESPN.com . December 8, 2010 . December 8, 2010.
45. News: Florida hires Will Muschamp as coach . ESPN.com . December 11, 2010 . December 11, 2010.
46. News: Bennett: Wannstedt to coach Pitt in bowl game . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Paul . Zeise . December 10, 2010. 12 December 2010 .
47. News: Source: Pitt hires Mike Haywood . Joe . Schad . ESPN.com . December 15, 2010 . December 15, 2010.
48. News: Reports: Steve Addazio new Owls coach . ESPN.com . December 22, 2010 . December 22, 2010.
49. Lance Guidry Named Miami Football's Interim Head Coach . Miami University Athletic Department . December 16, 2010 . January 11, 2011 .
50. News: Don Treadwell to coach RedHawks . ESPN.com . December 31, 2010 . December 31, 2010.
51. News: Randy Edsall to coach Maryland . ESPN.com . January 3, 2011 . January 3, 2011.
52. News: Pitt fires new coach Mike Haywood . ESPN.com . January 2, 2011 . January 2, 2011.
53. News: Todd Graham to take over Pittsburgh . Associated Press . ESPN.com . January 10, 2011 . January 10, 2011.
54. Paul Pasqualoni Named UConn Head Football Coach . . January 13, 2011 . January 13, 2011 . January 16, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110116214747/http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/011311aab.html . dead .
55. News: Rich Rodriguez fired by Michigan . ESPN.com . January 5, 2011 . January 5, 2011.
56. News: Brady Hoke named Michigan coach . Associated Press . ESPN.com . January 11, 2011 . January 11, 2011.
57. Jim Harbaugh Named Head Coach of San Francisco 49ers . . January 7, 2011 . January 7, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120318031953/http://www.gostanford.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010711aaa.html . March 18, 2012 .
58. David Shaw Named Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football/Head Coach . . 14 January 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120112101451/http://www.gostanford.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/011311aaa.html . 12 January 2012 .
59. Bill Blankenship Named Head Coach . ESPN.com . January 14, 2011 . January 15, 2011.
60. News: San Diego State promotes Rocky Long . Associated Press . ESPN.com . January 12, 2011 . January 12, 2011.