2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season

Rule changes

The NCAA football rules committee made rule changes for 2008, including the following:

• 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• The 15 second play clock after a TV timeout (adopted in the 2007 season) is repealed and returned to 25 seconds.
• 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 horse-collar tackles are now subject to a 15-yard penalty.
• 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.

Conference and program changes

Western Kentucky upgraded from Division I FCS and played the 2008 season as a transitional Division I FBS member.

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 3
  • No. 1 USC defeated No. 5 Ohio State, 35–3 (Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California)
• Week 4
  • No. 6 LSU defeated No. 10 Auburn, 26–21 (Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama)
• Week 5
  • No. 8 Alabama defeated No. 3 Georgia, 41–30 (Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia)
• Week 7
  • No. 5 Texas defeated No. 1 Oklahoma, 45–35 (Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas)
• Week 9
  • No. 1/1 Texas defeated No. 6/7 Oklahoma State, 28–24 (Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas)
  • No. 3/3 Penn State defeated No. 9/10 Ohio State, 13–6 (Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio)
• Week 10
  • No. 7/6 Texas Tech defeated No. 1/1 Texas, 39–33 (Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, Texas)
  • No. 8/8 Florida defeated No. 6/5 Georgia, 49–10 (Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida)
• Week 11
  • No. 2/2 Texas Tech defeated No. 9/8 Oklahoma State, 56–20 (Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, Texas)
• Week 13
  • No. 5/5 Oklahoma defeated No. 2/2 Texas Tech, 65–21 (Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma)
• Week 15
  • No. 4/2 Florida defeated No. 1/1 Alabama, 31–20 (2008 SEC Championship Game, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia)

Most-watched regular season games

Conference standings

FCS team wins over FBS teams

Italics denotes FCS teams. | w/l = | w/l =

Conference champions

Conference championship games

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

Other conference champions

Rankings are from the Week 15 AP Poll.

Bowl games

Main article: 2008–09 NCAA football bowl games

Bowl Championship Series

Main article: Bowl Championship Series

After the completion of the regular season and conference championship games, seven teams had secured BCS berths: ACC champion Virginia Tech, Big East champion Cincinnati, Big Ten champion Penn State, Big 12 champion Oklahoma, Pac-10 champion USC, SEC champion Florida, and Mountain West champion Utah, who qualified as the highest-ranked BCS non-AQ conference champion. With Oklahoma and Florida being selected to play in the championship, Texas and Alabama assumed their conference's berths in the Fiesta and Sugar Bowls, respectively. The remaining at-large berth was awarded to Ohio State, who were selected despite being ranked No. 10 by the BCS, behind No. 9 Boise State. BCS No. 7 Texas Tech did not receive an at-large bid because the Big 12 had already been awarded the maximum of two BCS selections per conference.

Other bowl games

[[Bowl Challenge Cup]] standings

***** Does not meet minimum game requirement of three teams needed for a conference to be eligible.

Awards and honors

Heisman Trophy voting

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

Other major award winners

Top Player

Coaching

Offense

Defense

Lineman

Special teams

Other

All-Americans

Main article: 2008 College Football All-America Team

;2008 Consensus All-America Team

Statistical leaders

• Team scoring most points: Oklahoma, 716

Coaching changes

Pre-season

In-season

End of season

Final rankings

***** - The AFCA requires that their voters make the winner of the BCS Championship at the number one position in the final poll.

≠ - Kyle Whittingham, head coach of Utah, broke the AFCA requirement and voted his team number one on his ballot.

Attendances

!#!!College football team!!Average attendance |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Michigan Wolverines || 108,571 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Penn State Nittany Lions || 108,254 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Ohio State Buckeyes || 104,976 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Tennessee Volunteers || 101,448 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Texas Longhorns || 98,046 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Georgia Bulldogs || 92,746 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || LSU Tigers || 92,383 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Alabama Crimson Tide || 92,138 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Florida Gators || 90,544 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Auburn Tigers || 86,915 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || USC Trojans || 86,793 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Oklahoma Sooners || 85,075 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Nebraska Cornhuskers || 85,071 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Texas A&M Aggies || 82,193 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Wisconsin Badgers || 81,088 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Notre Dame Fighting Irish || 80,795 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || South Carolina Gamecocks || 80,529 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Clemson Tigers || 78,001 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Florida State Seminoles || 77,968 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Michigan State Spartans || 74,858 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || UCLA Bruins || 72,795 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Iowa Hawkeyes || 70,169 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Kentucky Wildcats || 69,434 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Arkansas Razorbacks || 68,740 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Virginia Tech Hokies || 66,233 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Missouri Tigers || 64,520 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || BYU Cougars || 64,102 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Arizona State Sun Devils || 63,837 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Washington Huskies || 63,640 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Illinois Fighting Illini || 61,707 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || California Golden Bears || 61,634 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Oregon Ducks || 58,444 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || West Virginia Mountaineers || 58,085 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || North Carolina Tar Heels || 57,829 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Purdue Boilermakers || 56,702 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || NC State Wolfpack || 56,665 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Virginia Cavaliers || 53,815 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Texas Tech Red Raiders || 53,625 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Ole Miss Rebels || 53,005 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Arizona Wildcats || 52,440 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Kansas Jayhawks || 50,907 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || South Florida Bulls || 49,690 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Colorado Buffaloes || 49,476 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Pittsburgh Panthers || 49,352 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Minnesota Golden Gophers || 48,958 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Oklahoma State Cowboys || 48,261 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Maryland Terrapins || 47,954 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets || 47,489 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Iowa State Cyclones || 47,429 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Miami Hurricanes || 46,299 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Utah Utes || 45,542 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Kansas State Wildcats || 45,190 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Oregon State Beavers || 44,931 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Mississippi State Bulldogs || 43,453 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Rutgers Scarlet Knights || 42,378 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || East Carolina Pirates || 42,016 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Boston College Eagles || 41,037 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors || 41,010 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Navy Midshipmen || 40,802 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Louisville Cardinals || 39,680 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || UCF Knights || 39,596 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Connecticut Huskies || 39,331 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Vanderbilt Commodores || 38,460 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Air Force Falcons || 38,134 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Fresno State Bulldogs || 37,864 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || UTEP Miners || 37,296 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Stanford Cardinal || 34,258 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Baylor Bears || 34,124 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Syracuse Orange || 33,474 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Boise State Broncos || 32,275 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Cincinnati Bearcats || 31,965 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Indiana Hoosiers || 31,782 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Wake Forest Demon Deacons || 31,666 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Washington State Cougars || 30,719 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || TCU Horned Frogs || 30,389 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Southern Miss Golden Eagles || 30,102 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || New Mexico Lobos || 29,713 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Duke Blue Devils || 28,727 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Northwestern Wildcats || 28,590 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Army Black Knights || 27,752 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Memphis Tigers || 25,003 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Marshall Thundering Herd || 24,766 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || San Diego State Aztecs || 24,376 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Tulsa Golden Hurricane || 24,368 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Tulane Green Wave || 22,750 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Central Michigan Chippewas || 22,659 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Houston Cougars || 21,518 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns || 21,468 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Arkansas State Red Wolves || 21,105 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Colorado State Rams || 21,008 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || San José State Spartans || 20,952 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || UNLV Rebels || 20,849 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders || 20,227 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Rice Owls || 20,179 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || SMU Mustangs || 19,780 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks || 19,519 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Troy Trojans || 19,231 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Ball State Cardinals || 19,201 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || UAB Blazers || 19,062 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Nevada Wolf Pack || 19,043 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Eastern Michigan Eagles || 18,951 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Western Michigan Broncos || 18,547 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Wyoming Cowboys || 18,234 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Northern Illinois Huskies || 18,185 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Louisiana Tech Bulldogs || 18,020 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || New Mexico State Aggies || 17,756 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Toledo Rockets || 17,008 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || North Texas Mean Green || 16,956 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Buffalo Bulls || 16,924 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Florida Atlantic Owls || 16,126 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Bowling Green Falcons || 15,701 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Temple Owls || 15,582 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Miami RedHawks || 15,435 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Idaho Vandals || 15,340 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Ohio Bobcats || 15,276 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Utah State Aggies || 14,736 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Akron Zips || 14,342 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || FIU Panthers || 13,852 |- | style"text-align:center;"| _row_count || Kent State Golden Flashes || 10,639 |- |} }}

Notes

References

References

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