The Definitive Look at the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS Football Final Rankings

The 2010 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) season was a year of significant change and memorable moments, culminating in a final ranking that reflected the competitive landscape of college football. This article delves into the final rankings, the key events of the season, conference realignments, and individual achievements that defined the 2010 college football year.

Season Overview

The 2010 NCAA Division I FBS season commenced on September 2, 2010, and concluded on December 11, 2010, setting the stage for a thrilling postseason. The BCS National Championship Game, held on January 10, 2011, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, marked the culmination of the season. With 120 teams vying for supremacy, the season was filled with upsets, outstanding performances, and dramatic shifts in the rankings.

Conference Realignment

One of the defining aspects of the 2010 season was the significant conference realignment that occurred. Multiple conferences announced changes in membership, triggering a domino effect that would reshape the landscape of FBS leagues.

Key Changes

Boise State to Mountain West Conference: The Mountain West Conference announced that Boise State had accepted their invitation to join from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
Nebraska to Big Ten Conference: Nebraska ended its longstanding affiliation with the Big Eight/Big 12 to join the Big Ten Conference.
Texas Stays in Big 12: Speculation arose 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 saw Texas remain in the Big 12, prompting the other four schools to follow suit.
Utah to Pac-10: The Pac-10 extended an invitation to Utah on June 16, who accepted the next day.
Fresno State and Nevada to Mountain West: The Mountain West responded to rumors of Brigham Young's departure by inviting WAC members Fresno State, Nevada, and Utah State. Utah State declined, but Fresno State and Nevada accepted later that day.
BYU Independent: BYU officially announced their departure from the Mountain West on September 1 and would go independent in football.
TCU to Big East: On November 29, TCU announced it would leave the Mountain West to join the Big East in 2012.

Regular Season Highlights

The regular season was packed with memorable games and unexpected results. Several top-ranked teams faced tough challenges, leading to significant shifts in the polls.

Notable Games

September 11: Virginia Tech, then No. 13 in the AP Poll, was upset at home by in-state FCS team James Madison.
November 27: Auburn-Alabama game pulled the biggest college football TV rating of the year.

Landmark Achievements

Joe Paterno's 400th Win: Penn State football coach Joe Paterno achieved his 400th win, a feat unmatched in major college football history.
Kyle Brotzman's Record: Kyle Brotzman of Boise State set a new Division I record for most career points by a kicker.

Final Rankings Overview

The final rankings in college football are determined by a combination of polls and standings. The 2010 season was no different, with several polls contributing to the final outcome.

Polling Agencies

AP Poll: A weekly poll of sportswriters and broadcasters.
Coaches Poll (USA Today): A weekly poll of college football coaches.
Harris Interactive Poll: Released midway through the season and factored into the BCS standings.
Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings: Released after the seventh week and used to determine participants in BCS bowl games.

Controversy and Sanctions

USC Sanctions: USC was not eligible to be ranked in the USA Today Coaches Poll due to NCAA sanctions.
Ohio State Vacates Wins: Ohio State later had to vacate wins from the season.

Final Rankings: A Detailed Look

The final rankings reflect the culmination of the regular season's performances and provide a snapshot of the top teams in college football.

Final AP Poll Top 25

(Note: The specifics of the final AP Poll Top 25 were not provided in the user's data. If available, this section would detail the exact rankings).

Final Coaches Poll Top 25

(Note: The specifics of the final Coaches Poll Top 25 were not provided in the user's data. If available, this section would detail the exact rankings).

Bowl Games

The 2010-2011 bowl season featured numerous exciting matchups, providing a final opportunity for teams to showcase their talent.

Selected Bowl Game Results

Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl: Louisville vs. Southern Miss
Military Bowl: East Carolina vs. Maryland
Insight Bowl: Iowa vs. Missouri
Texas Bowl: Illinois vs. Baylor
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Connecticut
Orange Bowl: Stanford vs. Virginia Tech
Sugar Bowl: Arkansas vs. Ohio State (vacated)
Rose Bowl: TCU vs. Wisconsin
BCS National Championship Game: Auburn vs. Oregon

Individual Awards and Recognition

The 2010 season saw numerous players and coaches recognized for their outstanding contributions.

Key Award Winners

John Mackey Award (tight end): D.J. Williams, Arkansas
Lott Trophy (defensive impact): J.J. Watt, Wisconsin

Conference Players of the Year

ACC Player of the Year: Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech
ACC Coach of the Year: Ralph Friedgen, Maryland
Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year: Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year: Von Miller, Texas A&M
Big 12 Coach of the Year: Mike Sherman, Texas A&M
Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year: Case Keenum, Houston
Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year: DeAndre Brown, UTEP
Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Year: Dwayne Harris, East Carolina
Conference USA Coach of the Year: George O'Leary, UCF
MAC Offensive Player of the Year: Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan
MAC Defensive Player of the Year: Brian Wagner, Akron
MAC Special Teams Player of the Year: T.J. Conley, Central Michigan
MAC Coach of the Year: Brady Hoke, San Diego State
SEC Offensive Player of the Year: Cam Newton, Auburn
SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Patrick Peterson, LSU
SEC Coach of the Year: Gene Chizik, Auburn
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year: Jordan Todman, Connecticut
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year: Greg Jones, Michigan State
BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Year: Jeremy Moore, Connecticut
BIG EAST Coach of the Year: Randy Edsall, Connecticut
Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year: Denard Robinson, Michigan
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year: Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
Big Ten Coach of the Year: Ron Zook, Illinois
Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year: Andy Dalton, TCU
Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year: Tank Carder, TCU
Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year: Brian Jackson, Nevada
Mountain West Coach of the Year: Gary Patterson, TCU
Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year: Andrew Luck, Stanford
Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year: Nick Fairley, Auburn
Pac-10 Special Teams Player of the Year: Chris Owusu, Stanford
Pac-10 Coach of the Year: Chip Kelly, Oregon
Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year: T.Y. Hilton, FIU
Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year: Jonathan Freeny, Rutgers
Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Year: Josh Arauco, Middle Tennessee
Sun Belt Coach of the Year: Mario Cristobal, FIU
WAC Offensive Player of the Year: Colin Kaepernick, Nevada
WAC Defensive Player of the Year: Dontay Moch, Nevada
WAC Special Teams Player of the Year: Kyle Brotzman, Boise State
WAC Coach of the Year: Chris Ault, Nevada

Coaching Changes

The 2010 season also saw a significant number of coaching changes, with various programs seeking new leadership.

Coaching Changes During and After the Season

Vanderbilt: Robbie Caldwell stepped down and was replaced by James Franklin.
Minnesota: Tim Brewster was fired and replaced by Jerry Kill.
North Texas: Todd Dodge was fired and replaced by Dan McCarney.
Colorado: Dan Hawkins was let go, and Jon Embree took over.
Kent State: Doug Martin stepped down.
Ball State: Stan Parrish was let go, and Pete Lembo was hired.
Miami (FL): Randy Shannon was fired and replaced by Al Golden.
Indiana: Bill Lynch was fired and replaced by Kevin Wilson.
Arkansas State: Steve Roberts resigned, and Hugh Freeze was hired.
Louisiana-Lafayette: Rickey Bustle was fired, and Mark Hudspeth was hired.
Northern Illinois: Jerry Kill left for Minnesota; Dave Doeren was hired.
Florida: Urban Meyer stepped down, and Will Muschamp was hired.
Pittsburgh: Dave Wannstedt was let go; Mike Haywood was initially hired but quickly fired, and Todd Graham eventually took over.
Temple: Al Golden left for Miami, and Steve Addazio was hired.
Miami (OH): Michael Haywood was fired, and Don Treadwell was hired.
Maryland: Ralph Friedgen was let go, and Randy Edsall was hired.
Connecticut: Randy Edsall left for Maryland, and Paul Pasqualoni was hired.
Michigan: Rich Rodriguez was fired and replaced by Brady Hoke.
Stanford: Jim Harbaugh left for the San Francisco 49ers, and David Shaw was promoted.
Tulsa: Todd Graham left for Pittsburgh, and Bill Blankenship was named head coach.
San Diego State: Brady Hoke left for Michigan, and Rocky Long was promoted.

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