2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season explained

Year:	2006
Number Of Teams:	119
Preseason Ap:	Ohio State
Regular Season:	August 31 – December 2
Number Of Bowls:	32
Bowl Start:	December 19, 2006
Bowl End:	January 8, 2007
Championship System:	Bowl Championship Series
Championship Bowl:	2007 BCS Championship Game
Championship Location:	University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Champions:	Florida
Heisman:	Troy Smith (quarterback, Ohio State)

The 2006 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 August 31, 2006, and ended on December 2, 2006. The postseason concluded on January 8, 2007, with the BCS National Championship Game in Glendale, Arizona, where the No. 2 Florida Gators defeated the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes by a score of 41–14 to win the national title.^[1]

The Boise State Broncos were the year's only undefeated team in both levels of Division I football after defeating Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.

Rules changes

The NCAA instituted the following rule changes for the 2006 season.^[2]

• The NCAA ruled that teams could schedule twelve regular-season games (up from eleven) beginning in the 2006 season.^[3] (NCAA teams in Alaska and Hawaii, and their home opponents, are allowed to schedule an extra game over and above this limit.)
• Instant replay is now officially sanctioned and standardized. All plays are reviewed by the replay officials as the play occurs. They may call down to the on-field officials to stop play if they need extra time to make a review. Each coach may also make one challenge per game. In the case of a coach's challenge, the coach must have at least one time-out remaining. If the challenge is upheld the coach gets the time-out back but the challenge is spent. If the challenge is rejected, both the challenge and the time-out are spent.
• Players may only wear clear eyeshields. Previously, both tinted and orange were also allowed.
• The kicking tee has been lowered from two inches tall to only one inch.
• Halftime lasts twenty minutes. Previously, it was only fifteen minutes, except for special ceremonies (i.e. homecoming).
• On a kickoff, the game clock starts when the ball is kicked rather than when the receiving team touches it.
  • This rule change has resulted in controversy, highlighted by the matchup between Wisconsin and Penn State on November 4, 2006, in which Wisconsin deliberately went off-sides on two consecutive kickoffs to run extra time off the clock at the close of the first half.^[4]
• On a change of possession, the clock starts when the referee marks the ball ready for play, instead of on the snap. This was the rule in the National Football League prior to 1973, and in high school football prior to 1996.
• The referee may no longer stop the game due to excessive crowd noise.
• When a live-ball penalty such as an illegal formation occurs on a kick, the receiving team may choose either to add the penalty yardage to the end of the return or require the kick to be attempted again with the spot moved back. Previously, only the latter option was available.
• If a team scores at the end of the game, they will not kick the extra point unless it would affect the outcome of the game.

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 2
  • No. 1 Ohio State defeated No. 2 Texas, 24–7 (Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas)
• Week 3
  • No. 3 Auburn defeated No. 6 LSU, 7–3 (Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama)
• Week 6
  • No. 5 Florida defeated No. 9 LSU, 23–10 (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida)
• Week 10
  • No. 5/5 Louisville defeated No. 3/3 West Virginia, 44–34 (Papa John's Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, Kentucky)
• Week 12
  • No. 1/1 Ohio State defeated No. 2/2 Michigan, 42–39 (Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio)
• Week 13
  • No. 3/3 USC defeated No. 5/6 Notre Dame, 44–24 (Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California)
  • No. 10/9 LSU defeated No. 6/5 Arkansas, 31–26 (War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock, Arkansas)
• Week 14
  • No. 4/4 Florida defeated No. 9/8 Arkansas, 38–28 (2006 SEC Championship Game, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia)

Conference champions

Conference championship games

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

Conference	Champion	Runner-Up	Score	Site
ACC	No. 16 Wake Forest	No. 23 Georgia Tech	9–6	Alltel StadiumJacksonville, Florida
Big 12	No. 8 Oklahoma	No. 19 Nebraska	21–7	Arrowhead StadiumKansas City, Missouri
Conference USA	Houston	Southern Miss	34–20	Robertson StadiumHouston
MAC	Central Michigan	Ohio	31–10	Ford FieldDetroit
SEC	No. 4 Florida	No. 8 Arkansas	38–28	Georgia DomeAtlanta

Other conference champions

Rankings are from the Week 15 AP Poll.

Conference	Winner(s)
Big East	No. 6 Louisville
Big Ten	No. 1 Ohio State
Mountain West	No. 19 BYU
Pac-10	No. 20 California, No. 8 USC*
Sun Belt	Middle Tennessee, Troy
WAC	No. 9 Boise State

* Received conference's automatic BCS bowl bid.

BCS rankings progress

See main article: article and 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings. Ohio State was ranked No. 1 in all of the BCS-component polls (AP, Coaches', USA Today) in the preseason and the 14 polls taken in the regular season. When the BCS rankings began on October 15, Ohio State was No. 1 on all 8 rankings released during the season.

WEEK	No. 1	No. 2	EVENT
OCT 15	Ohio State	USC	Oregon State 33, USC 31
OCT 22	Ohio State	Michigan	Ohio St 44, Minnesota 0
OCT 29	Ohio State	Michigan	Ohio St 17, Illinois 10
NOV 5	Ohio State	Michigan	Ohio St 54, Northwestern 10
NOV 12	Ohio State	Michigan	Ohio St 42, Michigan 39
NOV 19	Ohio State	Michigan	Ohio St 42, Michigan 39
NOV 26	Ohio State	USC	UCLA 13, USC 9
DEC 3	Ohio State	Florida	Florida 38, Arkansas 28

Bowl games

See main article: article and 2006–07 NCAA football bowl games. Winners are listed in boldface.

Bowl Championship Series

The Bowl Championship Series selected the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams to play for the national championship on January 8. The 2006 season marked a change for the BCS system, as the BCS National Championship Game became a standalone bowl game for the first time, to be played at the site of one of the four BCS bowls (the Fiesta, Orange, Sugar, and Rose Bowls) on a rotating basis. Under the previous format used from 1998 to 2006, the BCS National Championship coincided with one of the BCS bowls. The 2007 BCS Championship Game was played in Glendale, Arizona, the week after the Fiesta Bowl had been played there.

Rankings are from the Week 15 AP Poll.

Bowl game	Date	Playing as visitor	Playing as home	Score
	January 8	No. 2 Florida		41 – 14
	January 3		No. 4 LSU	14 – 41
	January 2	No. 5 Louisville		24 – 13
	January 1	No. 9 Boise State		43 – 42 (OT)
	January 1	No. 8 Southern California		32 – 18

January bowl games

Bowl game	Day	Playing as visitor	Playing as home	Score
	7th		Southern Mississippi	7 – 28
	6th		Cincinnati	24 – 27
	1st	No. 10 Auburn		17 – 14
	1st		No. 6 Wisconsin	14 – 17
	1st		No. 13 West Virginia	35 – 38
	1st		Penn State	10 – 20

December bowl games

Bowl game	Day	Playing as visitor	Playing as home	Score
	31st	Miami		21 – 20
	30th	Georgia		31 – 24
	30th	No. 18 Texas		26 – 24
	30th		No. 23 Boston College	24 – 25
	29th		Maryland	7 – 24
	29th	Texas Tech		44 – 41
	29th		South Carolina	36 – 44
	29th	No. 24 Oregon State		39 – 38
	29th		Kentucky	20 – 28
	28th		No. 20 California	10 – 45
	28th	No. 16 Rutgers		37 – 10
	28th	Oklahoma State		34 – 31
	27th	Florida State		44 – 27
	26th		Central Michigan	14 – 31
	24th		Hawaii	24 – 41
	23rd		Utah	13 – 25
	23rd		San José State	12 – 20
	23rd	South Florida		24 – 7
	22nd		Troy	17 – 41
	21st	No. 19 BYU		38 – 8
	19th		No. 25 TCU	7 – 37

Bowl Challenge Cup standings

Conference	Wins	Losses	Pct.
Big East Conference	5	0	1.000
	3	1	.750
	3	1	.750
	6	3	.667
	4	4	.500
	3	3	.500
	1	1	.500
	3	5	.375
	2	5	.286
	1	3	.250
	1	4	.200
Independents	0	2	.000

Awards and honors

Heisman Trophy voting

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

Player	School	Position	1st	2nd	3rd	Total
Troy Smith	Ohio State	QB	801	62	13	2,540
		RB	45	298	147	878
		QB	13	276	191	782
		RB	6	51	94	214
		RB	5	58	79	210
		QB	6	44	96	202
		RB	1	16	44	79
		RB	1	13	44	73
		WR	1	11	22	47
		WR	1	8	24	43

Other major award winners

• Walter Camp Award (top player): Troy Smith, Ohio State^[5]
• Maxwell Award (top player): Brady Quinn, Notre Dame
• Associated Press College Football Player of the Year Award

Troy Smith, Ohio State^[6]

• Bronko Nagurski Trophy (defensive player): James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
• Chuck Bednarik Award (defensive player): Paul Posluszny, Penn State
• Dave Rimington Trophy (center): Dan Mozes, West Virginia
• Davey O'Brien Award (quarterback): Troy Smith, Ohio State
• Dick Butkus Award (linebacker): Patrick Willis, Ole Miss
• Doak Walker Award (running back): Darren McFadden, Arkansas
• Draddy Trophy ("academic Heisman"): Brian Leonard, Rutgers^[7]
• Fred Biletnikoff Award (wide receiver): Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech
• Jim Thorpe Award (defensive back): Aaron Ross, Texas
• John Mackey Award (tight end): Matt Spaeth, Minnesota
• Johnny Unitas Award (Sr. quarterback): Brady Quinn, Notre Dame
• Lombardi Award (top lineman): LaMarr Woodley, Michigan
• Lott Trophy (defensive impact): Dante Hughes, California^[8]
• Lou Groza Award (placekicker): Art Carmody, Louisville
• Manning Award (quarterback): JaMarcus Russell, LSU
• Mosi Tatupu Award (special teams): A. J. Trapasso, Ohio State
• Outland Trophy (interior lineman): Joe Thomas, Wisconsin
• Ray Guy Award (punter): Daniel Sepulveda, Baylor
• Ted Hendricks Award (defensive end): LaMarr Woodley, Michigan
• The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award

Greg Schiano, Rutgers^[9]

• Associated Press Coach of the Year: Jim Grobe, Wake Forest^[10]
• Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (head coach): Chris Petersen, Boise State
• Walter Camp Coach of the Year (head coach): Greg Schiano, Rutgers
• Broyles Award (assistant coach): Bud Foster, Virginia Tech

Postseason coaching changes

Team	Former coach	Interim	New coach
Air Force	Fisher DeBerry^[11]		Troy Calhoun^[12]
Alabama	Mike Shula^[13]	Joe Kines	Nick Saban^[14]
Army	Bobby Ross^[15]		Stan Brock
Arizona State	Dirk Koetter^[16]		Dennis Erickson^[17]
Boston College	Tom O'Brien^[18]	Frank Spaziani	Jeff Jagodzinski^[19]
Central Michigan	Brian Kelly^[20]	Jeff Quinn^[21]	Butch Jones^[22]
Cincinnati	Mark Dantonio^[23]		Brian Kelly
Florida International	Don Strock^[24]		Mario Cristobal^[25]
Idaho	Dennis Erickson^[26]		Robb Akey^[27]
Iowa State	Dan McCarney^[28]		Gene Chizik^[29]
Louisiana Tech	Jack Bicknell III^[30]		Derek Dooley^[31]
Louisville	Bobby Petrino^[32]		Steve Kragthorpe^[33]
Miami (FL)	Larry Coker^[34]		Randy Shannon^[35]
Michigan State	John L. Smith^[36]		Mark Dantonio
Minnesota	Glen Mason^[37]		Tim Brewster^[38]
North Carolina	John Bunting^[39]		Butch Davis^[40]
NC State	Chuck Amato^[41]		Tom O'Brien
North Texas	Darrell Dickey^[42]		Todd Dodge^[43]
Rice	Todd Graham^[44]		David Bailiff^[45]
Stanford	Walt Harris^[46]		Jim Harbaugh^[47]
Tulane	Chris Scelfo^[48]		Bob Toledo^[49]
Tulsa	Steve Kragthorpe		Todd Graham
UAB	Watson Brown^[50]		Neil Callaway^[51]

See also

• FIU–Miami football brawl

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2006–07 Bowl Schedule . July 6, 2006 . ESPN.
2. Web site: NCAA . 2006 Rules Changes . PDF . September 25, 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060901023237/http://www1.ncaa.org/eprise/main/playingrules/football/2005/6-9-2006RulesChanges..pdf . September 1, 2006 . dead . mdy-all .
3. Web site: College football season expands to 12 games . Joyner . James . Outside The Beltway . 2005-04-12 . 2016-12-11.
4. News: USA Today . Wisconsin finds loophole in speed-up rule . November 10, 2006 . Jack . Carey . November 7, 2006.
5. Web site: College Football Awards. ESPN. December 31, 2006.
6. Web site: Buckeyes' Smith named AP Player of the Year . ESPN . December 19, 2006 . December 31, 2006.
7. Web site: Leonard wins Draddy Trophy as top scholar athlete . ESPN . December 5, 2006 . December 31, 2006.
8. Web site: Hughes wins Lott Trophy . SportsLine.com . December 10, 2006 . December 31, 2006 . https://archive.today/20120718205529/http://sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/9863804 . July 18, 2012 . dead . mdy-all .
9. Web site: Schiano Named Walter Camp Coach of the Year . https://web.archive.org/web/20080401014820/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stories/121206abq.html . dead . April 1, 2008 . CSTV.com . December 12, 2006 . December 31, 2006.
10. Web site: Grobe beats out Schiano for AP coaching honor . ESPN . December 20, 2006 . December 31, 2006.
11. Web site: Air Force coach DeBerry retires . ESPN . December 15, 2006 . December 15, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061217091240/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2698568. December 17, 2006 . live.
12. Web site: Calhoun to replace DeBerry at Air Force . ESPN . December 22, 2006 . December 22, 2006.
13. Web site: Alabama fires Shula, names Kines interim coach . ESPN . November 28, 2006 . December 8, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061202123610/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2677110. December 2, 2006 . live.
14. Web site: After repeated denials, Saban takes Bama job . ESPN . January 3, 2007 . January 3, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070104195108/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2718488. January 4, 2007 . live.
15. Web site: Ross to resign after 3–9 season . ESPN . January 29, 2007 . January 29, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070203050005/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2747067. February 3, 2007 . live.
16. Web site: Bowl-bound Sun Devils fire Koetter as coach . ESPN . November 27, 2006 . December 8, 2006.
17. Web site: Erickson to coach Sun Devils . ESPN . December 12, 2006 . December 14, 2006.
18. Web site: O'Brien bound for N.C. State . Star-News . December 7, 2006 . December 8, 2006 . September 28, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928042614/http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20061207%2FBREAKING%2F61207020 . dead .
19. Web site: Packers' Jagodzinski to take BC job . ESPN . Joe . Schad . December 18, 2006 . December 18, 2006.
20. Web site: Central Michigan's Kelly accepts Cincinnati job . ESPN . December 3, 2006 . December 8, 2006.
21. Web site: Central Michigan names Quinn interim coach . ESPN . December 4, 2006 . December 8, 2006.
22. Web site: Central Michigan hires Butch Jones as head coach . ESPN . January 5, 2007 . January 8, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070108062300/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2721429. January 8, 2007 . live.
23. Web site: Michigan State hires former Cincy coach Dantonio . ESPN . November 27, 2006 . December 8, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061213204135/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2677122. December 13, 2006 . live.
24. Web site: Florida International coach resigns . ESPN . November 15, 2006 . December 8, 2006.
25. Web site: Cristobal will be first Cuban-American coach in I-A . ESPN . December 19, 2006 . December 19, 2006.
26. Web site: Idaho AD says Erickson leaving for Arizona State . ESPN . December 11, 2006 . December 14, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061215084046/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2692505. December 15, 2006 . live.
27. Web site: Idaho to replace Erickson with Washington St. assistant . ESPN . December 19, 2006 . December 19, 2006.
28. Web site: McCarney's resignation effective at season's end . ESPN . November 8, 2006 . December 8, 2006.
29. Web site: Chizik leaves Longhorns staff to coach Iowa State . ESPN . November 27, 2006 . December 8, 2006.
30. Web site: Bicknell fired after eight seasons at Louisiana Tech . ESPN . December 5, 2006 . December 14, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061215121426/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2685761. December 15, 2006 . live.
31. Web site: Dolphins TE coach Dooley headed for La. Tech . ESPN . December 17, 2006 . December 17, 2006.
32. Web site: Falcons nab Louisville's Petrino for head coach slot . ESPN . January 7, 2007 . January 7, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070109085842/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2723700. January 9, 2007 . live.
33. Web site: Louisville, Tulsa's Kragthorpe have agreement . Forde . Pat . ESPN . January 9, 2007 . January 9, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070116110632/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2725322. January 16, 2007 . live.
34. Web site: Coker fired by Miami after .500 season . ESPN . November 25, 2006 . December 8, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061128112353/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2674282. November 28, 2006 . live.
35. Web site: Defensive coordinator Shannon new Miami coach . ESPN . December 8, 2006 . December 8, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061212000427/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2690489. December 12, 2006 . live.
36. Web site: Michigan State coach John L. Smith out after season . ESPN . November 2, 2006 . December 8, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061108135753/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2645774. November 8, 2006 . live.
37. Web site: Minnesota fires coach Mason after bowl debacle . ESPN . December 31, 2006 . 2006-12-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20070102022350/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2715640. January 2, 2007 . live.
38. Web site: Gophers taking off in a different direction . startribune.com . January 16, 2007 . January 18, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070118095241/http://www.startribune.com/512/story/939076.html . January 18, 2007 . dead .
39. Web site: AD Baddour: Bunting lost 'numbers game' at UNC . ESPN . October 23, 2006 . December 8, 2006.
40. Web site: Davis, eager to get to work, introduced in Chapel Hill . ESPN . November 27, 2006 . December 8, 2006.
41. Web site: Amato's ouster caps Wolfpack's 0–7 finish to season . ESPN . November 27, 2006 . December 8, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061205233020/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2676855. December 5, 2006 . live.
42. Web site: Dickey fired with 3 years remaining on contract . ESPN . November 8, 2006 . December 8, 2006.
43. Web site: North Texas to hire Dodge from Carroll High . ESPN . December 12, 2006 . December 12, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061231204105/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2695177. December 31, 2006 . live.
44. Web site: Rice's Graham accepts offer, will coach at Tulsa . ESPN . January 12, 2007 . January 12, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070114070210/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2728375. January 14, 2007 . live.
45. Web site: Rice hires Texas State's Bailiff as head coach . ESPN . January 18, 2007 . January 19, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070122102520/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2735636. January 22, 2007 . live.
46. Web site: Harris out as Cardinal coach following 1–11 season . ESPN . December 6, 2006 . December 8, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061209051403/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2685975. December 9, 2006 . live.
47. Web site: Harbaugh takes over program that went 1–11 . ESPN . December 18, 2006 . December 18, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20070104053135/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2701748. January 4, 2007 . live.
48. Web site: Tulane's rebuilding in football to go on without Scelfo . ESPN . November 29, 2006 . December 8, 2006.
49. Web site: Toledo replaces Scelfo at Tulane . ESPN . December 12, 2006 . December 14, 2006.
50. Web site: UAB's Brown accepts job at Tennessee Tech (DI-AA) . December 9, 2006 . December 14, 2006 . ESPN . Mark Schlabach. https://web.archive.org/web/20070125151228/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2691741. January 25, 2007 . live.
51. Web site: UAB lands Georgia coordinator Callaway . ESPN . December 16, 2006 . December 16, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20070125151205/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2699971. January 25, 2007 . live.