2005 NCAA Division I-A football season

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2005 NCAA Division I-A season
George W. Bush and Mack Brown with the 2005 Texas Longhorn football team.jpg
Texas team and coach Mack Brown with president George W. Bush, after winning the 2005 national championship
Number of teams 119
Duration September 1–December 3
Preseason AP #1 USC Trojans
Post-season
Duration December 20, 2005 –
January 4, 2006
Bowl games 33 (28 team-competitive and 5 all-star)
Heisman Trophy Reggie Bush, USC RB
(vacated)
Bowl Championship Series
2006 Rose Bowl
Site Rose Bowl Stadium,
Pasadena, California
Winner Texas Longhorns
Division I-A football seasons
← 2004
2006 →

The 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the least amount of controversy surrounding the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) title game in many years.

To an extent it was a return to classic football. All eight BCS teams were traditional powerhouses, many of the schools having worn the same uniforms for half a century, and Penn State and Florida State having the same coaches for nearly half a century. Alabama was back in the mix for the SEC title, shaking off the residual effects of NCAA sanctions, and though Penn State was a relative newcomer to the Big Ten, Ohio State and Michigan were still in the running for the conference title until the last game.

The BCS saw good fortune as two teams, the USC Trojans and the Texas Longhorns, went wire to wire as #1 and #2, respectively—the second year in a row that had happened—and finished as Division I-A's only undefeated teams after the regular season. As a result, there was no dispute over the choice of teams selected for the BCS title game (there were five undefeated teams in the 2004 regular season: Oklahoma, USC, Auburn, Utah, and Boise State). The game was played at the Rose Bowl, where Texas edged the favored, defending champion Trojans in large part due to a historic performance by Texas quarterback Vince Young, who gained 467 yards of total offense and ran for three touchdowns. The victory earned the Longhorns their first consensus national championship since 1969. (Texas won a split title in 1970.)

There was also an unlikely comeback team in the season. The UCF Golden Knights came from a helpless 0–11 record in 2004, to a respectable 8–5 record and an appearance in the Conference USA Championship game and a Hawaii Bowl berth. Although their season apparently got off to a poor start with a loss to South Carolina on opening day and a pasting by their intrastate rival, South Florida, they pulled off 8 wins over a 9-game span (only loss was a 31–52 rout by Southern Miss) including getting a win over eventual conference champions, Tulsa. Tulsa ended up beating UCF 44–27. In the Hawaii Bowl, the Golden Knights were a failed PAT away from sending Nevada to double overtime. Also, Penn State, who went 4-7 in 2004, managed an 11-1 record and #3 ranking in 2005, despite not being ranked until after a 44-14 victory over then #19 Minnesota, where Penn State took control of the Governor's Victory Bell for the first time since 1998.

Rule changes

  • After the Big Ten Conference's 2004 experiment with instant replay, its use was expanded to all but the Sun Belt and the WAC conferences in Division I-A. The rules varied between conferences (including the use of coaches' challenges similar to the NFL in the Mountain West Conference) until the NCAA standardized the rules in 2006. Replay was also permitted in bowl games and, provided the visiting team agreed to its use, in non-conference regular season games.
  • The protection for a receiver who signals a fair catch includes situations when the ball is muffed until it hits the ground.
  • Penalties for spearing or similar hits in which the tackler leads with the crown of the head are enforced regardless of the "intent" of the tackler.
  • The penalty for leaping on field goals/PATs now states it is a foul if a player lined up more than one yard behind the line of scrimmage jumps and lands on players of any team trying to block the kick. If lined up one yard or closer to the line, it is not a foul.
  • Eliminated the "legal clipping zone"; hits from behind below the knee are prohibited anywhere on the field.
  • Provided for officials a specific list of acts by players considered unsportsmanlike conduct, which include:
    • Simulated throat-slashing and gun-firing
    • Pointing the ball at, verbally taunting, or standing over an opposing player
    • Bowing at the waist
    • Chest-pounding and crossing hands in front of the chest
    • Spinning the ball like a top, spiking the ball (except to conserve time by the quarterback), or throwing/kicking the ball into the stands or into the air
    • Obviously altering stride (ex. high-stepping) or diving into the end zone unchallenged
    • Placing a hand on the ear simulating not being able to hear the crowd
    • Jumping into the crowd (similar to the "Lambeau Leap")
    • Removing the helmet in the field of play (exceptions: injury to the player, during timeouts, adjustment of equipment, or during first down measurement)
    • Choreographed celebrations with teammates.

Non-choreographed or spontaneous celebrations after a score or a play are permitted provided the player(s) are not bringing attention to themselves.

Conference changes

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Quite a few conference changes took place in 2005 with 18 teams changing conferences:

  • Boston College left the Big East to become the ACC's 12th member, allowing that league to split into divisions and start a conference championship game.
  • Temple became an independent football program after expulsion from the Big East Conference
  • Army ended its brief affiliation with Conference USA and also returned to football independence.
  • Cincinnati, Louisville and South Florida left Conference USA to join the Big East.
  • TCU also left Conference USA to become the Mountain West Conference's ninth member.
  • Conference USA responded and increased its membership to 12 by adding Central Florida and Marshall from the Mid-American Conference (knocking the MAC's membership down from 14 to 12) and Rice, Southern Methodist, UTEP, and Tulsa from the WAC. Like the ACC, C-USA split into two divisions and started a conference championship game.
  • The WAC added Idaho, New Mexico State and Utah State from the Sun Belt Conference.
  • The Sun Belt picked up independent Florida Atlantic and Florida International, who had just transitioned from Division I-AA.

By the end of realignment, Division I-A membership had increased from 118 to 119 schools.

School 2004 Conference 2005 Conference
Army Black Knights Conference USA I-A Independent
Boston College Eagles Big East ACC
Central Florida Knights MAC Conference USA
Cincinnati Bearcats Conference USA Big East
Louisville Cardinals Conference USA Big East
Marshall Thundering Herd MAC Conference USA
Florida Atlantic Owls I-A Independent Sun Belt
Florida International Panthers I-A Independent Sun Belt
Idaho Vandals Sun Belt WAC
New Mexico State Aggies Sun Belt WAC
Rice Owls WAC Conference USA
South Florida Bulls Conference USA Big East
SMU Mustangs WAC Conference USA
Temple Owls Big East Conference I-A Independent
TCU Horned Frogs Conference USA Mountain West
Tulsa Golden Hurricane WAC Conference USA
Utah State Aggies Sun Belt WAC
UTEP Miners WAC Conference USA

Coaching changes

Steve Spurrier returned to the college coaching ranks for the first time since 2001, taking the reins at South Carolina and turning out a respectable 7–5 season. Urban Meyer, the previous year's hot coach after leading Utah to an undefeated season, took over at Spurrier's old job, Florida. Charlie Weis left the New England Patriots to take over the head coach job at his alma mater, Notre Dame and was able to lead them to a BCS bowl.

Barry Alvarez, who took over a woeful Wisconsin program in 1990 and turned it into a Big Ten force, retired, as did Bill Snyder, who turned Big 8 doormat Kansas State into a Big 12 power. Dan Hawkins, who helped lead Boise State to the status of a mid-major powerhouse, left the Broncos to coach the Colorado Buffaloes, a team trying to change its image after recruiting scandals broke out the previous season.

Conference standings

2005 ACC football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
Atlantic Division
#23 Florida State xy$   5 3         8 5  
#18 Boston College x   5 3         9 3  
#21 Clemson   4 4         8 4  
Wake Forest   3 5         4 7  
NC State   3 5         7 5  
Maryland   3 5         5 6  
Coastal Division
#7 Virginia Tech x   7 1         11 2  
#17 Miami   6 2         9 3  
Georgia Tech   5 3         7 5  
North Carolina   4 4         5 6  
Virginia   3 5         7 5  
Duke   0 8         1 10  

Championship: Florida State 27, Virginia Tech 22
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll
2005 Big East football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
#5 West Virginia $   7 0         11 1  
#19 Louisville   5 2         9 3  
South Florida   4 3         6 6  
Rutgers   4 3         7 5  
Pittsburgh   4 3         5 6  
Cincinnati   2 5         4 7  
Connecticut   2 5         5 6  
Syracuse   0 7         0 10  
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
2005 Big Ten football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
#3 Penn State $+   7 1         11 1  
#4 Ohio State %+   7 1         10 2  
#15 Wisconsin   5 3         10 3  
Michigan   5 3         7 5  
Northwestern   5 3         7 5  
Iowa   5 3         7 5  
Minnesota   4 4         7 5  
Purdue   3 5         5 6  
Michigan State   2 6         5 6  
Indiana   1 7         4 7  
Illinois   0 8         2 9  
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • % – BCS at-large representative
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll
2005 Big 12 football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
Northern Division
Colorado x   5 3         7 6  
#24 Nebraska   4 4         8 4  
Iowa State   4 4         7 5  
Missouri   4 4         7 5  
Kansas   3 5         7 5  
Kansas State   2 6         5 6  
Southern Division
#1 Texas x$#   8 0         13 0  
#20 Texas Tech   6 2         9 3  
#22 Oklahoma   6 2         8 4  
Texas A&M   3 5         5 6  
Baylor   2 6         5 6  
Oklahoma State   1 7         4 7  
Championship: Texas 70, Colorado 3
  • # – BCS National Champion
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll
2005 Conference USA football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
East Division
UCF x   7 1         8 5  
Southern Miss   5 3         7 5  
Memphis   5 3         7 5  
East Carolina   4 4         5 6  
Marshall   3 5         4 7  
UAB   3 5         5 6  
West Division
Tulsa x$   6 2         9 4  
UTEP   5 3         8 4  
Houston   4 4         6 6  
SMU   4 4         5 6  
Tulane   1 7         2 9  
Rice   1 7         1 10  
Championship: Tulsa 44, Central Florida 27
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll
2005 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
East Division
Akron xy$   5 3         7 6  
Miami x   5 3         7 4  
Bowling Green x   5 3         6 5  
Ohio   3 5         4 7  
Buffalo   1 7         1 10  
Kent State   0 8         1 10  
West Division
Northern Illinois xy   6 2         7 5  
Toledo x   6 2         9 3  
Western Michigan   5 3         7 4  
Central Michigan   5 3         6 5  
Ball State   4 4         4 7  
Eastern Michigan   3 5         4 7  
Championship: Akron 31, NIU 30
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll
2005 Mountain West Conference football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
#11 TCU $   8 0         11 1  
BYU   5 3         6 6  
Colorado State   5 3         6 6  
Utah   4 4         7 5  
New Mexico   4 4         6 5  
San Diego State   4 4         5 7  
Air Force   3 5         4 7  
Wyoming   2 6         4 7  
UNLV   1 7         2 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
2005 Pacific-10 football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
#2 USC * $   8 0         12 1  
#13 Oregon   7 1         10 2  
#16 UCLA   6 2         10 2  
#25 California   4 4         8 4  
Arizona State   4 4         7 5  
Stanford   4 4         5 6  
Oregon State   3 5         5 6  
Arizona   2 6         3 8  
Washington State   1 7         4 7  
Washington   1 7         2 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • * – USC later vacated 12 wins (8 in conference) due to NCAA sanctions.
Rankings from AP Poll
2005 SEC football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
Eastern Division
#10 Georgia x$   6 2         10 3  
South Carolina   5 3         7 5  
#12 Florida   5 3         9 3  
Vanderbilt   3 5         5 6  
Tennessee   3 5         5 6  
Kentucky   2 6         3 8  
Western Division
#5 LSU xy   7 1         11 2  
#14 Auburn x   7 1         9 3  
#8 Alabama   6 2         10 2  
Arkansas   2 6         4 7  
Mississippi State   1 7         3 8  
Ole Miss   1 7         3 8  
Championship: Georgia 34, LSU 14
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • Alabama had all victories vacated by the NCAA in 2010. As such, the official record for Alabama is 0–2 (0–2).
Rankings from AP Poll
2005 Sun Belt football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
Arkansas State +   5 2         6 6  
Louisiana–Lafayette +   5 2         6 5  
Louisiana–Monroe +   5 2         5 6  
FIU   3 4         5 6  
Middle Tennessee   3 4         4 7  
Troy   3 4         4 7  
Florida Atlantic   2 5         2 9  
North Texas   2 5         2 9  
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll
2005 WAC football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
Boise State +   7 1         9 4  
Nevada +   7 1         9 3  
Louisiana Tech   6 2         7 4  
Fresno State   6 2         8 5  
Hawaii   4 4         5 7  
San Jose State   2 6         3 8  
Utah State   2 6         3 8  
Idaho   2 6         2 9  
New Mexico State   0 8         0 12  
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll
2005 Division I-A independents football records
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
#9 Notre Dame  %           9 2  
Navy           8 4  
Army           4 7  
Temple           0 11  
  • % – BCS at-large representative
Rankings from AP Poll

Bowl games

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BCS bowls

Rankings given are AP rankings going into bowl games

Other New Years Day bowls

December bowl games

Awards and honors

Heisman Trophy voting

The Heisman Trophy voting seemed a 3-man race: Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart (who won the Heisman Trophy in 2004), and Vince Young, who helped Texas win the national championship for the 1st time since 1970. Bush won the trophy, with Young coming in second.

The Heisman Trophy is given to the year's most outstanding player. There is no winner for 2005 because of irregularities discovered in 2010.

In June 2010, the NCAA ruled that Bush had received improper gifts in violation of NCAA policies. On September 14, 2010, Bush announced in a statement from the New Orleans Saints that he would forfeit his title of 2005 Heisman Trophy winner and return his trophy. Vince Young, the runner-up in 2005, commented that he would not accept the trophy if it was taken away from Bush. On September 15, 2010, the Heisman Trust announced that the 2005 trophy would be vacated, and there would be no winner for that season.[1]

Other major award winners

* Vacated due to ineligibility

All-Americans

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2005 Consensus All-America Team

Statistical leaders

  • Team scoring most points: Texas, 652

References

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