The regular season and conference championships are over, as of tonight, so let's look back at this entertaining season and this year's disappointments and surprises.
Disappointment: We have to start with USC, don't we? The Trojans were picked by some as a preseason number one and Matt Barkley was all but given the Heisman. Neither will happen given the porous USC defense coupled with a season for Barkley that has to be termed less-than-expected.
Surprise: Kansas State. The 'Cats were one surprise loss from being in the national championship game and QB Collin Klein still may win the Heisman. Kansas State has had its best season ever and will now get to win game 12 in the Fiesta Bowl, the second BCS bowl in the school's history.
Disappointment: Should we put Missouri in this category? Probably not given that the injury to QB James Franklin dramatically impacted MU's season. But, the Tigers did get a wake-up call on what it will take to compete in the SEC.
Surprise: Texas A&M surprised everyone and, in the process, replaced Ryan Tannehill with "Johnny Football," the most electric player in A&M history since John David Crow. Manzeil is now the front-runner to win the Heisman.
Disappointment: The ACC...again. Florida State was the premier team in this league but, after the 'Noles and Clemson, the gap was wide.
Surprise: Penn State. Who would have thought that the Nittany Lions would finish 8-4 and 6-2 in the league after starting with losses to Ohio and Virginia?
Disappointment: West Virginia started the season 5-0 with an offense that seemingly could score at will, and a QB who seemed destined to win the Heisman. Five games later the Mountaineers were 5-5 and had to win their last two games, against Iowa State and Kansas, to become bowl eligible.
Surprise: Let's give it up for Urban Meyer and Ohio State--undefeated and the best team in the Big 10.
Surprise: And, of course, we have to end with Notre Dame, another undefeated team and in the national championship game against Alabama, the first time the Domers have been in this lofty spot since 1988.
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