Reflecting on the Disorderly 2007 College Football Season's Events
2007: The Chaotic College Football Season
The year 2007 stands out as one of the most unpredictable seasons in the history of college football. Known as "The Year of the Upset," the season was marked by an unprecedented number of upsets, instability in the top rankings, and a national championship won by a two-loss team.
At the start of the season, top-ranked Missouri and second-ranked West Virginia needed to lose for Ohio State and LSU to meet in a potential championship showdown. However, the season took a surprising turn as multiple upstart programs like South Florida, Kansas, Boston College, and Cal held the number two spot in the polls at some point in 2007.
The chaos was fueled by frequent upsets of highly ranked teams, disrupting the usual power balance and ranking expectations. The second-ranked team in the major polls suffered seven losses in just the final nine weeks of the season, a remarkably unusual occurrence.
One of the most memorable games was the 2007 Backyard Brawl, where Pittsburgh upset No. 2 West Virginia 13-9, a pivotal game that added to the season's unpredictability. LSU, who started the season ranked seventh, went on to overwhelm Ohio State on both lines of scrimmage in the national championship game, securing the first national championship won by a two-loss team in the modern era.
In the SEC, LSU awaited the Tennessee Volunteers in Atlanta to determine the conference champion. Meanwhile, Ohio State was idle because the Big Ten did not have a conference championship game in 2007. Missouri lost to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game.
Another significant upset occurred in the first week of the season when Appalachian State, an FCS powerhouse, upset Michigan. The game was not widely available on basic cable due to airing on the Big Ten Network. Michigan, a preseason top-five team, fell outside the top 25 after the first week of the season.
The 2007 season was also memorable for Tim Tebow, who became the first underclassman to win the Heisman Trophy. As the season drew to a close, several teams had legitimate shots at a national title.
Seven days separate us from the start of the college football season for the current year. College football fans are eagerly anticipating the return of their favourite teams and the potential for another chaotic and unpredictable season.
Amidst the excitement building for the upcoming college football season, history enthusiasts might recall the chaotic 2007 season, known as "The Year of the Upset," which saw numerous twists and turns, including unexpected victories in sports like football. Fans of Boston College, South Florida, Kansas, and Cal, among others, witnessed their teams climb to the second spot in the polls that year.
