2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season

Infobox NCAA Division I FBS season
year = 2006


image_caption =
regular_season = August 31 - December 2
bowl_start = December 19
nc_date = 2007-01-08
championship = University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
champions = Florida Gators
heisman = Troy SmithThe 2006 NCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) football season, or the college football season, began on August 31, 2006 and, aside from all-star exhibition games that followed, concluded with the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) National Championship Game on January 8, 2007 in Glendale, Arizona, USA, where the #2 Florida Gators defeated the #1 Ohio State Buckeyes to win the 2006 BCS National Championship. [cite web | title=2006-07 Bowl Schedule | accessdate=2006-07-06 | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2473969 | publisher=ESPN.com ]

Preseason rankings

Many publications release their predictions of the number one team prior to the beginning of the season. Following is a list of some publications' #1 pick.
*Ohio State
**USA TODAY [cite web | url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bonus/2006-08-24-big-ten-capsule_x.htm | title=Big Ten outlook | publisher=USAToday | author=Ty Allushuski | date=2006-08-25 | accessdate=2006-11-28]
**Associated Press [cite web | title=ESPN.com - NCF - 2006 College Football Rankings - Week 1 | accessdate=2006-08-22 | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex | publisher=ESPN.com]
*Oklahoma
**Athlon Sports [cite web | title=Preseason Top 25 | accessdate=2006-07-05 | url=http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/8701/preseason-top-25 | publisher=Athlon Sports, Inc]
**Gold Sheet [cite web | title=THE GOLD SHEET PRESEASON TOP 25! | accessdate=2006-07-05 | url=http://www.goldsheet.com/articles/AnnualExcerpts.php | publisher=The Gold Sheet| author=Marshall, Bruce ]
**Phil Steele [cite web | title= Ten Minutes with Phil Steele | accessdate=2006-07-10 | url=http://mb22.scout.com/fouinsiderfrm1.showMessage?topicID=129802.topic | publisher=Scout, Inc ]
*Notre Dame
**Lindy's [ cite web | title=Lindy's Power Rankings | accessdate=2006-07-06 | url=http://www.lindyssports.com/main.php | publisher=Lindy's Sports]
**Sporting News [cite web | title=Notre Dame will be the national champion | accessdate=2006-07-21 | url=http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=106564 | publisher=SportingNews.com ]

Rules changes for 2006

There are several rules that have changed for the 2006 season. [cite web | publisher=NCAA | url=http://www1.ncaa.org/eprise/main/playingrules/football/2005/6-9-2006RulesChanges..pdf | title=2006 Rules Changes | format=PDF | accessdate=2006-09-25 ] Following are some highlights:

*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.
*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. [ cite web | publisher=USA Today | url=http://usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2006-11-06-clock-loophole_x.htm?imw=Y | title=Wisconsin finds loophole in speed-up rule | accessdate=2006-11-10 ]
* On a change of possession, the clock starts when the referee marks the ball ready for play, instead of on the snap.
*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.
*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.

Key matchups

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January Bowl Games

Heisman Trophy voting

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

*Winner: Troy Smith, Sr. Ohio State QB (2,540 pts)
*2. Darren McFadden, So. Arkansas TB (878 pts)
*3. Brady Quinn, Sr. Notre Dame QB (782 pts)
*4. Steve Slaton So. West Virginia TB (214 pts)
*5. Mike Hart, Jr. Michigan TB (210 pts)

Other major award winners

*Walter Camp Award (top player): Troy Smith, Ohio State cite web
url = http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/awards?year=2006
title = College Football Awards
publisher = ESPN.com
accessdate = 2006-12-31]
*Maxwell Award (top player): Brady Quinn, Notre Dame
*Associated Press College Football Player of the Year Award: Troy Smith, Ohio State [cite web | url = http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2702561 | title=Buckeyes' Smith named AP Player of the Year | publisher=ESPN.com | date=2006-12-19 | accessdate = 2006-12-31]
*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 [cite web | title= Leonard wins Draddy Trophy as top scholar athlete | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2687846 | publisher=ESPN.com | date=2006-12-05 | accessdate = 2006-12-31]
*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): Daymeion Hughes, California [cite web | title=Hughes wins Lott Trophy | url=http://sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/9863804 | publisher=SportsLine.com | date=2006-12-10 | accessdate = 2006-12-31]
*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, Rutgerscite web | title=Schiano Named Walter Camp Coach of the Year | url=http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stories/121206abq.html | publisher=CSTV.com | date=2006-12-12 | accessdate = 2006-12-31]
*Associated Press Coach of the Year: Jim Grobe, Wake Forest [cite web | title=Grobe beats out Schiano for AP coaching honor | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2703784 | publisher=ESPN.com | date=2006-12-20 | accessdate = 2006-12-31]
*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

Coaching changes following the season

ee also

*2006 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
*2006 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
*2006 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
*2006 Auburn Tigers football team
*2006 BYU Cougars football team
*2006 Boise State Broncos football team
*2006 California Golden Bears football team
*2006 Clemson Tigers Football
*2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team
*2006 Florida Gators football team
*2006 Florida State Seminoles football team
*2006 Fresno State Bulldogs football team
*2006 Georgia Bulldogs football team
*2006 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team
*2006 Hawaii Warriors football team
*2006 Kansas State Wildcats football team
*2006 Louisville Cardinals football team
*2006 LSU Tigers football team
*2006 Maryland Terrapins football team
*2006 Miami Hurricanes football team
*2006 Miami RedHawks football team
*2006 Michigan Wolverines football team
*2006 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team
*2006 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team
*2006 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
*2006 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team
*2006 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
*2006 Oklahoma Sooners football team
*2006 Oregon State Beavers football team
*2006 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
*2006 Purdue Boilermakers football team
*2006 Tennessee Volunteers football team
*2006 Texas Longhorn football team
*2006 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
*2006 USC Trojans football team
*2006 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team
*2006 Washington Huskies football team
*2006 Washington State Cougars football team
*2006 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
*2006 Wisconsin Badgers football team

Notes and references