This is part of the 2009 in review group writing project. To find out more about this project, please check out Daily Blog Tips.
With the regular season behind us, it is time to take a quick look at the biggest games of the seasons. Some of these games defined a team, some destroyed an otherwise perfect season, and some served to create more controversy in the current BCS system. Some of these were close games, others simply played a major role in the final polls. No matter who the game was between, or how big it seemed at the time, these games directly altered the college football world this season. So, without further ado, here are the top ten football games from 2009 (bowl games don't count):
10) September 3: Boise State 19, Oregon 8
In the first game of the 2009 season, Oregon met up with the constant BCS-buster Boise State. Not only did they throw down on the field, but they also threw down in a nice little boxing match after the game. LaGarrette Blount 'punch heard round the world' removed one of Oregon's best running backs for the season (well, until they decided to change that) and set them off to a bad start on the year. For Boise, the game helped to launch yet another undefeated season and another BCS bowl game. Though the game didn't harm Oregon too much, it seemed as though it was a major loss at the time.
9) September 19: Washington 16, USC 13
One week after beating Ohio State in a close match in The 'Shoe, USC had an easy cupcake on their schedule. Washington took offense to that and decided to take USC out of the national championship picture. For yet another year, the Trojans lost a game that they should have won right after taking out a larger program. Though this game didn't affect the Pac-10 at the time, it started the downside of Pete Carroll's program, finishing at 8-4 and putting them in a mid-level bowl game.
8) December 5: Cincinnati 45, Pittsburgh 44
While everybody knew that this game would decide the winner of the Big East and a automatic BCS bid, nobody knew that it would be this close. Pitt took an early 21-point lead, but then squandered it in the second half. This game cemented Cincinnati's place in the BCS hierarchy, left them undefeated for the season, and helped to create more BCS controversy. If Cincinnati wins their bowl game, their win against Pitt will cause more calls for a playoff.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Let's see.
Oregon-Arizona was a great double-overtimer. Same with UConn-Notre Dame. CMU over Michigan had a nutty ending. There was "the spike" in LSU-Mississippi. Houston-Southern Miss was a barnburner (50-43, 1350+ yards total offense). I think North Texas-Western Kentucky had the highest scoring game in FBS (68-49).
2 - Robert M. Barga
Oregon Arizona was a great game, but it just didn't make it in my books.
LSU Mississippi didn't change the season any, but it was great
CMU Michigan was another interesting game, but no big impact
mostly, I choce games with a large impact
3 - Dr Dreadful
There was also Fresno State 53, Illinois 52, the Bulldogs winning it with a 2-point conversion with 0:02 remaining.
As you say, though, not a game with a big impact.
4 - Dustin
The Oregon-Arizona game was clearly the most entertaining college football game this season and had huge Rose Bowl implications. What a thriller...should be #1 game.
5 - Ben Rushing
What no mention of the 2009 ACC championship game? A game with no punts from both teams. GT only had one real turnover without a score when they failed to convert on 4th down. Best game played all year.