The 2005 Division IA football season ended with the least amount of controversy surrounding the BCS title game in many years.

The BCS saw good fortune as two teams, USC and Texas, started the season as #1 and #2, then proceeded to stay there the entire season undefeated, the second year in a row that had happened. The title game was played at the Rose Bowl, where Texas defeated the Trojans, in great part due a stunning performance by Texas quarterback Vince Young who ran the ball into the end zone for the game's winning touchdown. It was arguably the most anticipated game in college football history. Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush also made a tide turning play, but his was more a benefit for the opponent, as an attempted mid-field pitch came close to being highlight reel material but instead ended up blooper reel. Matt Leinart attempted a last second comback but feel quite short. The Longhorns were National Champs and for once no one was trying to dispute that. Unlike the 2005 Orange Bowl national championship gamewhere USC annihlated the Sooners, 55-19, the game didn't turn into a blowout.

There was an unlikely comeback team in the season. UCF 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 appeared to be bad from the get go when they lost to South Carolina on opening day, and getting licked by their intra-state 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 W over eventual conference champions, Tulsa. Tulsa got redemption from their earlier loss to Central Florida, destroying them 27-44. In the Hawaii bowl, the Golden Knights were an extra-point-miss away from sending Nevada to OT.

The Heisman Voting was basically a 3 man show. Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart (who was last year's Heisman winner), and Vince Young, who helped Texas win the national championship for the 1st time since 1970. The former won it in a landslide.

To an extent it was a return to classic football. Seven of the eight BCS teams were traditional powerhouses, many of the schools having worn the same uniforms for half a century, 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 is a relative newcomer to the Big10, Ohio State and Michigan were still in the running for the conference title until the last game.

Steve Spurrier returned to the college coaching ranks, taking the reins at South Carolina and turning out a respectable 7-5 season. Urban Meyer, last 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 turned around a 1-10 Wisconsin program and made it a Big10 force retired, as did Bill Snyder who turned around Big 8 doormat Kansas State and turned them into a Big XII power. Dan Hawkins who brought 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 last year.

Bowl Games

BCS Bowls

Rankings given are AP rankings going into bowl games

Rose Bowl: #2 (BCS #2) Texas 41, #1 (BCS #1) Southern California 38

Fiesta Bowl: (At Large) Ohio State 34, (At Large) Notre Dame 20

Sugar Bowl: (Big East Champ) West Virginia 38, (SEC Champ) Georgia 35

Orange Bowl: (Big10 Champ) Penn State 26, (ACC Champ) Florida State 23 (3 OT)

Other New Years Day Bowls

Cotton Bowl: Alabama 13, Texas Tech 10

Capital One Bowl: Wisconsin 24, Auburn 10

Gator Bowl: Virginia Tech 35, Louisville 24

Outback Bowl: Florida 31, Iowa 24

December Bowl Games

Peach Bowl: LSU 40, Miami (FL) 3

Houston Bowl: TCU 27, Iowa State 24

Liberty Bowl: (C-USA Champ) Tulsa 31, Fresno State 24

MPC Computers Bowl: Boston College 27, Boise State 21

Meineke Car Care Bowl: NC State 14, South Florida 0

Independence Bowl: Missouri 38, South Carolina 31

Sun Bowl: UCLA 50, Northwestern 38

Music City Bowl: Virginia 34, Minnesota 31

Holiday Bowl: Oklahoma 17, Oregon 14

Emerald Bowl: Utah 38, Georgia Tech 10

Alamo Bowl: Nebraska 32, Michigan 28

Insight Bowl: Arizona State 45, Rutgers 40

Champs Sports Bowl: Clemson 19, Colorado 10

Motor City Bowl: Memphis 38, (MAC Champ) Akron 31

Hawai'i Bowl: (WAC Champ) Nevada 49, UCF 48 (OT)

Fort Worth Bowl: Kansas 42, Houston 13

Las Vegas Bowl: California 35, BYU 28

Poinsettia Bowl: Navy 51, Colorado State 30

GMAC Bowl: Toledo 45, UTEP 13

New Orleans Bowl: Southern Mississippi 31, Arkansas State 19

Final Heisman Voting

The Heisman Trophy is given to the year's most outstanding player
Winner:
Reggie Bush, Jr. USC TB (2,541 pts)

2. Vince Young, Jr. Texas QB (1,608 pts)

3. Matt Leinart, Sr. USC QB (797 pts)

4. Brady Quinn Jr. Notre Dame QB (191 pts)

5. Michael Robinson, Sr. Penn State QB (49 pts)

Other Major Award Winners

Walter Camp Award (top player): Reggie Bush, RB, USC

Maxwell Award (top player): Vince Young, QB, Texas

AP Player Of the Year: Reggie Bush, RB, USC

Lombardi Award (top lineman): A.J. Hawk, Ohio State

John Mackey Award (tight end): Mercedes Lewis, UCLA

Doak Walker Award (running back): Reggie Bush, RB, USC

Chuck Bednarik Award (defensive player): Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State

Outland Trophy (interior lineman): Greg Eslinger, C, Minnesota

Davey O'Brien Award (quarterback): Vince Young, QB, Texas

Johnny Unitas Award (Sr. quarterback): Matt Leinart, USC

Fred Biletnikoff Award (wide receiver): Mike Hass, Oregon State

Jim Thorpe Award (defensive back): Michael Huff, Texas

Lou Groza Award (placekicker): Alexis Serna , Oregon State

Ray Guy Award (punter): Ryan Plackemeier, Wake Forest

The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award: Joe Paterno, Penn State

Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (coach of the year): Mack Brown, Texas