Final College Football Thoughts

Ben and I both think it's Toby Gerhart. There wasn't even a discussion here. The nation's leading rusher wound up with 1,871 yards and 27 touchdowns. He rushed for over 200 yards three times. The most impressive thing was he went for 135 yards and 2 TD against a stout Oklahoma run defense without even the threat of a passing game to keep the Sooners honest.

He had over 200 more yards and 10 more touchdowns than Mark Ingram, and he played in one less game and it could be argued Stanford's schedule was just as tough.

Ingram probably isn't even the best player on his team.

My second place vote would go to Ndamukong Suh.

Here is Ben's top five: Kirk Ferentz, Iowa; Nick Saban, Alabama; Gary Patterson, TCU; Chris Peterson, Boise State; Chip Kelly, Cincinnati.

Matt: Al Golden, Temple; Kirk Ferentz, Iowa; Chris Peterson, Boise State; Gary Patterson, TCU; Chip Kelly, Cincinnati.

This would make Ferentz our coach of the year in a poll format, and for good reason. The Hawkeyes finish in the top six, they win a BCS game and were one injury away from possibly going undefeated and probably playing in the Rose Bowl.

Ben: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech.

Matt: Cincinnati, Temple, Iowa.

This would make Cincinnati our No. 1 biggest surprise. I didn't expect the Bearcats to nearly reach the national title game. TCU and Boise State, those I could see coming, but not Cincy. I thought Temple's year came out of the blue, though Golden had been building them up. I thought a bowl game would be in the cards this year, but not nine wins.

Ben: Ole Miss, USC, Cal.

Matt: USC, Notre Dame, Kansas.

USC wins. I think this is an easy winner. The Trojans did win nine games, but they looked really bad at some points and looked beatable a lot of times.

I think Ben was on to something with Ole Miss, but I think they were playing well enough by year's end. Cal would have been my No. 4 choice, so their year goes without saying.

Notre Dame, as always, a huge disappointment. And Kansas is up there after starting the year ranked. To go 5-7, including 1-7 in the Big 12, is a disaster.