This list is not a best games list. That is coming later. It is a list of the most important games of the season, week by week. These are the games that had the biggest overall impact on the season. Yes, some very important games will be missing, but that happens when only one game per week is picked (meaning the Auburn-Alabama game is not here, for example).
Week 1 – Boise St. 33, Virginia Tech 30
This game is here not for Boise St. (whose game against Nevada is far more influential), but for what it did to Virginia Tech. The last second loss really affected the Hokies to the point that they sleepwalked the next week against James Madison, and, because of the short rest (game was played on five days rest), were unable to recover in time to avoid the upset. Had Virginia Tech won here, they don't play with a hangover against James Madison and we have a royal mess with three major conference undefeateds. Also, Stanford wouldn't be in the top four meaning maybe they certainly aren't in the Orange Bowl and might not even be in a BCS game.
Honorable Mention – Utah 27, Pittsburgh 24 (OT)
Week 2 – Oregon 48, Tennessee 13
In week one, many saw Oregon's scores flashing across the screen and were dumbfounded as Oregon ran up and down the field on the way to a 72-0 win over New Mexico. But that was New Mexico. Even though Tennessee was supposed to be down this season (and they certainly were), the Vols were expected to at least test the Ducks at home and make it a four quarter game. Early on, that's exactly how it appeared. The game went to the half tied, but Oregon put on a clinic in the 2nd half and blew Tennessee out. It was the largest margin of victory by any opponent in Neyland Stadium, ever.
Honorable Mention – Stanford 35, UCLA 0
Week 3 – Auburn 27, Clemson 24 (OT)
Yes College Gameday was at this game (quite dubiously it appeared at the time with a top 25 matchup between Arizona and Iowa taking place in the desert), but nobody really knew what to expect. Clemson had played nobody to that point while Auburn had survived a Thursday night game at what appeared to be a decent and improved, but not top 25 Mississippi St. team. Clemson came out firing on all cylinders jumping to a big 17-3 halftime lead and it appear they were going to cruise. Then Cam Newton, for the first time this season, turned it on in the second half leading Auburn back. Clemson made one last gutsy drive to send it to overtime but fell short on a short missed field goal. After this point, the way Auburn was using Newton in its offense changed and he turned into CamZilla.
Honorable Mention – Nevada 52, Cal 31
Week 4 – Auburn 35, South Carolina 27
This game was oddly overshadowed considering it was a battle between two SEC teams ranked in the top 20. At the time though, neither was considered a real contender for its division title despite the undefeated records and top 20 rankings so nobody thought it was a preview of the SEC Title game. Also, within the conference, both Alabama and Arkansas were higher ranked and played that afternoon in one of the better games of the season. This game was the first appearance of Heisman Cam Newton. He accounted for five touchdowns and guided Auburn to another comeback after trailing 20-7 in the first half and 27-20 entering the 4th quarter (though Auburn scored to take the lead on the first play of the 4th quarter).
Honorable Mention – UCLA 34, Texas 12
Week 5 – Oregon 52, Stanford 31
Do I even need to explain why? Though this game was much better than the more hyped Alabama-Florida game happening in the same time slot. Stanford jumped all over Oregon early in the game, but got floored by another second half run by the Ducks. Despite the high rankings these two carried into the game, nobody expected both to finish the season in BCS games.
Honorable Mention – Michigan St. 34, Wisconsin 24
Week 6 – South Carolina 35, Alabama 21
The game that slayed the Alabama juggernaut and stamped South Carolina a legit contender in the SEC East after losing at Auburn two weeks before. Of note for future games was the way that Alabama was unable to run the football when it needed to (a recurring problem in future losses to LSU and Auburn) and the way South Carolina finished off the Tide in the second half (another recurring problem in the upcoming losses to LSU and Auburn).
Honorable Mention – Michigan St. 34, Michigan 17
Week 7 – Wisconsin 31, Ohio St. 18
This game saved everyone from a whale of a debate. Had Ohio St. prevailed, we would have had Ohio St. versus either Oregon or Auburn in the championship game. Believe me when I say Auburn would have been locked out because of the Cam Newton thing. There would have been enough residual push back and suspicion that in the event of three undefeateds from major BCS leagues, Auburn wouldn't have gotten the nod from the human voters. This game also propelled Wisconsin into the Rose Bowl helping to undo the loss to Michigan St.
Honorable Mention – Auburn 65, Arkansas 43
Week 8 – Auburn 24, LSU 17
The fighting Cam Newton's show up again here with their hyped clash against LSU. Another 4th quarter score in a close game propelled the Tigers to victory. Ho hum, but a major effect on the season. Also significant for the way the highly ranked LSU run defense was gashed, giving up over 400 yards on the ground.
Honorable Mention – Missouri 36, Oklahoma 27
Week 9 – Nebraska 31, Missouri 17
The Tigers entered this game as more of a curiosity than a true hyped contender despite their top 10 BCS ranking. In fact, the computers loved Missouri at the time with one of them even ranking them number one while the humans were quite skeptical, especially since the vaunted Missouri offense that carried them to the doorstep of the championship game in 2007 wasn't working all that well. In this game, the human skepticism was justified as Roy Helu ran for over 300 yards and Nebraska steamrolled Missouri in the game that ultimately gave them the Big 12 North title.
Honorable Mention – Iowa 37, Michigan St. 6
Week 10 – TCU 47, Utah 7
This game, more than any other, actually ushered TCU right out of the title race. The beating was so sever that Utah didn't show up against Notre Dame the next week. Perception wise, the Utes haven't recovered and now they are over two touchdown underdogs to Boise St. in their bowl game despite carrying a top 20 ranking. As for TCU, they jumped Boise St. on the back of this game, but never were really considered for the championship game in the same way the Broncos were.
Honorable Mention – LSU 24, Alabama 21
Week 11 – Oregon 15, Cal 13
Not much of note really happened this week, but Oregon's escape against Cal was still significant. The Ducks were heavily favored as usual, but the offense didn't fire. It happens to everyone at least once and teams needs to fight through it and win. The Ducks did just as Auburn had in a close, 17-14 win at Mississippi St. early in the season. The other thing of note from this game was the faking of injuries by Cal defensive linemen to slow down the Ducks tempo. It led to the suspension of a member of the Cal coaching staff for the game against Washington a couple of week later.
Honorable Mention – South Carolina 36, Florida 14
Week 12 – Arkansas 38, Mississippi St. 31 (2OT)
Nothing of note in the conference or national title races this week, but Arkansas survived on the road at Mississippi St. to stay in the hunt for an at-large BCS bid (that they eventually received to the Sugar Bowl). The game itself was also significant for the true emergence of Knile Davis as the Arkansas running back. His game with over 190 yards rushing really took the Arkansas offense to another level on a night when it was truly needed.
Honorable Mention – Ohio St. 20, Iowa 17
Week 13 – Nevada 34, Boise St. 31 (OT)
The symbol of the season in the year when Cinderella was supposed to finally break through and reach the BCS title game falls. Insecure BCS conference fans from all across the country celebrate and upstart Boise St. drops all the way out of the top 10 for losing on the road to a top 20 team.
Honorable Mention – Auburn 28, Alabama 27
Week 14, Championship Saturday – Oklahoma 23, Nebraska 20
Nobody really believed Auburn or Oregon was going to lose. Meanwhile, this game ended up being a fitting end to the Big 12 as we know it (and really the old Big 8 as well). It was a tight, close, hard-hitting game played between two old rivals closing out their rivalry and an era in their respective league. Though it had no effect on the national title picture, this game really was the biggest game on Championship Saturday.
Honorable Mention – SEC Championship, Auburn 56, South Carolina 17
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