It can easily be referred to as the craziest June in the history of college football – what with all the rumors swirling around regarding conference expansion and realignment across just about all of the major conferences.

But now that the dust has mostly settled, we can move on and attempt to assess the winners and losers as college football currently stands.

Here they are, in no particular order – starting with the winners:

College Football Conference Realignment Aftermath: Winners and Losers

WINNER: Big 12 Conference

The most obvious choice of all is obviously the Big 12 Conference, because well… it’s still alive and ticking.  Credit Texas for being the glue that kept the conference with ten teams – or credit someone else – but either way, the BCS still has one of its strongest conferences intact, and with just two minor casualties in Colorado and Nebraska.

WINNER: Texas

The Longhorns played the role of the hot girl that everyone wants to go to prom with – from the Big Ten courting them, to the Pac-10 making them the top desire, and to the Big 12 conference wanting to keep them.

When it was all said and done, not only does Texas stay, but they also will reel in a ton of extra cash for the university, and the conference in the form of a future TV deal that’s in the works.

WINNER: Big Ten Conference

The Big Ten was one of the biggest winners of the week – adding the Nebraska Cornhuskers and their tradition-rich football program to the mix.

On top of that, the Big Ten gets its 12^th team, which now can lead to a conference championship, more revenue, more exposure – and in the end, a likely bigger step towards major bowl victories, as each conference champion will have a shorter layoff between the end of the regular season and BCS bowl week.

WINNER: Nebraska

The Big Ten is a great fit for the Huskers, who find themselves as a part of the very lucrative Big Ten Network, plus one could argue they are in a conference that features a more cultural fit than they had when a part of the Big 12.

Also, the geographic nature of the Big Ten should potentially help Nebraska with the recruiting process going forward.

WINNER: Kansas Basketball

Many haven’t touched upon this one, but one of the biggest powers in college hoops may have found themselves without a major conference, and losing some big time programs to play against on a regular basis.  Instead, the Big 12 conference remains intact and the Jayhawks will still have Oklahoma and Texas frequenting their schedule during the winter months.

WINNER: The Big 12 Leftovers

Teams like Missouri, Baylor, Kansas and Kansas State were rumored to be hours from being without a conference.  The result would have likely been a move to a conference with significantly less competition, and also less money for their respective programs.

Instead, each school (and their representatives) can breathe a giant sigh of relief.

WINNER: The BCS

Honestly, if you look at the BCS, there could have been a significant change in the balance of conference power – and with the way the system is set up currently, it was a great possibility that a significantly weaker conference could have been earning an automatic berth with the changes that almost occurred.

Therefore, the minimal changes that did go through should keep legit automatic berths in play for all the major conferences – and everyone’s favorite BCS can continue to put mostly big-time schools in the major bowl games.

LOSER: Pac-10 Conference

This is the most glaringly obvious choice among the list of losers, considering that throughout the week, the Pac-10 was rumored to be hours from becoming a superconference featuring 16 teams, including Texas and Oklahoma from the Big 12.

Now, not only did they lose out on the Big 12’s best, they are also having issues with their own elite schools, mainly USC and the sanctions it is currently facing.

Fortunately, there are rumors that Utah may be moving to the Pac-10 – and combined with Colorado, they can boost the conference up to 12 teams.

LOSER: Mountain West Conference

Listen, the addition of Boise State to the MWC is a good thing – a great thing, actually.

However, there are several rumors pointing to Utah departing for the Pac-10, especially after the Big 12 powers decided to stay put.

On top of all this, the Mountain West appeared primed to steal away a major BCS berth if the Big 12 fell apart – and now that opportunity may have faded away as well.

LOSER: FOX Network

The rumors of a Pac-10 super conference also were pointing to FOX teaming up to form a network for the new and improved group of schools, but now that deal doesn’t seem to be anywhere near as lucrative as it could have been – and instead of stealing away some revenue and figures from ESPN, little has changed as the situation stands now.

LOSER: USC

With the Trojans facing sanctions, there could have been a boost for the school to be coupled with some of the biggest powers in college football, mainly Texas and Oklahoma moving to the Pac-10.  Having teams that travel well and bring in big money may have helped soften the blow that will result from the pending sanctions against the Trojans.

For those that don’t buy into this, think outside the box.  It may be two years without a bowl game, but adding in the loss of scholarships – and it is possible USC could be years from being elite again.

LOSER: Big 12 Conference

Finally, the conference realignment goes full-circle, with the Big 12 conference emerging also as a loser on my list.

It’s a winner for staying alive, but it’s a loser due to the fact that after losing Colorado and Nebraska, the Big 12 is in a position to lose its conference championship game.  Now, they can see how tough it can be to have such a long layoff before a major bowl game.  This has been a major sticking point for the Big Ten over recent years.

Originally posted by Kevin Paul (via Fox Sports, Bleacher Report or First and Big Ten) on October 21, 2009

Prepare those speeches and clear some space on the mantle, because it’s time to hand out some midseason hardware for the 2009 college football season:

College Football’s Midyear Awards

Coach of the Midyear
…the nominees are:
Kirk Ferentz (Iowa), Brian Kelly (Cincinnati), Nick Saban (Alabama)

Brian Kelly has the Bearcats staring the BCS in the face again while returning only one starter on defense and Alabama, entering the season with a question mark O-line, has opened huge holes for Mark Ingram and the running game.

But while many saw Iowa as an afterthought in the Big Ten (especially with such a brutal road schedule) the Hawkeyes are 7-0, already knocking off both Penn State and Wisconsin away from home.

Iowa’s toughest remaining test is facing the Buckeyes in Columbus on Nov. 14.
Winner: Kirk Ferentz

Hottest Coaching Seat
…the nominees are:
Al Groh (Virginia), Charlie Weis (Notre Dame), Ron Zook (Illinois)

Groh again has the Cavaliers on a tear after a painfully slow start, while Zook and the Illini are a dismal 1-5 after being listed by many as a potential darkhorse in the Big Ten.

Still, the spotlight is on Weis. While the Irish are holding their own, Notre Dame still has no signature wins in 2009, and you know what that means: no need for the hand warmers Charlie, this seat is toasty warm until further notice.
Winner: Charlie Weis

Offensive POMY
…the nominees are:
Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame), Toby Gerhart (Stanford), Case Keenum (Houston)

Gerhart has carried Stanford, averaging over 120 yards and adding a dozen touchdowns.  Meanwhile, Clausen has 14 TD’s and only 2 INT’s, adding 1,800 passing yards and a QB rating that is second only to Boise State’s Kellen Moore.

None can match Houston’s Case Keenum, the junior QB who has led the Cougars into the polls, while throwing 410 yards per game, adding 19 TD’s and 4 INT’s, including 801 passing yards in two games against ranked opponents.
Winner: Case Keenum

Defensive POMY
…the nominees are:
Greg Jones (Michigan State), Jammie Kirlew (Indiana), Von Miller (Texas A&M)

Definitely a tough call, as Greg Jones leads the nation in tackles with 85, plus Indiana’s Jammie Kirlew has forced five fumbles, while adding 5½ sacks.

But the biggest standout is Von Miller, currently fifth in the nation in tackles for a loss (12½) and second in the country in sacks with 10: impressive, and worth defensive player of the midyear.
Winner: Von Miller

Top Freshman
…the nominees are:
Matt Barkley (USC), Tate Forcier (Michigan), Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh), Ryan Williams (Va. Tech)

Barkley has signature wins in South Bend and Columbus, but USC has been a “plug and play” system over recent years.

Dion Lewis has made the Panthers not miss LeSean McCoy too much, while Ryan Williams has filled in nicely after former starter Darren Evans was injured.

In the end, it’s the exciting and fiery play of Tate Forcier that has the Wolverines back on the map much quicker than many thought they would be.
Winner: Tate Forcier

Biggest Surprise
…the nominees are:
Boston College, Iowa, Miami (FL), Washington

Many had the Eagles in the ACC cellar, but BC (5-2) is on top of the Atlantic division.  The Hawkeyes are perched at the top of the Big Ten, but many felt they would be a solid team after returning 14 starters from the ’08 squad.

Miami, always able to recruit talent, appears to be back on the map and playing well, but the biggest surprise has to lie in the Pacific Northwest, as Coach Sark, in his first season, has the Huskies 3-4 after a winless 2008 campaign.

Included in this year’s schedule are an upset win over USC, plus close losses to LSU and Notre Dame.
Winner: Washington

Biggest Disappointment
…the nominees are:
California, Florida State, Illinois, Oklahoma, Ole Miss

Take your pick here, as teams like Cal (1-2 in Pac-10), Ole Miss (1-2 in the SEC West), Illinois (1-5 overall), and Oklahoma (3-3 overall) have all disappointed.

But the biggest disappointment can be found in Tallahassee, where the Seminoles are 2-4 overall, including 0-3 in the ACC.  It’s a shame that Bowden has been under such scrutiny, but this Florida State team has been abysmal.
Winner: Florida State

Bonehead Move of the Midyear
…the nominees are:
Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State), LeGarrette Blount (Oregon), Mike Gallett (Nevada)

Gallett is yet another player to be suspended for the year due to a violation of team rules and then there’s Dez Bryant, whose “pants were on fire” earlier this season.

But the biggest bonehead move of the year belongs to Blount, and who could forget how he first talked trash, second, didn’t back it up, and finally lost his cool and punched a Boise State player on national television.

In the end, Blount was suspended for the year and don’t worry, he won’t be sent an actual award.

Winner: LeGarrette Blount

Game of the Midyear
…the nominees are:
Notre Dame vs. Michigan, USC vs. Ohio State, Central Michigan vs. Michigan State

The Big Ten dominates this category, mostly due to the conference featuring a plethora of tight games during the first half of the season.

The wildest game of the three had to be Central Michigan’s 29-27 upset of Sparty, which was in dramatic fashion after a late two-point conversion attempt for the lead failed, only to have a recovered onside kick and game-winning field goal follow shortly thereafter.

After the game, a number of college football fans caught themselves a bad case of “LeFevour”.
Winner: Central Michigan vs. Michigan State

Heisman Trophy
…the nominees are:
Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame), Mark Ingram (Alabama), Colt McCoy (Texas), Tim Tebow (Florida)

It seems like forever ago that Bradford, Tebow and McCoy were the guaranteed trio to show up at the ceremony, but let’s face it, if you want to win the Heisman, recent history states that one needs to play for a high profile school that is also among the nation’s elite teams.

Look at the winners over the past decade and a half: Oklahoma, USC, Florida, Ohio State, the list rolls on.

Tebow missed time due to the concussion.  Clausen has the gaudiest and most impressive numbers, but the Irish have two losses and zero signature wins.  That leaves McCoy and Ingram.

Look at each in games against ranked teams.  Versus Texas Tech and Oklahoma, McCoy has 332 passing yards, with 2 TD’s and 3 INT’s.  Ingram, against Virginia Tech and South Carolina, had 50 carries for 396 yards and 2 TD’s.
Winner: Mark Ingram

National Championship
…the nominees are:
Alabama, Boise State, Cincinnati, Florida, Iowa, Texas, USC

Count out Cincy and the boys from Boise, because with schedules like each has, help will be needed to reach the title.  The Trojans, with one loss, still have to travel to Oregon, plus have other tricky matchups against Pac-10 foes.

Iowa’s toughest remaining game is at Ohio State, but they’ll likely be on the outside looking in while Texas has its toughest remaining game on Halloween at Oklahoma State.

That leaves ‘Bama and the Gators, who will likely duke it out for a NC spot in the SEC title game.  Call me crazy but… ‘Bama has been the most consistent team.
Winner: Alabama vs. Texas

Stats courtesy of cfbstats.com

Originally posted to KP’s Blog (via Fox Sports) on April 20, 2009

Popular game. Annoying game. It’s a game where you are forced to provide all the answers. Yes, my friends, it’s 20 questions… only this time, the answer is “The NFL Draft”.

And here are the questions that should lead up to this weekend’s answer…

20 Questions… NFL Draft Style

1 – Who will the Lions take with the number one pick?
All signs are pointing in the direction of Matthew Stafford, but this draft is likely going to surprise, and that shock could spark at the very top in Detroit.

2 – Which quarterback will be better in the NFL, Matthew Stafford or Mark Sanchez?
Or better yet, maybe Josh Freeman, or a diamond in the rough near the draft’s final rounds…

3 – What will the New York Jets do about their quarterback situation?
Will a Sanchez or Stafford fall, or will the Jets trade up, or avoid a QB entirely in the early going?

4 – Will the Denver Broncos add a quarterback, or stick with Kyle Orton and Chris Simms?
Personally, if I’m the Broncos, I stick with these two for now, and instead focus on improving the team’s defense, which struggled last year.

5 – Will Braylon Edwards get traded to the Giants?
It’s been a popular rumor, where Edwards could get dealt to the Giants to replace Plaxico Burress. The real question is, can Edwards cure that case of the “dropsies”?

6 – Will the Redskins make a move to draft Mark Sanchez, and if so, what happens with Jason Campbell in DC?
One thing is for certain… Campbell has handled the trade rumors a lot better than Jay Cutler did.

7 – Will the Eagles gun for a playmaker to make McNabb happy, a.k.a. a deal for Anquan Boldin?
Boldin is on the market and a lot of teams are interested in him, for good reason. If I’m the Eagles, I go for it, giving Donovan that weapon he’s needed since “you know who” left.

8 – What will the negative news surrounding B.J. Raji and Andre Smith do for each player’s draft stock?
There was a rumor on Raji failing a drug test, which has been mentioned as being false. Then there’s Smith, whose story started while reporting to the Combine out of shape, and not working out at it. How will each story affect each player’s draft stock?

9 – How much will Michael Crabtree’s injury affect where he is selected in the draft?
Some have compared him to Andre Johnson of the Texans. Either way, Crabtree is a “can’t miss” talent, and I still expect him to get taken in the top five.

10 – Will all three of USC’s starting linebackers from last year be selected in the first round?
It’s unheard of to see an entire unit get taken in the first round of the draft, but it could happen with last year’s USC starting linebacker trio of Rey Maualuga, Clay Matthews, and Brian Cushing.

11 – When drafted, where will Brian Orakpo and Aaron Maybin play, defensive end or outside linebacker?
Orakpo is freakishly strong while Maybin is considered super quick but slightly undersized, but the question remains, which system will each fall into and how will they perform once there?

12 – How soon will the slasher types like Penn State’s Derrick Williams and West Virginia’s Pat White go, and how will each fit with his respective team?
Both are former quarterbacks (Williams in high school) that can run, throw, return kicks… whatever is needed. Perhaps one would fit well in a wildcat-like system.

13 – Will draft prospect Demetrius Byrd be OK after being in a serious auto accident?
The former LSU receiver was considered one of the top twenty receivers on the draft board, and hopefully the young man will make a full recovery. Get well soon Demetrius.

14 – Which running back will go first, Knowshon Moreno or Chris Wells?
One mock draft has “Beanie” Wells going to the Saints. Can you imagine a duo of Wells and Bush in the New Orleans backfield? Nasty… that is, if each were able to stay healthy.

15 – What kind of impact will the second tier of running backs have?
There are only a few projected first rounders, but what about some of the second tier players such as Donald Brown (Connecticut) and Shonn Greene (Iowa)? Each could have very productive NFL careers.

16 – Is Wake’s Aaron Curry really the safest bet in this draft?
This draft seems as up in the air as any in recent memory, but the common thought is that Curry is the draft’s safest bet. The question remains, will he be when we look back on this draft ten years from now?

17 – Who will be the biggest steal of this year’s draft?
There’s one every year, and the biggest steal in my mind from last year was Washington safety Chris Horton, who was selected in the seventh round (249th pick), and had 76 tackles his rookie season.

18 – How many wide receivers will be selected in the first round?
This year’s receiver group is chock full of talent, while last year, not one WR was taken in the first round. Crabtree is the unanimous top gun, but who else will go in the first? A few likely options include Jeremy Maclin, Hakeem Nicks, Percy Harvin, Kenny Britt, and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

19 – What surprise deals will come from out of nowhere on draft day?
It happens every year. Trades from out of nowhere. Trading up, trading down, trading for veterans. There’s always one shocker, do you have an off-the-wall prediction for one?

And finally…

20 – What off-color occurrence will we be presented with during the draft?
C’mon you know the drill. That one player sporting the extra vibrant duds, or maybe another situation like the Vikings, who six years ago missed making their pick because time expired. What will we see this year, if anything?

Don’t question it, the answer is the NFL Draft – and it’s the taste of football we crave while waiting for another season to get started…