The 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season, play of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level, began on August 30, 2012, and, not including all-star games, concluded with the 2013 BCS National Championship Game on January 7, 2013, in which the Alabama Crimson Tide repeated as unanimous national champions. Although the Ohio State Buckeyes ended up as one of the two major undefeated teams of the regular season, they were ineligible to play in the post-season due to sanctions imposed on them earlier in the year.
UMass, South Alabama, Texas State, and UTSA made the transition from FCS to FBS this season.
The NCAA Rules Committee approved the following rule changes for the 2012 season (mainly for safety reasons):
Kickoffs will be moved up to the 35-yard line from the 30, mirroring a similar change by the NFL in the 2011 season and rescinding a rule change made in the 2007 season.
The kicking team will only have a five-yard running head start on kickoffs, again mirroring the NFL changes in 2011.
Touchbacks will move from the 20-yard line to the 25-yard line only on kickoffs and free kicks after a safety. Touchbacks on punts rolling into the end zone, fumbles into the end zone, and interceptions in the end zone will remain at the 20-yard line.
Players will be forbidden to leap over other players when blocking punts.
Players who lose their helmets during a play (except when caused by fouls such as grabbing the facemask) will have to leave the field for one play. When a helmet is lost during play by the ball carrier, the play is dead immediately. Any action made by or against a helmetless player is penalized as a personal foul (15 yards).
Offensive players in the tackle box at the snap who are not in motion are allowed to block below the waist legally without restriction. All other players are restricted from blocking below the waist with some exceptions (i.e. blocking straight-on), modifying a rule change from the 2011 season.
Includes schools transitioning to FBS.
On April 9, 2012, Georgia State University, currently a member of the Colonial Athletic Association, announced that it would rejoin the Sun Belt Conference effective in July 2013. Georgia State had been a charter Sun Belt member in 1976, but had left the conference in 1981. The Panthers will begin their FBS transition with the 2012 season, and start playing a full Sun Belt schedule upon joining the conference. Full FBS membership, along with bowl eligibility, will follow in 2014. The Panthers, who have been coached by Bill Curry since starting a football program in 2010, play home games at the Georgia Dome near the school's campus in downtown Atlanta.
Georgia State joins four other schools that are in the second and final years of FBS transitions—future Sun Belt colleagues South Alabama, former CAA football-only member and incoming MAC football member UMass, and incoming WAC members Texas State and UTSA.
The FBS record for most consecutive passes attempted from the start of a season with no interceptions, previously set by Trent Dilfer of Fresno State in 1993, was broken twice on October 20:
First, in a day game, Geno Smith of West Virginia set a new mark of 273 before throwing his first interception in a 55–14 loss to Kansas State.
In a night game, Colby Cameron of Louisiana Tech surpassed that record in the Bulldogs' 70–28 win over Idaho, ending the game at 275 attempts in the season without an interception.
On November 10, Cameron broke Russell Wilson's FBS career record for most consecutive passes attempted without an interception (379) in Louisiana Tech's 62–55 win over Texas State. Cameron's interception-free streak ended one week later in the second quarter of the Bulldogs' 48–41 overtime loss to Utah State. His single-season streak ended at 428 attempts, and his overall record, which included pass attempts in the 2011 Poinsettia Bowl, ended at 444.
In the same game in which Cameron broke Wilson's no-interceptions mark, his teammate, running back Kenneth Dixon, set three single-season FBS freshman records:Dixon finished the game with 25 total touchdowns, breaking the record of 23 set by Marshall Faulk of San Diego State in 1991. He finished the season with 28 touchdowns (the Bulldogs did not play in a bowl despite a 9–3 record).
Of those 25 touchdowns, 24 were on the ground, breaking the previous record of 21 rushing touchdowns set by Faulk and equaled in 2009 by Ryan Williams of Virginia Tech. Dixon ended the season with 27 rushing TDs.
Dixon ended the game with 150 points on the season, breaking Faulk's previous record of 140. He ended the season with 168 points.
On November 24, Wisconsin running back Montee Ball scored his 79th career touchdown during the Badgers' 24–21 loss to Penn State, breaking the previous record of Miami (OH) running back Travis Prentice.
In the Big Ten Championship Game on December 1, Ball added to his collection of FBS records. In the Badgers' 70–31 win over Nebraska, he scored three touchdowns, all on the ground. Ball, who had entered the game tied with Prentice for the most FBS career rushing touchdowns, took sole possession of the record, ending the game with 76. He also tied Prentice's FBS record for most career games with multiple touchdowns, at 25.
Expanded stadiums
Boise State moved their track and field program out of Bronco Stadium leading to an expansion of the bleachers over the existing track in the end zones. The new permanent additions increased capacity from 33,500 to 37,000 and will be ready for the start of the 2012 season. They are also currently building a new football facility in the north end zone to be ready for the 2013 season.
TCU completed a major renovation of Amon G. Carter Stadium, although the listed capacity increased only by about 600, to 45,000.
Texas State nearly doubled the size of Bobcat Stadium as part of its FBS transition. The venue, formerly holding slightly more than 16,000, now holds 30,000.
Nebraska The University of Nebraska plans to expand Memorial Stadium by adding approximately 6,000 new seats. Each new seating area will include dedicated restrooms and concessions areas. A new grand lobby, expanded concourse, and additional first-aid areas would also be added.No current East Stadium seats will be removed and no season ticket holders will be required to relocate their seats as part of this project. A very exciting aspect of the expansion is the opportunity for the collaboration of the Athletic Department and Academics.The Nebraska Athletic Research Facility in the East Stadium is envisioned as using cutting-edge imaging technologies and research to better understand foundations of behavior that contribute to health, injury and disease from childhood obesity to college performance.Cost: $63.5 million
California returned to California Memorial Stadium following major renovations, which included a full seismic retrofit (as the stadium is located directly on a major fault). The stadium's capacity was reduced from its previous 71,800 to 62,700. The Golden Bears played their 2011 home schedule at AT&T Park in San Francisco, and also played a technically neutral-site game against Fresno State at Candlestick Park, also in San Francisco.
Clemson renovated the video systems at Clemson Memorial Stadium prior to the start of the 2012 season. A new Jumbotron was installed on the primary scoreboard behind the East endzone, while two smaller Jumbotrons were installed on each side of the WestZone stands. In addition, video ribbons were installed along the facings of the upper decks.
Michigan State completed a complete overhaul of their sound system and video boards. With the addition of two video boards in the north end zone, a video ribbon along the entire north edge and installed the fourth largest scoreboard in the NCAA in the south end zone.
Due to major renovations at Husky Stadium, Washington played its entire 2012 home schedule at nearby CenturyLink Field, home to the Seattle Seahawks (NFL) and Seattle Sounders FC (MLS). Because the renovation began before the end of the 2011 season, the Huskies also hosted that year's edition of the Apple Cup against Washington State at CenturyLink Field.
Due to renovations at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Massachusetts played its entire 2012 home schedule at Gillette Stadium, home to the New England Patriots (NFL) and New England Revolution (MLS). The school is also contractually obligated to play all of its 2013 home schedule, plus at least four home games in each season from 2014 to 2016, at Gillette—approximately a 2-hour drive from the UMass campus.
Despite not being in the BCS rankings, Wisconsin (8–5) played in the Rose Bowl by virtue of being the Big Ten Champion.
The Heisman Trophy is given to the year's most outstanding player.
Archie Griffin Award (MVP): Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
AP Player of the Year: Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
Chic Harley Award (Player of the Year): Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
Maxwell Award (top player): Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
SN Player of the Year: Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
Walter Camp Award (top player): Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
Burlsworth Trophy (top player who began as walk-on): Matt McGloin, Penn State
Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player): Tavon Austin, West Virginia
Campbell Trophy ("academic Heisman"): Barrett Jones, Alabama
Wuerffel Trophy (humanitarian-athlete): Matt Barkley, USC
Quarterback
Davey O'Brien Award (quarterback): Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
Johnny Unitas Award (senior/4th year quarterback): Collin Klein, Kansas State
Kellen Moore Award (quarterback): Collin Klein, Kansas State
Manning Award (quarterback): Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
Sammy Baugh Trophy (quarterback, specifically passer): Colby Cameron, Louisiana Tech
Running back
Doak Walker Award (running back): Montee Ball, Wisconsin
Jim Brown Trophy (running back): Montee Ball, Wisconsin
Wide receiver
Fred Biletnikoff Award (wide receiver): Marqise Lee, USC
Paul Warfield Trophy (wide receiver): Marqise Lee, USC
Tight end
John Mackey Award (tight end): Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame
Lineman
Dave Rimington Trophy (center): Barrett Jones, Alabama
Outland Trophy (interior lineman): Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (defensive player): Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
Chuck Bednarik Award (defensive player): Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
Lott Trophy (defensive impact): Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
Defensive line
Bill Willis Award (defensive lineman): John Simon, Ohio State
Dick Butkus Award (linebacker): Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
Jack Lambert Trophy (linebacker): Jarvis Jones, Georgia
Rotary Lombardi Award (defensive lineman): Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
Ted Hendricks Award (defensive end): Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
Defensive back
Jim Thorpe Award (defensive back): Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State
Lou Groza Award (placekicker): Cairo Santos, Tulane
Ray Guy Award (punter): Ryan Allen, Louisiana Tech
AP Coach of the Year: Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
Bobby Bowden National Collegiate Coach of the Year Award:
Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award: Bill Snyder, Kansas State
Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year: Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
Maxwell Coach of the Year: Bill O'Brien, Penn State
Paul "Bear" Bryant Award: Bill O'Brien, Penn State
SN Coach of the Year: Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award: Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
Woody Hayes Trophy: Urban Meyer, Ohio State
Walter Camp Coach of the Year: Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
Assistant
AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year: Kirby Smart, Alabama
Broyles Award: Bob Diaco, Notre Dame
Preseason and in-season
This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2012. For coaching changes that occurred earlier in 2012, see 2011 NCAA Division I FBS end-of-season coaching changes.
Note(*): Games rate in the top six most watched games of the last 20 years.
Note(**): Rankings reflect AP Poll Standings. (All others rankings reflect BCS Standings at the time of the game)
