The 2015 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 September 3, 2015, the regular season ended December 12, 2015, and (not including all-star games) concluded on January 11, 2016 with the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship. This was the second season of the four-team College Football Playoff tournament system.
The following rule changes have been made by the NCAA Football Rules Committee for the 2015 season:
Making eight-man officiating crews (including the Center Judge) standard in FBS. Various FBS conferences experimented with eight-man crews in the 2013 and 2014 seasons.Unsportsmanlike conduct (15 yards) penalties will be called on players who pull or yank opponents off piles (ex. fumbles).A 10-second runoff and resetting of the play clock to 40 seconds will occur if a defensive player's helmet comes off within the final minute of either half. Previously the play clock was set to 25 seconds and no runoff occurred.The five-yard penalty for a first offense sideline warning has been deleted, modifying a 2008 rule change. The second offense will be penalized five yards, followed by 15 yards (unsportsmanlike conduct) starting with the third offense.Officials will require players with illegal equipment (such as, but not limited to, "crop-top" jerseys that expose the back pads (popularized by Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott) and writing on eye block) to leave the field for one play to correct it. A time-out may be taken to correct the equipment and avoid the player having to sit out the one play.Instant replay can be used to review if the kicking team blocked the receiving team before an onside kick has gone 10 yards.Teams must have 22 minutes for pre-game warmups, which can be shortened by mutual agreement of both teams.The play clock will be reset to 40 seconds if the play clock reaches 25 seconds before the ball is ready for play. Previously it was reset if the play clock ran to 20 seconds before the ball was ready for play.Non-standard/overbuilt facemasks are prohibited.A proposed rule to change the ineligible downfield rule from three yards to one yard past the line of scrimmage was tabled and not voted on, however it will be a point of emphasis for the season.
The use of advanced technology in games (such as wireless communication from one player on offense and defense to the bench, allow use of tablets by coaches for non-medical reasons, helmet cameras for players, etc.) is being studied by a committee for possible future implementation.
June 1 – UAB, which had dropped football after the 2014 season, announced that it would reinstate it as early as 2016–17.July 21 – UAB announced that it had pushed back the return of football to the 2017 season.September 1 – The Sun Belt Conference announced that Coastal Carolina would become a full member of the conference on July 1, 2016. The Coastal Carolina football team, at the time of the announcement a member of the FCS Big South Conference along with the rest of the athletic program, will begin a transition to FBS after the 2015 season, join Sun Belt football in 2017, and become fully bowl-eligible in 2018.January 13, 2016 – The NCAA Division I council approved a rule that, from the 2016 season forward, allows FBS conferences to stage championship games regardless of their current membership numbers. The new rule, as originally proposed by the Big 12 Conference and amended by the Big Ten Conference, stipulates that a conference with fewer than 12 members can stage a championship game under either of the following circumstances:The game involves two division winners, with each division having played a round-robin schedule.The game involves the top two teams in the conference standings after a full round-robin conference schedule.Similar to the 2007 season, an unranked or lower-ranked opponent defeated a higher-ranked team several times over the course of the regular season, 55 in total as of December 5. This list does not include other upsets involving two unranked teams. The following list shows rankings as the AP Poll:
On September 12, Auburn avoided a defeat that would have ranked with the biggest upsets in college football history with an overtime touchdown run to a 27-20 win over FCS foe Jacksonville State. Auburn had to score a touchdown in the final minute of regulation just to tie the game and then had to convert another touchdown in Auburn's first possession in overtime to win. No FCS team has defeated a ranked FBS team since August 31, 2013, when Eastern Washington beat Oregon State 49-46. An Auburn loss would have compared with Michigan's loss to Appalachian State on September 3, 2007. Jacksonville State, 41-point underdogs entering Saturday's game, nearly became just the second FCS team to defeat an AP Top 10 FBS opponent.
On October 31, Miami beat Duke 30-27 with a final eight lateral kickoff return for a touchdown. However, the Atlantic Coast Conference acknowledged the next day the kickoff return touchdown should not have counted as officials made four major errors during the play. The ACC determined that a Miami player's knee was down before releasing one of the eight laterals that allowed the play to happen, which was apparent both on video and in still pictures that were being circulated on social media late Saturday night. The ACC acknowledged that this call should have been overturned. "If called, this would have ended the game," the ACC said. The ACC also said that the officials should have called an illegal block during the return at Miami's 16-yard line, which would have given the Hurricanes an untimed down at their own 8-yard line. The league said the flag for a block in the back that was picked up — initially negating Miami's touchdown before officials conferred — was called correctly but that the referee didn’t properly communicate why the decision was made.
Michigan State lost 39-38 to Nebraska on November 7. Nebraska ran a 91-yard drive in 38 seconds, capped by Tommy Armstrong Jr.'s 30-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Reilly, leaving 17 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Before the catch, Reilly went out of bounds on his route, rendering him as an ineligible receiver. The officials determined that MSU cornerback Jermaine Edmondson had forced him out of bounds. However, replay footage showed Reilly had gone out of bounds on his own accord. Replay officials then reviewed the play to determine if Edmondson had forced Reilly out, though such a call is typically not review-able. The ruling on the field stood, solidifying Nebraska's game-winning touchdown. After the game Bill Carollo, the Big Ten's coordinator of officials, said in a statement via ESPN: "They can't review whether it was a force out/contact on the play. They can only review if there was clear evidence of no contact and he (Reilly) re-established himself in the field of play. If he goes out of bounds on his own with no contact, it's an illegal touch. Therefore the call stood."
No FBS programs opened new stadiums for the 2015 season. However, one school played its first season in FBS, and several other programs expanded or renovated their stadiums:
Charlotte, playing its first season in FBS, debuted at the on-campus Jerry Richardson Stadium. The stadium opened for the 49ers' first season in 2013 with a capacity of 15,314, but was designed for quick expansion to as much as 40,000.Kentucky debuted a major renovation to Commonwealth Stadium. A $110 million project reduced the capacity from 67,530 to 61,000, and added a new recruiting plaza in the east end zone surrounded by a new student section, more than 20 new luxury boxes and 2,000 new club seats, new home-team facilities, a revamped exterior, and improved concourses.UCF took out about 2,000 seats from the east side of Bright House Networks Stadium, replacing them with a new club seating section with a capacity of about 1,000 that includes a beach area.Auburn debuted the largest video board in college football in Jordan–Hare Stadium. The video board measures 190 feet by 57. The project was expected to cost $13.9 million.Duke featured a newly renovated Wallace Wade Stadium. The renovations included removal of the track and lowering of the field by several feet; more seating capacity near field level along both sidelines and the north end zone; the replacement of bleachers on the west side of the stadium with Duke blue seats; new brick facades around much of the field; a brand-new, much larger video board and new speakers; a refresh of the concourse area around the top of the bowl, with new sidewalks and brick separating the concourse from the seating area; and new concession booths, restrooms, and concourse lighting along with a new elevator tower. Construction on a new press box, luxury boxes, and attached seats was ongoing throughout the season, and was expected to be complete in time for the 2016 season. These marked the first major upgrades to Wallace Wade Stadium in over 70 years.Kansas State debuted the Vanier Football Complex in the north end zone of Bill Snyder Family Stadium. This feature includes new seating, a video board, offices, locker rooms and strength training facilities. kstatesports.comCincinnati debuted renovations to Nippert Stadium that increased the capacity to 40,000 and added premium seating, a new press box, a new pavilion, additional restrooms, upgraded concessions and improved concourses.Ole Miss announced plans to renovate Vaught–Hemingway Stadium during the 2015 season and the 2015–16 offseason. The project was intended to bring the stadium's ultimate capacity to 64,038. The stadium was to be turned into a complete bowl, adding club level seating, restrooms, concessions, etc. The renovation was planned for completion by the start of the 2016–17 season. This renovation was part of the Forward Together campaign, which also gave the Rebels a new basketball arena, The Pavilion at Ole Miss, right next to the football stadium.Texas A&M completed renovations to the west side and facade of Kyle Field, reducing the capacity from the previous season. The project cost over $450 million.Note: Records are regular-season only, and do not include playoff games.
Big Ten – Ohio State (abstentions)Pac–12 – Stanford (abstentions)American Athletic Conference (8): Memphis, Houston, Temple, Navy, South Florida, Cincinnati, Connecticut, TulsaAtlantic Coast Conference (9): Clemson, Florida State, Duke, Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Miami (FL), North Carolina State, Louisville, Virginia TechBig 12 Conference (7): Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, West Virginia, Kansas StateBig Ten Conference (8): Ohio State, Michigan State, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Penn State, Northwestern, WisconsinConference USA (5): Western Kentucky, Marshall, Louisiana Tech, Southern Mississippi, Middle Tennessee StateIndependents (2): Notre Dame, BYUMid-American Conference (7): Toledo, Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Ohio, Central Michigan, AkronMountain West Conference (7): Boise State, San Diego State, Air Force, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah State, Colorado StatePac-12 Conference (10): Stanford, Utah, UCLA, Washington State, USC, Oregon, Arizona, California, Arizona State, WashingtonSoutheastern Conference (10): LSU, Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, AuburnSun Belt Conference (4): Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Appalachian State, Arkansas StateTotal: 77
American Athletic Conference (4): Central Florida, East Carolina, SMU, TulaneAtlantic Coast Conference (5): Boston College, Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Wake Forest, VirginiaBig 12 Conference (3): Iowa State, Kansas, TexasBig Ten Conference (6): Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota*, Nebraska*, Purdue, RutgersConference USA (8): Charlotte, North Texas, UTSA, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, UTEP, Rice, Old DominionIndependents (1): ArmyMid-American Conference (6): Buffalo, Miami (OH), Eastern Michigan, Massachusetts, Ball State, Kent StateMountain West Conference (5): Wyoming, Hawaii, Fresno State, UNLV, San José State*Pac-12 Conference (2): Oregon State, ColoradoSoutheastern Conference (4): South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Missouri, KentuckySun Belt Conference (7): Louisiana-Lafayette, New Mexico State, Louisiana-Monroe, Idaho, South Alabama, Troy, Texas StateNote: Teams with Asterisk(*) qualified for bowls based on Academic Progress Rate, despite not having a bowl eligible record
Total: 51
Since the 2014–15 postseason, six College Football Playoff (CFP) bowl games have hosted two semifinal playoff games on a rotating basis. For this season, the Orange Bowl and the Cotton Bowl Classic will host the semifinal games, with the winners advancing to the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The Heisman Trophy is given to the year's most outstanding player.
Archie Griffin Award (MVP): Deshaun Watson, ClemsonAP Player of the Year: Christian McCaffrey, StanfordChic Harley Award (Player of the Year): Christian McCaffrey, StanfordMaxwell Award (top player): Derrick Henry, AlabamaSN Player of the Year: Baker Mayfield, OklahomaWalter Camp Award (top player): Derrick Henry, AlabamaBurlsworth Trophy (top player who began as walk-on): Baker Mayfield, OklahomaPaul Hornung Award (most versatile player): Christian McCaffrey, StanfordCampbell Trophy ("academic Heisman"): Ty Darlington, OklahomaWuerffel Trophy (humanitarian-athlete): Ty Darlington, OklahomaQuarterback
Davey O'Brien Award (quarterback): Deshaun Watson, ClemsonJohnny Unitas Award (senior/4th year quarterback): Connor Cook, Michigan StateKellen Moore Award (quarterback): Baker Mayfield, OklahomaManning Award (quarterback): Deshaun Watson, ClemsonSammy Baugh Trophy (passing quarterback): Matt Johnson, Bowling GreenRunning back
Doak Walker Award (running back): Derrick Henry, AlabamaJim Brown Trophy (running back): Dalvin Cook, Florida StateWide receiver
Fred Biletnikoff Award (wide receiver): Corey Coleman, BaylorPaul Warfield Trophy (wide receiver): Roger Lewis, Bowling GreenTight end
John Mackey Award (tight end): Hunter Henry, ArkansasOzzie Newsome Award (tight end): Jake Butt, MichiganLineman
Dave Rimington Trophy (center): Ryan Kelly, AlabamaJim Parker Trophy (offensive lineman): Landon Turner, North CarolinaBronko Nagurski Trophy (defensive player): Tyler Matakevich, TempleChuck Bednarik Award (defensive player): Tyler Matakevich, TempleLott Trophy (defensive impact): Carl Nassib, Penn StateDefensive line
Bill Willis Award (defensive lineman): Myles Garrett, Texas A&MDick Butkus Award (linebacker): Jaylon Smith, Notre DameJack Lambert Trophy (linebacker): Joe Schobert, WisconsinRotary Lombardi Award (defensive lineman/linebacker): Carl Nassib, Penn StateTed Hendricks Award (defensive end): Carl Nassib, Penn StateDefensive back
Jim Thorpe Award (defensive back): Desmond King, IowaJack Tatum Trophy (defensive back): Desmond King, IowaLou Groza Award (placekicker): Ka'imi Fairbairn, UCLAVlade Award (placekicker): Aidan Schneider, OregonRay Guy Award (punter): Tom Hackett, UtahJet Award (return specialist): Christian McCaffrey, StanfordPeter Mortell Award (holder): Peter Mortell, MinnesotaOutland Trophy (interior lineman on either offense or defense): Joshua Garnett, StanfordAFCA Coach of the Year: Dabo Swinney, ClemsonAP Coach of the Year: Dabo Swinney, ClemsonBobby Bowden National Collegiate Coach of the Year Award:Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award: Kirk Ferentz, IowaEddie Robinson Coach of the Year: Kirk Ferentz, IowaMaxwell Coach of the Year:Paul "Bear" Bryant Award: Dabo Swinney, ClemsonLiberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award:SN Coach of the Year: Dabo Swinney, ClemsonThe Home Depot Coach of the Year Award: Dabo Swinney, ClemsonWoody Hayes Trophy: Kirk Ferentz, IowaWalter Camp Coach of the Year: Dabo Swinney, ClemsonAFCA Assistant Coach of the Year: Don Brown, Boston CollegeBroyles Award: Lincoln Riley, OklahomaThis is restricted to coaching changes taking place on or after May 1, 2015. For coaching changes that occurred earlier in 2015, see 2014 NCAA Division I FBS end-of-season coaching changes.
Excludes Conference ChampionshipsNote: All games aired on ESPN
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