2019 NCAA Division I FBS Football Season

The 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the highest level of college football competition in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 2019. The regular season began on August 24, 2019, and ended on December 14, 2019. The postseason concluded on January 13, 2020, with the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The LSU Tigers defeated the defending champion Clemson Tigers by a score of 42–25 to claim their first national championship in the College Football Playoff (CFP) era, and fourth overall.

November 6, 2019, marked the 150th anniversary of what is traditionally considered the first college football game, played between Princeton and Rutgers in 1869. Various sports media, the NCAA, and the CFP honored the 150th anniversary of the sport throughout the season. Because there were no games played during the 1871 season, this was also the 150th season of college football.

Conference realignment

Membership changes

Liberty completed a two-year transition from the FCS to the FBS in 2018 and became fully bowl-eligible starting with the 2019 season. It remained an NCAA Division I FBS Independent.

Rule changes

The following playing rule changes have been approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel for 2019:

* Requiring replay reviews on targeting calls be either confirmed or overturned by reviewing all aspects of the play. If the review cannot confirm that all elements of targeting exist, the targeting call will be overturned. "Stands" is no longer a valid option for replay reviews on targeting fouls.
* Players who commit three or more targeting penalties in the same season will receive a one-game suspension in addition to any ejection penalties.
* Eliminating the two-man wedge on kickoffs, except when the kicking team is in an obvious onside kick formation or if the kick results in a touchback, fair catch, or goes out of bounds in the field of play.
* Starting with the fifth overtime period, each team will line up at the three-yard line to attempt a two point conversion instead of snapping the ball from the 25 yard line. The first game using this new procedure was on October 19, 2019, between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Virginia Tech Hokies which went to six overtimes before Virginia Tech won 43–41.
*Adding a two-minute break after the second and fourth overtime period.
*Blindside blocks delivered with forcible contact will draw a 15-yard penalty (personal foul). If elements of targeting exist, the player delivering the block will be subject to ejection (and suspension if it's the third targeting foul in the season) as with any other targeting foul.

Other headlines

*January 31 – The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions banned SEC school Missouri's football, baseball and softball teams from competing in the postseason for the 2019 season and placed the athletics department on 3 years of probation. The penalties were handed down after a 2 year investigation into alleged academic fraud, conducted by the University of Missouri and initiated by former Missouri tutor Yolanda Kumar's allegations in November 2016 that she improperly assisted 42 student-athletes. She claimed she was groomed by her superiors to commit "academic dishonesty" and alleged that she completed online courses and took final exams for Missouri men's basketball and football players. The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions found that Kumar violated NCAA ethical conduct, academic misconduct and academic extra benefits rules when she completed academic work for 12 student-athletes. The NCAA's report did not find evidence that her colleagues directed her to complete the athletes' work. Kumar was given a 10-year show-cause order, in which any NCAA member attempting to hire her must restrict her from any athletic-related duties. The football, baseball and softball programs will have a 5 percent reduction in scholarships and a 12.5 percent reduction in official visits and evaluation days for the 2019–20 academic year. Further, these sports will face a 7 week ban on unofficial visits, recruiting communications, and off-campus recruiting evaluation days. Finally, the NCAA fined Missouri $5,000, plus 1 percent of each of its budgets in football, baseball and softball. Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk issued a statement saying the school will file an appeal.
*February 8 – Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith announced that he is stepping down from the CFP selection committee in order to focus on helping head coach Ryan Day. He will be replaced by Iowa athletic director Gary Barta.
*February 12 – Ole Miss Athletic Director Ross Bjork announced that Ole Miss will vacate 33 victories from their football program between the seasons of 2010 and 2016 due to fielding ineligible players. The Rebels will vacate four wins from 2010, two from 2011, seven from 2012, seven from 2013, eight from 2014 and five from 2016, to include a victory over Alabama in 2014. The vacated wins stem from an investigation into the Ole Miss football program involving academic, booster and recruiting misconduct, and a lack of institutional control. Ole Miss had already served a two-year postseason ban in 2017 and 2018 and was given three years of probation, through 2020, as well as scholarship reductions and recruiting restrictions in sanctions handed down more than a year ago.
*March 9 – U.S. District Judge Claudia Ann Wilken ruled against the NCAA in an antitrust lawsuit, saying football and basketball players should be permitted to receive more compensation from schools but only if the benefits are tied to education. Her ruling said the NCAA cannot "limit compensation or benefits related to education." The claim was originally brought forward by West Virginia football player Shawne Alston, and later merged with other lawsuits, including one brought forward by Clemson player Martin Jenkins. Judge Wilken had previously ruled against the NCAA in the ''O'Bannon v. NCAA'' lawsuit brought against the NCAA by former UCLA player Ed O'Bannon.
*May 13 – The Orange Bowl was rescheduled for December 30, 2019, after initially being scheduled on New Year's Day, 2020. The adjustment was made to allow the 2019 Orange Bowl to maintain its status as a prime-time event. Had it remained on New Year's Day, it would have been scheduled to play in the afternoon, rather than at night. It is not a College Football Playoff Semifinal game this season.
*June 4 – The Big Ten and SEC announced changes to its bowl tie-ins for the 2020 season through 2025. The two conferences joined the Belk Bowl and Las Vegas Bowl in alternating years; the Big Ten will play the Las Vegas Bowl in odd-numbered years, and the SEC in even-numbered years, both against a Pac-12 opponent. This move acts to heighten the profile of the game, as it plans to move to Allegiant Stadium (future home of the NFL's Oakland Raiders) in 2020. The conference not playing the Las Vegas bowl will play an ACC opponent at the Belk Bowl. The Big Ten will also gain a tie-in for the Cheez-It Bowl. In return, the Big Ten will drop the Gator Bowl and Holiday Bowl.
*June 27 – The Big East Conference, following a vote of approval by the presidents of the conference's current members, announced that the University of Connecticut will be joining the Big East in academic year 2020–21. Thus, the 2019 season will be UConn's last in the American Athletic Conference. UConn had not yet determined which conference their football team will play in, as the AAC will not allow UConn to remain as a football-only member and the Big East does not currently sponsor football. UConn was a charter member of the original Big East when it formed in 1979. The original conference split along football lines in 2013, with three football-sponsoring schools departing for the Atlantic Coast Conference, the seven schools without FBS football leaving to form a new Big East Conference, and the remaining FBS schools joining with several new members to reorganize the original Big East corporate entity as The American. All three members of the current Big East that sponsor football play that sport in FCS conferences.
* July 26 – Multiple media reports indicated that UConn and The American had reached a buyout agreement that cemented July 2020 as UConn's exit date. The fee was reportedly $17 million. UConn also announced that its football team would become an FBS independent.
* August 19 & 20 – Arkansas State announced that head coach Blake Anderson had taken a leave of absence while his wife Wendy was dealing with a second bout with breast cancer. The following day, the coach posted on Twitter that his wife had died. During Anderson's bereavement leave, Red Wolves defensive coordinator David Duggan served as interim head coach. Anderson returned to the sidelines for the Red Wolves' September 7 game at UNLV.
* September 21 – Pitt defeated UCF 35–34 ending the Knights 25-game regular-season winning streak in a game known as the "Pitt Special"
*September 30 – California governor Gavin Newsom signed the Fair Pay to Play Act into law, which upon taking effect in 2023 will prohibit public colleges and universities in the state from punishing their athletes for earning endorsement income. The bill places the state in direct conflict with the NCAA's current rules, which prohibits college athletes from receiving such income. At the time the bill was signed, several other states were proposing similar laws.
* October 19 – Illinois upset Wisconsin 24–23 on a last-second field goal. The 30 1/2 point underdog's win was the biggest upset in Big Ten football since Northwestern's win over Minnesota in 1982 as a 32 point underdog. This was Illinois's first win over a ranked opponent since defeating Arizona State in 2011. Also in this game, Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor became the 4th player in FBS football history to reach 5,000 career rushing yards during his junior season (including bowl games), joining former Georgia running back Herschel Walker, former Wisconsin running back Ron Dayne, and former Oregon running back LaMichael James. Taylor reached this milestone in 736 career rushes, fewer than the previous quickest to this milestone (James in 755 career rushes).
* October 27 – LSU edged Alabama and Ohio State in one of the closest AP Poll votes ever. LSU received 1,476 points and 17 first-place votes from the voters, while Alabama received 1,474 points and 21 first-place votes and Ohio State received 1,468 points and 17 first-place votes. This 8-point margin between 1st and 3rd was the fewest since the current ranking system was remade in 1978.
* October 29 – The NCAA board of governors voted unanimously to begin the process of changing institutional rules so that college athletes can profit from their names, images, and likenesses, while still maintaining a distinction between college and professional sports. The proposal calls for each of the three NCAA divisions to draft new rules consistent with this mandate, with a target date of January 2021.
*November 5 — The first College Football Playoff committee rankings were released. The committee ranked Ohio State at No. 1, after the November 3 AP Poll ranked LSU at No. 1 and the November 3 Coaches Poll ranked Alabama at No. 1. This resulted in all three major college football selectors splitting on the number one team for the first time in the CFP era.

Stadiums

Updated

* Appalachian State is currently rebuilding the north end zone of Kidd Brewer Stadium. The $45 million upgrade began with the demolition of Owens Field House, and will feature an accommodation of a wide variety of athletics and academic uses and will add around 1,000 seats to the stadium. The project is expected to be completed in time for the start of the 2020 season.
* Iowa is rebuilding the north end zone of Kinnick Stadium. The $89.9 million upgrade will feature the addition of box seating, outdoor club seating, and a new scoreboard. The entire project is nearing completion and is expected to be finished in time for the Hawkeyes' 2019 home opener.
* Liberty is expanding the Arthur L. Williams Football Operations Center at Williams Stadium; additions to the east and west sides of the building will bring the center to about 75,000 square feet. Construction is expected to be completed in time for the 2020 season.
* Missouri is rebuilding the south end zone of Faurot Field. The $98 million upgrade will feature new suites, club seats and a 750-person membership only field-level club, an expanded video scoreboard, as well as a new football facility with state-of-the-art training rooms, offices, and home and away dressing rooms. Construction is expected to be completed in time for the 2019 season.
* Old Dominion is currently rebuilding the east and west grandstands of Ballard Stadium. The $24.8 million upgrade began with demolition of the old grandstands immediately after the Monarchs' last 2018 home game, with reconstruction expected to be completed in time for ODU's 2019 home opener.
* Syracuse began a $118 million, two-phase renovation of the Carrier Dome during the summer of 2019. The centerpiece of the first phase, planned to be completed in time for the 2020 football season, will see the Dome's inflatable roof replaced by a new fixed, semi-translucent roof. Other improvements in this phase include a new scoreboard that can be moved to optimal positions for football or basketball, Wi-Fi improvements, new sound and lighting systems, and accessibility upgrades. The second phase, to be completed in 2022, will see the installation of air conditioning, new concessions space, and further accessibility upgrades.
* Coastal Carolina has completed the expansion of Brooks Stadium, adding an Upper Deck and Suites to the west grandstands. This expansion brings the seating capacity to 20,000.

Renamed

* Rutgers renamed their stadium to SHI Stadium as part of a new naming rights agreement with New Jersey-based IT firm SHI International Corp.

Related news

* While the stadium was not renamed, Louisville announced on October 24, 2019 that it had settled a naming rights dispute with Papa John's Pizza founder John Schnatter regarding Cardinal Stadium. The company's name had been stripped from the stadium in 2018 amid controversy over the use of a racial slur by Schnatter. Unlike most naming rights deals, the Cardinal Stadium contract was with Schnatter personally and not Papa John's, and gave him almost unlimited power to change the stadium name. The settlement calls for the Louisville athletic department to pay Schnatter $9.5 million over 5 years in exchange for his release of naming rights.

Upcoming

* The 2019 season was the last for South Alabama at its current home of Ladd–Peebles Stadium. The school began construction of the new on-campus Hancock Whitney Stadium in 2018, and plans to open the 25,000-seat facility in time for the 2020 season.
* The Birmingham–Jefferson Civic Center Authority began construction on UAB's new home of Protective Stadium on the grounds of the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex on July 25, 2019. The new venue, seating slightly over 45,000, is planned to open in 2021.
* The 2019 season was expected to be the last for UNLV at its current off-campus home of Sam Boyd Stadium. For 2020 and beyond, the Rebels will move to the new Allegiant Stadium, also off-campus but much closer to the school, alongside the stadium's primary tenant, the relocated Las Vegas Raiders of the NFL.

Kickoff games

Rankings reflect the AP Poll entering each week.

"Week Zero"

The regular season began with two Week 0 games on Saturday, August 24:
*Camping World Kickoff (Camping World Stadium, Orlando): No. 8 Florida defeated Miami (FL), 24–20
*Hawaii defeated Arizona, 45–38

Week 1

The majority of FBS teams opened the season on Labor Day weekend. Three neutral-site "kickoff" games were held.

* Belk College Kickoff Game ( Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte): 2019 North Carolina Tar Heels football team, North Carolina defeated 2019 South Carolina Gamecocks football team, South Carolina, 24–20
*Advocare Classic (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, Arlington): No. 16 2019 Auburn Tigers football team, Auburn defeated No. 11 2019 Oregon Ducks football team, Oregon, 27–21
*Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta): No. 2 Alabama defeated 2019 Duke Blue Devils football team, Duke, 42–3

Week 3

An additional "kickoff game" was held on Friday, September 13.

*Texas Kickoff (NRG Stadium, Houston): No. 20 2019 Washington State Cougars football team, Washington State defeated 2019 Houston Cougars football team, Houston, 31–24

Regular season top 10 matchups

Rankings reflect the AP Poll. Rankings for Week 11 and beyond will list 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings, College Football Playoff Rankings first and AP Poll second. Teams that fail to be a top 10 team for one poll or the other will be noted.
*Week 2
**No. 6 LSU defeated No. 9 2019 Texas Longhorns football team, Texas 45–38 (Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas)
*Week 4
**No. 3 2019 Georgia Bulldogs football team, Georgia defeated No. 7 2019 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, Notre Dame 23–17 (Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia)
*Week 6
**No. 10 Florida defeated No. 7 2019 Auburn Tigers football team, Auburn 24–13 (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida)
*Week 7
**No. 5 LSU defeated No. 7 Florida 42–28 (Tiger Stadium (LSU), Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
*Week 9
**No. 2 LSU defeated No. 9 Auburn 23–20 (Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
*Week 10
**No. 8 Georgia defeated No. 6 Florida 24–17 (TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Florida)
*Week 11
**No. 2/1 LSU defeated No. 3/2 Alabama 46–41 (Bryant–Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
*Week 13
**No. 2/2 Ohio State defeated No. 8/9 2019 Penn State Nittany Lions football team, Penn State 28–17 (Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio)
*Week 14
**No. 1/2 Ohio State defeated No. 13/10 2019 Michigan Wolverines football team, Michigan 56–27 (Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan)
*Week 15
** No. 6/6 2019 Oklahoma Sooners football team, Oklahoma defeated No. 7/8 2019 Baylor Bears football team, Baylor 30–23, OT (2019 Big 12 Championship Game, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas)
** No. 2/1 LSU defeated No. 4/4 Georgia 37–10 (2019 SEC Championship Game, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia)
** No. 1/2 Ohio State defeated No. 8/10 Wisconsin 34–21 (2019 Big Ten Football Championship Game, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana)

Upsets

During the college football regular season, 36 unranked teams defeated a ranked opponent. The highest ranked teams that lost to an unranked opponent were No. 3 Georgia in week 7, No. 6 Wisconsin in week 8, No. 5 Oklahoma in week 9, and No. 6 Oregon in week 13.

No. 3 Georgia (−20.5) falls to South Carolina in 2OT

On October 12, No. 3 2019 Georgia Bulldogs football team, Georgia Bulldogs (5–0, 2–0) played a home conference game against the 2019 South Carolina Gamecocks football team, South Carolina Gamecocks (2–3, 1–2). The Bulldogs, who had won five straight against the Gamecocks, were favored by 20.5 points. Though Georgia outgained South Carolina by more than 170 yards, they had four turnovers to South Carolina's none. Tied at 17, the game went to overtime, where, after Georgia failed to score on its possession, South Carolina had a chance to kick a game-winning 33-yard field goal. However, they missed it and the game went to a second overtime where South Carolina converted on a 24-yard field goal and Georgia missed a 42-yard field goal.

No. 6 Wisconsin (−30.5) defeated by Illinois on last second field goal

On October 19, No. 6 2019 Wisconsin Badgers football team, Wisconsin Badgers (6–0, 3–0) was heavily favored, by 30.5 points, against their conference rivals 2019 Illinois Fighting Illini football team, Illinois Fighting Illini (2–4, 0–2). The game was played at Illinois' stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Wisconsin led the entire game until a last second field goal was made by Illinois to give them a 24–23 win. Wisconsin turned over the ball on their last two drives which allowed Illinois to score twice in the last six minutes of the game. The Badgers had previously defeated the Fighting Illini in nine consecutive match-ups.

No. 5 Oklahoma's rally falls short against Kansas State (+23.5) after onside kick recovery overturned

On October 26, No. 5 2019 Oklahoma Sooners football team, Oklahoma Sooners (7–0, 4–0) traveled to the 2019 Kansas State Wildcats football team, Kansas State Wildcats (4–2, 1–2) for a conference game. The Sooners were favored by 23.5 points and led 17–7 after the 1st quarter. However, Kansas State built a large 48–23 lead by scoring on 8 consecutive possessions, including scoring on each possession in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, after punting on its first possession of the game. In the 4th quarter, Oklahoma scored 18 consecutive points to cut the Kansas State lead to 48–41. After Oklahoma attempted an onside kick and appeared to recover it, the recovery was overturned due to an Oklahoma player touching the football prior to the ball traveling the required 10 yards. Kansas State was awarded possession of the ball and ran out the clock to preserve the Wildcats' first win over a top 5 team since 2006 and their first home win over Oklahoma since 1996.

No. 6 Oregon (−13.5) loses at Arizona State

On November 23, No. 6 2019 Oregon Ducks football team, Oregon Ducks (9–1, 7–0) traveled to the 2019 Arizona State Sun Devils football team, Arizona State Sun Devils (5–5, 2–5) for a conference game. The Ducks were favored by 13.5 points, but were behind at halftime 10–7. Arizona State stretched its lead to 24–7 with less than 9 minutes left in the 4th quarter, before 4 combined touchdowns scored in the final minutes allowed the Sun Devils to escape with a 31–28 victory.

Conference standings

Conference summaries

^CFP College Football Playoff participant

Postseason

Bowl selections

There were 39 team-competitive post-season bowl games, with two teams advancing to a 40th – the CFP National Championship game. Normally, a team is required to have a .500 minimum winning percentage during the regular season to become bowl-eligible (six wins for an 11- or 12-game schedule, and seven wins for a 13-game schedule). If there are not enough winning teams to fulfill all open bowl slots, teams with losing records may be chosen to fill all 78 bowl slots. Additionally, on the rare occasion in which a conference champion does not meet eligibility requirements, they are usually still chosen for bowl games via Bids to college bowl games, tie-ins for their conference.

Bowl-eligible teams

*2019 Atlantic Coast Conference football season, ACC (10): 2019 Boston College Eagles football team, Boston College, 2019 Clemson Tigers football team, Clemson, 2019 Florida State Seminoles football team, Florida State, 2019 Louisville Cardinals football team, Louisville, Miami (FL), 2019 North Carolina Tar Heels football team, North Carolina, 2019 Pittsburgh Panthers football team, Pittsburgh, 2019 Virginia Cavaliers football team, Virginia, 2019 Virginia Tech Hokies football team, Virginia Tech, 2019 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team, Wake Forest
*2019 American Athletic Conference football season, American (7): 2019 Cincinnati Bearcats football team, Cincinnati, 2019 Memphis Tigers football team, Memphis, 2019 Navy Midshipmen football team, Navy, 2019 SMU Mustangs football team, SMU, 2019 Temple Owls football team, Temple, 2019 Tulane Green Wave football team, Tulane, 2019 UCF Knights football team, UCF
*2019 Big Ten Conference football season, Big Ten (9): Illinois, 2019 Indiana Hoosiers football team, Indiana, 2019 Iowa Hawkeyes football team, Iowa, 2019 Michigan Wolverines football team, Michigan, 2019 Michigan State Spartans football team, Michigan State, 2019 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team, Minnesota, Ohio State, 2019 Penn State Nittany Lions football team, Penn State, Wisconsin
*2019 Big 12 Conference football season, Big 12 (6): 2019 Baylor Bears football team, Baylor, 2019 Iowa State Cyclones football team, Iowa State, 2019 Kansas State Wildcats football team, Kansas State, 2019 Oklahoma Sooners football team, Oklahoma, 2019 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team, Oklahoma State, 2019 Texas Longhorns football team, Texas
*2019 Conference USA football season, C-USA (8): 2019 Charlotte 49ers football team, Charlotte, 2019 Florida Atlantic Owls football team, Florida Atlantic, 2019 FIU Panthers football team, FIU, 2019 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team, Louisiana Tech, 2019 Marshall Thundering Herd football team, Marshall, 2019 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team, Southern Miss, 2019 UAB Blazers football team, UAB, 2019 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team, Western Kentucky
*2019 Mid-American Conference football season, MAC (8): 2019 Buffalo Bulls football team, Buffalo, 2019 Central Michigan Chippewas football team, Central Michigan, 2019 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team, Eastern Michigan, 2019 Kent State Golden Flashes football team, Kent State, 2019 Miami RedHawks football team, Miami (OH), 2019 Ohio Bobcats football team, Ohio, 2019 Toledo Rockets football team, Toledo*, 2019 Western Michigan Broncos football team, Western Michigan
*2019 Mountain West Conference football season, Mountain West (7): 2019 Air Force Falcons football team, Air Force, 2019 Boise State Broncos football team, Boise State, Hawaii, 2019 Nevada Wolf Pack football team, Nevada, 2019 San Diego State Aztecs football team, San Diego State, 2019 Utah State Aggies football team, Utah State, 2019 Wyoming Cowboys football team, Wyoming
*2019 Pac-12 Conference football season, Pac-12 (7): 2019 Arizona State Sun Devils football team, Arizona State, 2019 California Golden Bears football team, California, 2019 Oregon Ducks football team, Oregon, 2019 USC Trojans football team, USC, 2019 Utah Utes football team, Utah, 2019 Washington Huskies football team, Washington, 2019 Washington State Cougars football team, Washington State
*2019 Southeastern Conference football season, SEC (9): Alabama, 2019 Auburn Tigers football team, Auburn, Florida, 2019 Georgia Bulldogs football team, Georgia, 2019 Kentucky Wildcats football team, Kentucky, LSU, 2019 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team, Mississippi State, 2019 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Tennessee, 2019 Texas A&M Aggies football team, Texas A&M
*2019 Sun Belt Conference football season, Sun Belt (5): 2019 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team, Appalachian State, 2019 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team, Arkansas State, 2019 Georgia Southern Eagles football team, Georgia Southern, 2019 Georgia State Panthers football team, Georgia State, 2019 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team, Louisiana
*NCAA Division I FBS independent schools, Independent (3): 2019 BYU Cougars football team, BYU, 2019 Liberty Flames football team, Liberty, 2019 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, Notre Dame
Number of bowl berths available: 78
Number of bowl-eligible teams: 79

Bowl-eligible teams that were not invited

*2018 Mid-American Conference football season, MAC (1): 2019 Toledo Rockets football team, Toledo (6–6)

Bowl-ineligible teams

*2019 Atlantic Coast Conference football season, ACC (4): 2019 Duke Blue Devils football team, Duke, 2019 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team, Georgia Tech, 2019 NC State Wolfpack football team, NC State, 2019 Syracuse Orange football team, Syracuse
*2019 American Athletic Conference football season, American (5): 2019 East Carolina Pirates football team, East Carolina, 2019 Houston Cougars football team, Houston, 2019 South Florida Bulls football team, South Florida, 2019 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team, Tulsa, 2019 UConn Huskies football team, UConn
*2019 Big Ten Conference football season, Big Ten (5): 2019 Maryland Terrapins football team, Maryland, 2019 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Nebraska, 2019 Northwestern Wildcats football team, Northwestern, 2019 Purdue Boilermakers football team, Purdue, 2019 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team, Rutgers
*2019 Big 12 Conference football season, Big 12 (4): 2019 Kansas Jayhawks football team, Kansas, 2019 TCU Horned Frogs football team, TCU, 2019 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team, Texas Tech, 2019 West Virginia Mountaineers football team, West Virginia
*2019 Conference USA football season, C-USA (6): 2019 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team, Middle Tennessee, 2019 North Texas Mean Green football team, North Texas, 2019 Old Dominion Monarchs football team, Old Dominion, 2019 Rice Owls football team, Rice, 2019 UTEP Miners football team, UTEP, 2019 UTSA Roadrunners football team, UTSA
*2019 Mid-American Conference football season, MAC (4): 2019 Akron Zips football team, Akron, 2019 Ball State Cardinals football team, Ball State, 2019 Bowling Green Falcons football team, Bowling Green, 2019 Northern Illinois Huskies football team, Northern Illinois
*2019 Mountain West Conference football season, Mountain West (5): 2019 Colorado State Rams football team, Colorado State, 2019 Fresno State Bulldogs football team, Fresno State, 2019 New Mexico Lobos football team, New Mexico, 2019 San Jose State Spartans football team, San Jose State, UNLV
*2019 Pac-12 Conference football season, Pac-12 (5): Arizona, 2019 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Colorado, 2019 Oregon State Beavers football team, Oregon State, 2019 Stanford Cardinal football team, Stanford, 2019 UCLA Bruins football team, UCLA
*2019 Southeastern Conference football season, SEC (5): 2019 Arkansas Razorbacks football team, Arkansas, 2019 Missouri Tigers football team, Missouri, 2019 Ole Miss Rebels football team, Ole Miss, 2019 South Carolina Gamecocks football team, South Carolina, 2019 Vanderbilt Commodores football team, Vanderbilt
*2019 Sun Belt Conference football season, Sun Belt (5): 2019 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team, Coastal Carolina, 2019 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks football team, Louisiana-Monroe, 2019 South Alabama Jaguars football team, South Alabama, 2019 Texas State Bobcats football team, Texas State, 2019 Troy Trojans football team, Troy
*NCAA Division I FBS independent schools, Independent (3): 2019 Army Black Knights football team, Army, 2019 New Mexico State Aggies football team, New Mexico State, 2019 UMass Minutemen football team, UMass

Number of bowl-ineligible teams: 51

College Football Playoff

Conference performance in bowl games

Awards and honors

Heisman Trophy

The Heisman Trophy is given to the year's most outstanding player.

* Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
* Jalen Hurts, QB, 2019 Oklahoma Sooners football team, Oklahoma
* Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
* Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

Other overall

* Associated Press College Football Player of the Year Award, AP Player of the Year: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
* Lombardi Award (top player): Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
* Maxwell Award (top player): Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
* Sporting News College Football Player of the Year, SN Player of the Year: Joe Burrow, LSU
* Walter Camp Award (top player): Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

Special overall

* Burlsworth Trophy (top player who began as walk-on): Kenny Willekes, DE, 2019 Michigan State Spartans football team, Michigan State
* Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player): Lynn Bowden, Lynn Bowden Jr., WR/RS/QB, 2019 Kentucky Wildcats football team, Kentucky
* Jon Cornish Trophy (top Canadian player): Chuba Hubbard, RB, 2019 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team, Oklahoma State
* William V. Campbell Trophy, Campbell Trophy ("academic Heisman"): Justin Herbert, QB, 2019 Oregon Ducks football team, Oregon
* Wuerffel Trophy (humanitarian-athlete): Jon Wassink, QB, 2019 Western Michigan Broncos football team, Western Michigan
* List of Senior CLASS Award football winners, Senior CLASS Award (senior student-athlete): Derrick Brown (American football), Derrick Brown, DT, 2019 Auburn Tigers football team, Auburn

Offense

Quarterback

* Davey O'Brien Award: Joe Burrow, LSU
* Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (senior/4th year quarterback): Joe Burrow, LSU
* Manning Award: Joe Burrow, LSU
* Sammy Baugh Trophy (passing quarterback):

Running back

* Doak Walker Award: Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

Wide receiver

* Fred Biletnikoff Award: Ja'Marr Chase, LSU

Tight end

* John Mackey Award: Harrison Bryant, 2019 Florida Atlantic Owls football team, Florida Atlantic

Lineman:

* Rimington Trophy (center): Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin
*Outland Trophy (interior lineman on either offense or defense): Penei Sewell, OL, Oregon
* Joe Moore Award (offensive line): LSU

Defense

* Bronko Nagurski Trophy (defensive player): Chase Young, DE, Ohio State
* Chuck Bednarik Award (defensive player): Chase Young, DE, Ohio State
* Lott Trophy (defensive impact): Derrick Brown (American football), Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

Defensive front

* Bill Willis Award (defensive lineman):
* Dick Butkus Award (linebacker): Isaiah Simmons, 2019 Clemson Tigers football team, Clemson
* Touchdown Club of Columbus#The Jack Lambert Trophy, Jack Lambert Trophy (linebacker):
* Ted Hendricks Award (defensive end): Chase Young, Ohio State

Defensive back

*Jim Thorpe Award, Paycom Jim Thorpe Award: Grant Delpit, S, LSU
*Touchdown Club of Columbus#The Jack Tatum Trophy, Jack Tatum Trophy:

Special teams

* Lou Groza Award (placekicker): Rodrigo Blankenship, 2019 Georgia Bulldogs football team, Georgia
* Ray Guy Award (punter): Max Duffy, Kentucky
* Jet Award (return specialist): Joe Reed (wide receiver), Joe Reed, 2019 Virginia Cavaliers football team, Virginia
* Peter Mortell Holder of the Year Award, Peter Mortell Award (holder): Preston Brady, 2019 Memphis Tigers football team, Memphis
* Patrick Mannelly Award (holder): John Shannon (long snapper), John Shannon, Notre Dame

Coaches

* AFCA Coach of the Year: Ed Orgeron, LSU
* Associated Press College Football Coach of the Year Award, AP Coach of the Year: Ed Orgeron, LSU
* Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award, Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year: Kyle Whittingham, Utah
* Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year: Ed Orgeron, LSU
* George Munger Award, George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year: Ed Orgeron, LSU
* Home Depot Coach of the Year: Ed Orgeron, LSU
* Paul "Bear" Bryant Award: Ed Orgeron, LSU
* Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year, ''Sporting News'' Coach of the Year:
* Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award, Walter Camp Coach of the Year: Ed Orgeron, LSU

Assistants

* AFCA Coach of the Year#Assistant Coach of the Year Award, AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year: Mike Viti, FB, 2019 Army Black Knights football team, Army
* Broyles Award: Joe Brady (American football coach), Joe Brady, WR/passing game, LSU

All-Americans

Rankings

CFB Playoff final rankings

On December 8, 2019, the College Football Playoff selection committee announced its final team rankings for the year.

Coaching changes

Preseason and in-season

This is restricted to coaching changes taking place on or after May 1, 2019, and includes any changes announced after a team's last regularly scheduled game but before its bowl game. For coaching changes that occurred earlier in 2019, see 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season#Coaching changes, 2018 NCAA Division I FBS end-of-season coaching changes.

End of season

This list includes coaching changes announced during the season that did not take effect until the end of the season.

Television viewers and ratings

Most watched regular season games

Conference championship games

Most watched non-CFP bowl games

College Football Playoff

See also

*2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season
*2019 NCAA Division II football season
*2019 NCAA Division III football season
*2019 NAIA football season

Notes

References

{{NCAA football season navbox

2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season,