As the dust settles on another thrilling season, it’s time to reflect on the standout performances from both the FBS Independents and PAC-12 conferences. This season was filled with highs, lows, dramatic twists, and a little bit of chaos that only college football can provide. From Notre Dame’s remarkable yet heartbreaking campaign to UMass’s absurd postseason ban, the 2024 season didn’t disappoint. But before we dive into all the absurdities, let’s take a look at the best of the best: the players and coaches who defined the year.
FBS Independent Teams Recap
Notre Dame: Almost There, But Not Quite Notre Dame had a season for the ages, finishing their regular season 12-0 and earning their way into the College Football Playoffs. They absolutely dismantled Tennessee in the first round of the CFP, winning 55-24, but fell short in the Elite 8 to Ohio State in a 41-31 upset that stunned the nation. Despite the disappointment, Notre Dame was undoubtedly the team of the year from the Independent ranks. Their offense was electric, their defense stingy, and many pundits had them pegged to win it all. Unfortunately, the Fighting Irish’s quest for the national title ended earlier than expected.
UMass: From Giant-Slayer to Banned UMass, oh UMass—what a rollercoaster. Early in the season, UMass shocked the world with an upset over Alabama in Tuscaloosa, instantly labeling them the Cinderella story of the year. They carried that momentum all the way to the Round of 32 in the Beefy Cup, where disaster struck. Just as they were preparing for their big postseason run, the Minutemen were hit with a baffling postseason ban.
What was the reason, you ask? Well, rumor has it the team was disqualified for, get this, illegally growing corn on the practice field! Apparently, the NCAA has a strict no-agriculture-on-campus rule (who knew?) and UMass, in an effort to fuel their linemen with farm-to-table snacks, violated it. The ban sent shockwaves through the program, and just like that, UMass’s postseason dreams vanished into the corn stalks.
UConn: A Tale of Two Seasons UConn’s season was nothing short of a tale of two halves. After starting the season 1-5, many wrote them off, but the Huskies finished strong, going 4-2 to end the regular season at 5-7. Despite their sub-.500 record, UConn was invited to the Military Bowl, primarily thanks to a defense that gave opposing offenses fits all year long. Sure, their offense left a lot to be desired, but that defense kept them in almost every game they played. And honestly, after a season like this, even a Military Bowl berth feels like a victory.
PAC-12 Teams Recap
Oregon State: The Overlooked Beavers Oregon State may be the most disrespected team in college football this season. Finishing 11-1 in the regular season, their only loss came on a last-second kick return touchdown against their bitter rival. Despite that, they weren’t given much love by the selection committees and were left out of the CFP. However, the Beavers got some redemption by crushing Iowa 49-28 in the Music City Bowl, finishing the season 12-1.
They also made it to the Sweet 16 of the Beefy Cup before falling to the buzzsaw that was Toledo, which—ironically—seemed to be the Achilles heel for both the PAC-12 and FBS Independent teams this year. Oregon State deserved more, but sometimes the computers just don’t see it that way. Either way, Coach BradySenior and the Beavers proved they were a force to be reckoned with.
Washington State: What Just Happened? If you were to write a book on Washington State’s 2024 season, it would likely fall into the “unexplained mysteries” section. Midway through the season, the Cougars’ head coach was reportedly ushered out in the middle of the night, with the administration citing “philosophical differences,” though the details remain murky. Some sources claim he was caught trading secret playbooks with a rival school, while others say he was simply ousted for choosing pineapple on his post-game pizza (a heinous crime in Pullman, apparently).
Washington State brought in a new coach for the last couple of games, but by that time, the season had already taken a turn for the bizarre. It’s safe to say the Cougars will be looking for a fresh start in 2025.
FBS and PAC-12 Combined All-Conference Team
As always, when two powerhouse conferences collide, the result is a stacked All-Conference team that would make any coach envious. Without further ado, let’s meet the top performers of the season:
Offensive All-Conference Team:
Quarterback:
Taisun Phommachanh – UMass
Running Backs:
Jam Griffin – Oregon State
Jeremiyah Love – Notre Dame
Wide Receivers:
TJ Sheffield – UConn
Sterling Galban – UMass
Jaden Greathouse – Notre Dame
Tight Ends:
Nick Harris – UConn
Mitchell Evans – Notre Dame
Offensive Line:
Billy Schrauth, Tosh Baker, Charles Jagusah – Notre Dame
Van Wells, Joshua Gray – Oregon State
Defensive and Special Teams All-Conference Team:
Defensive Line:
R.J. Oben – Notre Dame
Howard Cross III – Notre Dame
Pryce Yates – UConn
Etinosa Reuben – UMass
Linebackers:
Isaiah Chisom, Oluwaseyi Omotosho – Oregon State
Jack Kiser, Jaylen Sneed – Notre Dame
Defensive Backs:
Xavier Watts Notre Dame
Jack Kane, Skyler Thomas – Oregon State
Stan Cross – UConn
Tyler Rudolph, Te Rai Powell – UMass
Special Teams:
Chris Freeman – UConn
Josh Green – Oregon State
Return Specialist:
David Wells Jr. – Oregon State
End of Season Awards
Coach of the Year: BradySenior, Oregon State
Offensive Player of the Year: Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Defensive Player of the Year: Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
Special Teams Player of the Year: Chris Freeman, UConn
The Season 29 season gave us plenty of drama, incredible performances, and unforgettable moments. Notre Dame’s near-title run, UMass’s cornfield debacle, and Oregon State’s snubbing will go down in the annals of college football history. But as we look to the future, one thing is clear: the FBS Independents and PAC-12 conferences are on the rise, and Season 30 promises to be even better.
Will Notre Dame finally reach the top? Will UMass get their agricultural program under control? And will Oregon State get some R-E-S-P-E-C-T? Only time will tell. But for now, we celebrate the best players and coaches who made this season one to remember.
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