Sure, Florida beat Ohio State to capture the national title last year. But the BCS bowl game that had everybody buzzing? That would be Boise State's instant-classic upset of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.

Using every trick in their playbook, the Broncos captivated the country's attention in the overtime thriller and became media darlings.

Their storybook ending is why many Americans travel to stadiums or sit in front of their televisions each Saturday. They want to see the little guy knock off the tradition-rich BCS programs. Upsets are what capture the heart and give hope that anything is possible.

2. Rivalries

Utah-BYU. Ohio State-Michigan. Army-Navy.

Rivalries are what makes college football so much fun. No matter what the records, teams somehow find a way to play their best against their rival school and players circle the date on their calendar.

And when bragging rights and school pride are on the line, take cover. The bitterness that builds before the BYU-Utah game can split families apart and turn neighbors against each other.

3. Last-second game-winning TDs

From Beck-to-Harline to Doug Flutie's Hail Mary to Matt Leinart's "Bush Push," nothing causes the heart rate to rise quite like a last-second game-winning TD.

The raw emotion of college football makes the moments even more striking. Lives change in the blink of an eye, and campus legends are born with one play.

4. Urban Meyer

How many Ute fans took satisfaction in watching Florida win the national title last year and felt as though the Utes had a little something to do it?

When Utah athletic director Chris Hill hired Urban Meyer he suspected the coach wouldn't be around for long as he worked his way up the coaching ladder. But he was willing to trade a short coaching stint for some good years. What he got was 2004, the year Utah went undefeated and became the first BCS buster.

5. The view of Y Mountain

Fans come to LaVell Edwards Stadium for the view on the field, but the view beyond the walls makes the game that much more pleasurable.

Some of the 64,045 spectators who pack the stands can mark the progression of the season with the mountainside changing from green to blends of red, orange and yellow to a dusting of white snow on top of Y Mountain.

6. School spirit

We can't choose our grade schools and we often can't choose our high schools, but we can choose our colleges. Because of this, a strong allegiance grows, and along with it come rules by which football fans gleefully abide:

* Don't marry someone who graduated from your rival school.

* Don't plan a wedding or birthday bash on a crucial game day.

For some whose bloodlines have crossed with rival schools, it's best not to discuss football at family reunions. Better yet, don't invite the traitor at all.

7. They're just kids

As Utah DB Steve Tate points out, most college players don't have designs on a pro career, they're out there for the love of the game, and the camaraderie of a sport they've played since they were young. Seeing Utah kicker Louie Sakoda showing off his prized teddy bear given to him by a girlfriend reminds us they are still young.

8. Your college sweat shirt

Donning shirts, sweat shirts and other logo paraphernalia shows support for your team and a lifelong connection to our school.

That's why - as the years pass and the color fades and the cuffs fray - we shake our head when anyone suggests it's time to throw out that ratty old sweat shirt.

They just don't understand.

9. Mascots

First-class mascots add to the pageantry and excitement of college football, and our pick for No. 1 is Ralphie the Buffalo. He weighs 1,300 pounds and, when he leads Colorado onto the field, he reaches a top speed of 25 mph.

The current Ralphie got the job in 1998. An orphaned yearling, Ralphie was rescued from the jaws of a coyote on Ted Turner's Flying D Ranch in Montana.

10. New Year's Day

The old saying is what you do on New Year's Day represents what you'll be doing for the rest of the year. When it comes to watching football all day long, is there anything wrong with that?

This year six games are scheduled for Jan. 1, starting with the Outback Bowl at 9 a.m. and ending with the Sugar Bowl that kicks off at 6:30 p.m.

11. Pageantry

The acts on the field rival those of any Broadway play - and that's before the whistle blows.

You've got bands marching, flags flying, cheerleaders leaping.

And don't forget the music, lights and smoke that are part of the players' entrance.

We say, "Encore, encore!"

12. Saturdays at the Rose Bowl

Fans can experience what a truly idyllic football setting feels like when their teams schedule road games against UCLA. Utah fans took the Pasadena vacation last year, and BYU fans will make the trek this season. The rich tradition of the Rose Bowl alone is enough of an attraction, but mix in the Saturday afternoon sunsets and it's a must-see.

13. Every game matters

In pro sports, teams can make the playoffs if they finish below .500.

Not here. To play for a national title - or even reach a BCS bowl if you play in the Mountain West or WAC - losing is forbidden.

Only teams with near-perfect regular seasons are given a chance to walk away with the top prize.

The games matter, every week.

14. Tailgating

Of the many reasons to tailgate, the best has to be the food.

We present 10 mouthwatering suggestions, courtesy of perfectentertaining.com: cajun pork ribs, chili squares, crock-pot pulled pork, four-cheese broccoli soup, lamb burgers, maple apple squash soup, mustard rosemary T-bone steak, Parmesan chicken wings, picadillo stew and Tex-Mex pie.

15. Local heroes

It's an embraceable story when a local player makes a big splash at the college level and beyond.

When Riley Nelson signs with Utah State, or when Jim McMahon goes from Roy High school to BYU to the Super Bowl, there's a connection with fans because he is truly one of us.

16. ESPN coverage

In 1987, ESPN started College GameDay as a way to complement its football coverage, since then it has grown into it's own phenomenon.

Lee Corso, Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit host the two-hour show that started broadcasting from game sites in 1993. College GameDay kicks off the 2007 season Saturday at Virginia Tech.

17. Danger zone

It is the most dangerous place on a football field. When receivers go over the middle, it's like running onto the backstretch at the Brickyard or driving into the lane during the NBA playoffs.

In the NFL, receivers are paid huge amounts of money to go over the middle. In college, however, receivers go over the middle for tuition, books, room and board. So we take our helmets off to them.

18. The students

They're loud, obnoxious, often downright brutal to opposing fans, and they can be spotted in the stands by the way they stand for the whole game.

They are the student sections. They are what propel the home teams, harass the opposing teams and make mothers cringe with foul language that peppers chants.

What would college football be without them?

19. Rivalry game names

We here in Utah of course have "The Holy War," others include "The Red River Shootout" (Oklahoma vs. Texas) and two known as "The Game" - Lafayette vs. Lehigh, the most played rivalry game in history, and Harvard vs. Yale.

California and Stanford trumped those teams by naming their showdown as "The Big Game." Georgia vs. Florida is known as "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party."

20. The Haka

A traditional dance form of the Maori of New Zealand, the Haka has become a cherished and unique pregame ritual for BYU. One reason BYU performs the Haka is in memory of wide receiver Bryce Mahuika's father, Michael, who died of cancer. Bryce learned a variety of Polynesian dances from his father, and leads the team at BYU games.

21. Neither snow

nor rain nor hail . . .

The Postal Service has nothing on college football players. Blizzard in Wyoming? Stick chains on the bus tires. Hurricane in Miami? Grab an extra umbrella.

With 12 games and a bye week to squeeze in before December, teams can't afford to let a little hail get in the way of their conference title march.

22. Eight days a week

The demand for more viewing pleasure has resulted in a game nearly ever night of the week. Whether it's to provide more exposure to smaller programs or bump TV ratings up a few ticks, college football nuts are the biggest benefactors. They can come home from work each night, crash on the couch and check out teams from every conference in the land.

Saturdays still provide the full course meal, but providing a few appetizers is never a bad idea.

23. Neutral sites

Defend your home territory first. It's a saying college football coaches are fond of using. But a few teams out there agree to meet some of their biggest rivals in an organized version of a playground brawl.

This year, according to the National Football Foundation, 11 neutral games are scheduled. Among the biggest: Colorado vs. Colorado State in Denver; Alabama vs. Florida State in Jacksonville; Texas vs. Oklahoma in Dallas; Florida vs. Georgia in Jacksonville; and Army vs. Navy in Baltimore.

24. Recruiting

Recruiting often is considered college football's necessary evil. It is a battle-within-the-battle, a high-stakes poker game that can bring out the worst in everybody involved. Jobs are on the line. Futures are at stake. The pressure could turn a lump of coal into a sparkling diamond in a week. What's not to love?

25. Pressure on coaches on the hot seat

Nobody likes the win-or-else atmosphere in college football. Still, those of us on the outside love to watch the drama, in part because winning and losing is the only way we have of deciding whether a coach deserves our support or disdain.

Three on the Hot Seat this season: Texas A&M's Dennis Franchione, Arkansas' Houston Nutt and Arizona's Mike Stoops.

What's Not to Like?

Coaches who jump ship

Dennis Erickson left Idaho after just one season for Arizona State - the second time he's been one-and-done at a school. In 1987, he left Wyoming for Washington State.

Body-bag games

Athletic directors like them because they pay the bills, but college football could do without mismatches between a superior team from a major conference and a small school willing to take a beating for a huge paycheck.

BCS system

The college presidents say it's about keeping players from missing class. But we know the real reason - it's all about the cash. Lower divisions have managed just fine with a playoff system, but Division I-A wants to keep its bowls and crown its champion too.

Message boards

The seedy downside of the Internet, message boards have become a forum for anonymous posters to express their views without fear of repercussion. The often false information, rumors and innuendos irritate coaches and result in less information released to the fans.

Friday night games

Can't we leave Fridays to the high schools? ESPN is televising games every Friday despite a plea from the National High School Federation to please leave their night alone. The network didn't listen and people are going to watch.