Both defending national champions that lost in their respective national championship games.

Miami, the defending national champion, went 12-1 losing to Ohio State in double overtime in controversial fashion (they got jobbed) in the national championship game. The Hurricanes had a 34-game winning streak end that night. Some of the Miami’s outstanding players were: Ken Dorsey, Willis McGahee, Kellen Winslow, Jr., Jonathan Vilma, Vince Wilfork, and Sean Taylor.

USC, the two-time defending national champion seeking an unprecedented third straight national championship, went 12-1 losing 41-38 to Texas in the national championship game in what many consider the greatest college football game of all-time. The Trojans had their 34-game winning streak end that night. USC had a pair of Heisman Trophy winners in their backfield in quarterback Matt Leinart and running back Reggie Bush. Some other outstanding players for the Trojans were: LenDale White, Steve Smith, Dwayne Jarrett, Darnell Bing, Sam Baker and Taitusi Lutui.