Season: 10-2, 8-1
College Football Playoff ranking: No. 8
MVP: RB Phillip Lindsay (1,136 rushing yards, 15 TD)
ESPN Bowl projection: Alamo Bowl
Huh? What just happened?: We’ve heard for two years that Colorado was “close” to being competitive. Appears they were, in fact, close, and they get the cigar. Mike MacIntyre was a well-worthy coach of the year for this surprising and impressive turnaround. Not only did he save his job, but MacIntyre now jumped to the top of the Pac-12’s “this guy is mentioned as a candidate for every job opening” list.