After a wild and raucous bowl season, it was only fitting that 2009 would end with a bang. But did anyone expect 2010 to start off with a huge arsenal of stunners? Here now is a recap of New Year’s Revolution!

Brut Sun Bowl

Oklahoma 31, #19 Stanford 27

The Sooners may not have gone to the BCS this year, but they will take a bowl win at this point. In an instant classic, Landry Jones and Ryan Broyles delivered huge for the Sooners to earn them a shootout victory over the Stanford Cardinal. Led by Broyles’ Sun Bowl record three touchdown receptions, Oklahoma held Heisman runner up Toby Gerhart in check long enough to clinch the win.

But Gerhart went out with a bang with 135 yards and a pair of touchdowns…just in the first half! In what is possibly his final game of his collegiate career, Gerhart did what he does best, which is rumble, bumble and stumble his way to an impressive finish.

Konica Minolta Gator Bowl

Florida State 33, #18 West Virginia 21

In his final game as head coach of the Seminoles, Bobby Bowden couldn’t have asked for a better finish. In front of a sellout crowd in Jacksonville (which is saying even less about the NFL’s Jaguars), the Florida State Seminoles silenced the former powerhouse of the Big East with a huge win to send Bowden out with his 389 career victory.

Even more fitting for the Seminoles coach was shaking the hand of Mountaineers head coach Bill Stewart, who was a walk-on for Bowden’s first Mountaineers team in 1970. In a fitting tribute, several former Florida State players walked with their beloved coach, a fan donned a jersey bearing the name “Bobby” the band spelled out Bowden’s name at halftime and the game even ended with chants of “Bobby! Bobby!” In his final game, it was enough for even a die-hard Gators fan like myself to stand up and applaud the man who spent so many years making me cringe.

Outback Bowl

Auburn 38, Northwestern 35 OT

In a bowl season filled with shockers and nailbiters, the Auburn Tigers and Northwestern Wildcats delivered yet another down to the wire moment for this already memorable football season. On the final set of plays of the game, Stefan Demos missed a field goal attempt that would have forced a second overtime. But in the process, Demos was cut down and injured, giving the ‘Cats a fresh set of downs to work with.

But on 4^th and goal, they decided to mess with the heads of everyone as Zeke Markshausen took the snap and took a chance at the end zone. He was stopped short at the 2-yard line. Auburn’s defense showed up at the right times as they picked off Mike Kafka five times, with two of those in the end zone. And despite many who disputed the hiring of Gene Chizik, the boss delivered an 8-5 season to the fans who stood behind him. With one hell of a recruiting class coming in, Auburn looks even more dangerous next season.

The Rose Bowl Game

#8 Ohio State 26, #7 Oregon 17

If there was a team that has suffered the downside of the BCS, it’s the Ohio State. Ever since losing to Florida in their first BCS Championship encounter, the Buckeyes couldn’t buy a victory in the BCS. But yesterday, they survived an onslaught from the Oregon Ducks to record their first BCS victory in over three years.

At the annual Rose Bowl Celebration, we saw bulldogs surfing and Buckeyes celebrating as Ohio State gave Jim Tressel the victory he rightfully deserved, On a day where shockers were coming in full circle, Ohio State delivered some fireworks of their own as Terrelle Pryor delivered on all the pressure that was on him. For the Ducks, they have nothing to be upset about…with the exception of losing the game.

Allstate Sugar Bowl

#5 Florida 51, #3 Cincinnati 24

For the Gators, turmoil was the word. From Urban Meyer’s LOA to the Gators losing one of their top recruits to rival Florida State, Florida needed something to smile about. But they were not alone. The Bearcats lost their head coach to money. Not Notre Dame; $$$$$! In the SEC’s own personal playground, the Florida Gators introduced the Big East Champions to real smash mouth football.

Tim Tebow set a pair of records as he accounted for 482 yards to lead the Gators to a huge victory over previously undefeated Cincinnati. Instead of playing for a National Championship, the Gators played for a Sugar Bowl Championship. Instead of dismantling Texas, they decimated Cincinnati. However, they did make history. Besides Tebow’s record setting day, Florida became the first school in the football subdivision to win 13 games in consecutive seasons. They also accumulated 659 yards, which was also a Sugar Bowl record.

As for the Bearcats, they suffered their second straight BCS Bowl loss, which was worse than the 20-7 thumping they received from Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Without Brian Kelly, the Bearcats suffered on both offense and defense. Tebow won the MVP award and thanked his teammates, as well as his head coach. For Meyer, if this was his final game with Florida, it ended the best way possible.

For one night, it was truly great to be a Florida Gator. Most likely, they’ll finish either #2 or #3.