2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season

The 2012 NCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) football season, or the college football season, began on Thursday, August 30, 2012. The season will progress through the regular season and bowl season, and (aside from all-star exhibition games that follow the bowl games) conclude with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game on Monday, January 7, 2013.

Rule Changes for 2012

 * Kickoffs will be moved up to the 35 yard line from the 30, mirroring a similar change by the NFL in the 2011 season and rescinding a rule change made in the 2007 season.
 * The kicking team will only have a five yard running head start on kickoffs, again mirroring the NFL changes in 2011.
 * Touchbacks will move from the 20 yard line to the 25 yard line only on kickoffs and free kicks after a safety. Touchbacks on punts rolling into the end zone or fumbles into the end zone will remain at the 20-yard line.
 * Players will be forbidden to leap over other players when blocking punts.
 * Players who lose their helmets during a play (except when caused by fouls such as grabbing the facemask) will have to leave the field for one play. When a helmet is lost during play, the play is dead immediately, and any action made by or against the helmetless player is penalized as a personal foul (15 yards).
 * Offensive players in the tackle box at the snap who are not in motion are allowed to block below the waist legally without restriction. All other players are restricted from blocking below the waist with some exceptions (i.e. blocking straight-on), modifying a rule change from the 2011 season.

Membership changes
Includes schools transitioning to FBS.

Expanded stadiums

 * Boise State has moved their track and field program out of Bronco Stadium leading to an expansion of the bleachers over the existing track in the end zones. The new permanent additions will increase capacity from 33,500 to 37,000 and will be ready for the start of the 2012 season. They are also currently building a new football facility in the north end zone to be ready for the 2013 season.
 * TCU completed a major renovation of Amon G. Carter Stadium, although the listed capacity increased only by about 600, to 45,000.
 * Texas State nearly doubled the size of Bobcat Stadium as part of its FBS transition. The venue, formerly holding slightly more than 16,000, now holds 30,000.
 * Michigan State completed a complete overhaul of their sound system and video boards. With the additions of two video boards in the north end zone as well as a video ribbon along the entire north edge. MSU also installed the fourth largest scoreboard in the NCAA in the south end zone.

Renovated stadiums

 * California will return to California Memorial Stadium following major renovations, which included a full seismic retrofit (as the stadium is located directly on a major fault). The stadium's capacity was reduced from its previous 71,800 to 62,700. The Golden Bears played their 2011 home schedule at AT&T Park in San Francisco, and also played a technically neutral-site game against Fresno State at Candlestick Park, also in San Francisco.
 * Clemson renovated the video systems at Clemson Memorial Stadium prior to the start of the 2012 season. A new Jumbotron was installed on the primary scoreboard behind the East endzone, while two smaller Jumbotrons were installed on each side of the WestZone stands. In addition, video ribbons were installed along the facings of the upper decks.

Temporary stadiums

 * Due to major renovations at Husky Stadium, Washington is playing its entire 2012 home schedule at nearby CenturyLink Field, home to the Seattle Seahawks (NFL) and Seattle Sounders FC (MLS). Because the renovation began before the end of the 2011 season, the Huskies also hosted that year's edition of the Apple Cup against Washington State at CenturyLink Field.
 * Due to renovations at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Massachusetts will be playing its entire 2012 and 2013 home schedules at Gillette Stadium, home to the New England Patriots (NFL) and New England Revolution (MLS). The school is also contractually obligated to play at least four home games at Gillette in each season from 2014 to 2016. Gillette is approximately a 2-hour drive from the UMass campus.

Most watched games in 2012

 * Note(*): Games rate in the top six most watched games of the last 20 years.


 * Note(**): Rankings reflect AP Poll Standings. (All others rankings reflect BCS Standings at the time of the game)

Conference standings
Please note, until the end of the regular season, the BCS Standings are being used as the source for all Top 25 Rankings.

Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Trophy is given to the year's most outstanding player.

Overall

 * AP Player of the Year:
 * Maxwell Award (top player):
 * Walter Camp Award (top player):
 * Campbell Trophy ("academic Heisman", formerly the Draddy Trophy):
 * Wuerffel Trophy (humanitarian-athlete):
 * Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player):

Offense
Quarterback
 * Davey O'Brien Award (quarterback):
 * Johnny Unitas Award (Sr. quarterback):
 * Manning Award (quarterback):
 * Sammy Baugh Trophy (quarterback, specifically passer):

Running Back
 * Doak Walker Award (running back):

Wide Receiver
 * Fred Biletnikoff Award (wide receiver):

Tight End
 * John Mackey Award (tight end):

Lineman
 * Dave Rimington Trophy (center):
 * Lombardi Award (top lineman):
 * Outland Trophy (interior lineman):

Defense

 * Bronko Nagurski Trophy (defensive player):
 * Chuck Bednarik Award (defensive player):
 * Lott Trophy (defensive impact):

Defensive Line
 * Ted Hendricks Award (defensive end):

Linebacker
 * Dick Butkus Award (linebacker):

Defensive Back
 * Jim Thorpe Award (defensive back):

Special Teams

 * Lou Groza Award (placekicker):
 * Ray Guy Award (punter):

Coaches

 * AP Coach of the Year:
 * Paul "Bear" Bryant Award:
 * The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award:
 * Walter Camp Coach of the Year:

Assistant
 * Broyles Award (assistant coach):

Preseason
This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2013. For coaching changes that occurred earlier in 2013, see 2012 NCAA Division I FBS end-of-season coaching changes.

End of season
Note:
 * All dates in November and December are in 2012; all January dates are in 2013.