Matt Ryan is ending the season the same way he started it -- as the best player in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Boston College quarterback was named Wednesday as the ACC's player of the year by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.

Ryan, picked as the preseason player of the year, was also an overwhelming choice for offensive player of the year. He received 50 of 71 first-place player of the year votes, well ahead of Virginia defensive lineman Chris Long (18).

Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper , Maryland linebacker Erin Henderson and Georgia Tech running back Tashard Choice each had one first-place vote.

Long was a near-unanimous selection as defensive player of the year, receiving 69 first-place votes. Henderson and Georgia Tech's Philip Wheeler had one apiece.

MISSISSIPPI: Houston Nutt was introduced to 1,500 cheering fans during a news conference less than 48 hours after resigning at Arkansas and the day after Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone announced he'd hired Nutt to resurrect a football program that has lost its way.

SYRACUSE: Athletic director Daryl Gross said that Greg Robinson will remain as coach in 2008, despite leading the Orange to through the worst three-year stretch in the history of the program.

BAYLOR: Houston coach Art Briles is next to take on the task of pulling Baylor out of the Big 12 basement.

Briles, who led Houston to four bowls in his five seasons, replaces Guy Morriss, who was 18-40 overall, 7-33 in conference games.

BOWL BIDS: No. 19 Wisconsin, the fourth-place team in the Big Ten, accepted an invitation to the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day against an opponent from the Southeastern Conference.

No. 20 Cincinnati accepted an invitation to play Southern Mississippi in the Papajohns.com Bowl in Birmingham, Ala., on Dec. 22.