BCS National Championship Game

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jan 13, 2011

BCS National Championship Game

00.new.op18-7864-mid.jpg — Simon Bruty/SI

Auburn and Oregon were each making their first appearance in the BCS title game. Auburn's only previous title came in 1957, while Oregon was seeking its first.

00.new.op1g-5945-mid.jpg — Simon Bruty/SI

Despite a winter storm that kept some Auburn fans at home, the Tiger faithful at University of Phoenix seemed to outnumber the Oregon followers.

After Oregon took a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter, Cam Newton hit Kodi Burns on a 35-yard touchdown pass to give Auburn its first lead of the game.

Darron Thomas responded with an 8-yard scoring pass to LaMichael James to put the Ducks back in front 11-7.

Oregon took a 12-0 record into the title game thanks in part to an explosive running game, but the Ducks had no run longer than 14 yards against Auburn.

Auburn quarterback Cam Newton was sacked twice and threw an interception but he still rolled up more than 300 yards total offense.

Jeff Maehl's 81-yard reception from Darron Thomas in the second quarter set up Oregon's first touchdown.

Terrell Zachery was Cam Newton's favorite target, catching six passes for 48 yards.

Cam Newton and Kodi Burns celebrate Auburn's initial touchdown, a 35-yard Newton-to-Burns scoring pass.

Casey Mathews (55) helps Oregon get one of its two sacks of Auburn quarterback Cam Newton.

Auburn's Kodi Burns stretches across the goal line for Auburn's first touchdown, a 35-yard pass from Cam Newton.

op1d-10885-mid.2.jpg — John W. McDonough/SI

Auburn's swarming defense sacked Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas twice and forced a pair of interceptions.

LaMichael James scores the first of his two touchdowns for Oregon, on an 8-yard catch from Darron Thomas that put the Ducks up 11-7.

Oregon's LaMichael James is tackled in the end zone for a second-quarter safety that helped Auburn trim the Ducks' lead to 11-9.

Auburn quarterback Cam Newton rushed 22 times for 65 yards, including one carry for 18 yards.

Oregon tied the game at 19-19 when Jeff Maehl hauled in Darron Thomas' pass on a two-point conversion with 2:33 to play.

cut.op1d-12570-mid.jpg — John W. McDonough/SI

Auburn running back Michael Dyer escapes a tackle in the closing seconds of Monday's BCS title game by landing on top of Oregon's Eddie Pleasant before rolling back to his feet to complete a 37-yard run to put the Tigers in position for a game-ending field goal.

op1d-12408-mid.dyer.3.jpg — Robert Beck/SI

Michael Dyer carried the ball three times for 55 yards on Auburn's final drive, including a 16-yard dash to the 1-yard line that set up Wes Byrum's winning field goal.