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The Auburn Tigers capped their undefeated season by winning it’s first BCS National Championship over the Pac-10 champion Oregon Ducks 22-19.

In the first quarter, both defenses came out swinging, holding each other to no points. After a little over a month off from football, the offenses were expected to be slow early in the game. Auburn’s Cam Newton and Oregon’s Darron Thomas combined for three interceptions in the first quarter.

The second quarter was a completely different story. On a drive that started deep in Ducks territory, Oregon head coach Chip Kelly called for a deep pass to senior wide receiver Jeff Maehl, which was completed for 81 yards and put Oregon in scoring position. Auburn’s defense forced Oregon to kick a 26-yard field goal to begin the scoring.

On the next drive, Newton led the Tigers into Ducks territory where he completed the drive by throwing a 35-yard touchdown to senior wide receiver Kodi Burns. Thomas followed up that drive with a nice drive of his own, capped by an eight yard touchdown pass to Doak Walker Award Winner LaMichael James. The big surprise was a fake extra point by Oregon putting them up 11-7.

After a few unsuccessful drives by both teams, namely one where Newton had a wide open Eric Smith in the end zone and Newton short armed the throw giving Oregon the ball on the one yard line. The Ducks first play call ended up in a safety when senior defensive tackle Mike Blanc stuffed James in the end zone for a safety giving those two points back to Auburn making it 11-9.

On the ensuing drive, Newton threw a 30-yard touchdown to a wide open Emory Blake with a 1:47 left in the half giving the Tigers a 16-11 lead going into halftime.

On the first drive of the third quarter, Newton completed a 39-yard pass to sophomore tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen putting senior kicker Wes Byrum in position to kick a 28-yard field goal, extending their lead to 19-11.

On Oregon’s next drive, Auburn star defensive tackle Nick Fairley forced a fumble by Thomas on third down which was recovered by Oregon forcing the Ducks to punt, but Kelly had one more trick up his sleeve, faking the punt giving the Ducks a first down. The next play, Thomas hit junior wide receiver Lavasier Tuinei on a 43-yard pass putting Oregon at the Auburn two yard line. Auburn’s defense shut down four plays in a row by the Ducks and ending the third quarter.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Newton was called on to run the ball but Ducks senior linebacker Casey Matthews punched the ball out of Newton’s hands and was recovered by sophomore cornerback Cliff Harris.

Thomas then led a touchdown drive with James scoring on a two-yard shovel pass. Kelly called for a two-point conversion and got it with Thomas throwing the pass across the field to Maehl to tie up the game at 19 a piece with 2:33 left in the game.

On the next drive, the biggest run of the game happened when freshman running back Michael Dyer, took a handoff from Newton and was seemingly slung down at his own 46-yard line when he was able to keep his balance but then stopped because he thought he was down.

When the sidelines said run, he took off down the field and 37 yards later, the Tigers were in field goal range at the Ducks 23-yard line. The play was reviewed and confirmed that Dyer was down at the play stood as called with 1:56 left in the game.

On the next play, Newton handed off the ball to Dyer right up the middle and seemingly ran in for a touchdown. A review was called and it showed that Dyer’s knee was down at the one yard line. That play setup a 19-yard field goal for Byrum with two seconds left on the clock and Byrum pushed it through the uprights to end the game.

Michael Dyer, the games MVP, finished the game with 143 yards on 22 carries and 2010 Heisman Trophy Winner Cam Newton finished with 265 passing yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Newton also added 64 yards and countless first downs to keep the drive alive for the Tigers.

In a losing effort, Ducks quarterback Darron Thomas finished with 363 passing yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and LaMichael James, the nation’s leading rusher, was held to just 49 rushing yards.

Auburn’s win made five SEC champions in a row and makes the best conference in college football 7-0 in BCS National Championship games.

Tremendous season for Cam Newton and the Auburn Tigers. CONGRATULATIONS!!!