BCS National Championship Game: 10 Things To Know About Oregon and Auburn
On Sunday night, the BCS made official what everyone already knew.
Oregon will be playing Auburn for the national championship.
Could anyone have predicted that when the season began? Weren't people already giving Alabama a second-consecutive title?
With all that in consideration, what do you need to know about these two teams for the game on January 10th?
10. Shared History
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The first thing many people wonder when national championship games are announced is what kind of history the two teams have.
Well...Auburn and Oregon have no history. This will be the first time they've ever played one another in football.
I wonder how often that happens?
9. Oregon History
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Oregon first created its football program in 1893.
Since then they Ducks have been to the Rose Bowl five times and won their conference nine times.
They have been to two BCS bowls. They won the 2002 Fiesta Bowl and lost the 2010 Rose Bowl to Ohio State.
They have never won a football national championship.
8. Auburn History
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The Auburn Tigers played their first game in 1892.
In the years that have followed, the Tigers have won 11 conferences titles and one national championship, in the 1957 season.
In the Tigers only other BCS game, they defeated Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl to complete an undefeated season, yet still weren't named national champions.
According to the College Football Research Center, Auburn has the 14th best college football program in history.
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7. Chip Kelly
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Chip Kelly is practically brand new to the college head-coaching ranks.
But it's already time to take notice.
In his first year as coach, he coached the Ducks to a 10-2 regular-season record and an appearance in the Rose Bowl.
This year, as we all know, the Ducks are 12-0 and Kelly is looking like the offensive mastermind that he was touted to be.
Is there anyway he can keep this up?
6. Gene Chizik
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While Chizik has been around longer than Kelly, the records at their respective schools are almost equally impressive.
In Chizik's first year as coach, he helped take Auburn from a 5-7 record to a 8-5 record.
This is now Chizik's second season with Auburn, giving him a combined record of 21-5.
Fun fact: Before Auburn, Chizik's head coaching record was 5-19.
5. Defense
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OK, so defense isn't exactly what people think of when they think of this matchup, but it's what the game will come down to.
Who will be able to stop who?
Auburn's defense ranks 53rd in the nation while Oregon is ranked 26th.
Despite this, I feel like Auburn's defense is more likely to come through.
4. Michael Dyer
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Lost in the shadow of Cam Newton's amazing season has been the work of running back Michael Dyer.
Dyer has quietly rushed for 950 yards and five touchdowns.
While neither of those numbers is particularly impressive, his 5.9 yards per carry is.
Dyer could possibly have a huge impact in the national title, so keep an eye on him.
3. LaMichael James
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LaMichael James is a Heisman contender, although it looks like one of his opponents is more likely to win at this point.
His 1,682 yards and 21 touchdowns are the major reason that Oregon's offense is as powerful as it is.
James has had three individual 200-plus yard performances this year. If Oregon is going to beat Auburn, he needs another monster performance.
2. Darron Thomas
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Thomas is obviously the less famous of the two quarterbacks in this matchup, but he is nonetheless a huge threat.
Thomas has thrown for 2,518 yards, 28 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.
But can he outperform Cam Newton?
1. Cam Newton
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Cam Newton is how Auburn can win its second national championship.
The probable Heisman winner actually threw for less yards (2,589) than Thomas, but recorded 28 touchdowns and just six interceptions.
Additionally, Newton rushed for 20 more touchdowns, which is 15 more than Thomas.
Crazy.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
