BCS Championship 2011: Running Game Key for Auburn Tigers and Oregon Ducks

Cam Newton’s No. 1 Auburn Tigers against LaMichael James’ No. 2 Oregon Ducks for the 2011 BCS Championship is easily the most anticipated matchup of the college football season.

Both teams enter the game undefeated, with two of the top running games in the nation behind two Heisman candidates. Cam Newton rightfully won and LaMichael James came in third place, but should’ve come in second in my eyes.

Both dynamic superstars were just announced to the Associated Press’ All-American team for their remarkable seasons.

Cam Newton finished the year completing 67.1 percent of his passes for 2589 yards, 28 touchdowns and six interceptions. Newton also carried the rock as the Tigers’ main ball carrier 242 times for 1238 yards and 20 touchdowns. Newton was tied for 13 in the nation in yards gained on the ground and was second in the nation in rushing touchdowns to no other than Oregon’s LaMichael James.

LaMichael James scored 21 rushing touchdowns in just 11 games played. He was nine yards behind the leading rusher in the nation with 1578 yards on 281 carries. He led the nation in yards per game with 143.5.

Newton and James were two of the most effective rushers in college football this season. They combined for 41 touchdowns and 2816 yards on 523 attempts, averaging over five yards per carry and 238.7 yards per game.

The entire BCS Championship relies on how effectively these two extravagant ball carriers run the football. There has yet to be an opposing defense all season that has shown the ability to remotely stop Newton or James. There is no reason to believe it will happen with the Championship on the line. These will be the focal point for each defense, though, which is why this game could actually come down to one of the other ball carries in a shocker.

People tend to forget, because of how incredible Newton and James have been, that both Auburn and Oregon have other capable rushers.

LaMichael James’ backup, sophomore Kenjon Barner, is another quick, agile and electrifying player. When Barner is called upon to spell James, the Ducks do not suffer any setback because he is a similar type of back. Barner could be an x-factor for the Ducks on special teams. Barner has rushed for 519 yards and six touchdowns on just 80 touches for an average of 6.5 yards per carry. He caught just 11 passes but they went for 113 yards and two touchdowns.

Lost in the Cam Newton dominance are three capable runners. With the attention diverted to Newton all night, one of these three runners is going to make a huge difference. This greatly benefits Auburn, because Oregon will not know who it will come from.

Freshman Michael Dyer has picked up 950 yards and five touchdowns on 160 carries and averages 5.9 yards per carry.

Sophomore Onterio McCalebb and Senior Mario Fannin truly make the most of their limited touches. McCalebb ran for 763 and nine touchdowns on just 89 carries, averaging an amazing 8.1 yards per carry. Fannin recorded 395 yards and five touchdowns on 61 carries, averaging 6.2 yards per carry.

These “other three” rushers for Auburn totaled 14 touchdowns on 2040 yards on 310 carries for an average of 6.5 yards per carry.

It is evident that while Newton will be the main ball carrier for the Tigers, as he was all season, Auburn has a four-headed rushing monster to de-feather these Ducks.

At the same time, Oregon boasts two electrifying runners of their own to soar high and above the lurking Tigers.  

The main key to winning the BCS Championship lies in the legs of six possible ball carriers. While the spotlight will be on the Heisman candidate LaMichael James and Heisman winner Cam Newton, one team could be bowing to an unlikely hero January 10 2011.

Who run their team to the top of the college football mountain?

Find out January 10 2011 at 8:30 pm Eastern when Cam Newton’s undefeated Auburn Tigers battle LaMichael James’ Oregon Ducks for the BCS National Championship in what will sure to be the most exciting game of the college football season.