Auburn vs. Oregon: How the BCS National Championship Excelled without the Points

It was everything one could ask for in a national championship game: Two high powered offenses, SEC vs. Pac-10, a Heisman trophy winner still facing scandal and controversy and the anticipation of what to expect after a five-week layoff.

The game did not disappoint.

Nick Fairley proved why he's one of the best defensive tackles in college football; Cam Newton proved that he is indeed human; Oregon found out their own game plan could be used against them; and the groundskeeping crew proved that a slippery field is not necessarily a great one.

Regardless of what the predictions were, both teams proved that defense triumphs on the biggest stage in college football. Although both defenses were barely mentioned prior to the game, both stepped up and proved that it's not all about the offense.

Nerves and rustiness were spotted early in the game as both quarterbacks took turns throwing interceptions.

Every play, every yard and every drive felt as though they would be the last of the season.

Cam Newton felt the pressure all night long and after a scoreless first quarter, it seemed as if he had never been in such a situation. With Casey Matthews punching the ball out of Newton's grasp late in the fourth quarter, it seemed as if Newton had coughed up the game as well.

Oregon held Newton to under 70 yards rushing when he was averaging over 100 per game during the regular season.

However, Newton proved he could win the game with his arm—and that's just what he did.

On the Oregon side, third-place Heisman finisher and Pac-10 rushing leader LaMichael James was held to under 20 yards in the first half, and seemed to have a hard time finding the answer to the equation that was the Auburn defense.

Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas had been in the shadow of Cam Newton all season long. Although their stats were similar during the regular season, Thomas proved that size doesn't matter when it comes to the quarterback position.

Thomas threw for 363 yards with two touchdowns and two picks, and did his best to control the tempo of the less-than-high-flying Oregon offense, which averaged over 50 points per game prior to the national championship.

Amidst the fake punts, option plays, double reverses and every other trick play known to mankind, the play of the game was freshman running back Michael Dyer getting spun around and keeping the play alive as the fourth quarter reached the two minute mark.

As Dyer spun around after what appeared to be a six-yard gain, no whistle had been blown and he scampered ahead for an extra 30 yards.

To the surprise of Chip Kelly and the entire Oregon team, the play stood after further review. Shortly thereafter, one more lighting quick run from Dyer sealed the game for the Tigers.

Wes Byrum's game-winning 19-yard field goal as time expired gave the Tigers their first national championship since 1957.

The game had everything! Great defense, trick plays, heart-stopping action that kept viewers on the edge of their seats, a slippery field and neon socks that could have blinded the entire Auburn team.

The only thing the national championship game didn't feature was the 276 combined points Vegas oddsmakers were predicting.

The game received an initial rating of 16.1 according to Nielsen, but is expected to surpass last year's national championship between Texas and Alabama, which received a 17.2.

Sure, a chip shot field goal isn't the most exciting finish to a game, but every possession was viewed as essential and the intensity of a great game could be felt from the start.

Auburn stepped up when it mattered the most, and that is why they are national champions.