2011 BCS National Championship Game
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Tostitos
BCS National Championship Game
was the final college football game to determine the national champion of the 2010 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) season. The finale of the 2010-2011 Bowl Championship Series
was played at the University of Phoenix Stadium
, the host facility of the Fiesta Bowl
in Glendale, Arizona
on January 10, 2011 (8:30 p.m. ET).
The Auburn Tigers
from the Southeastern Conference
faced the Oregon Ducks
of the Pacific 10 Conference for the National Championship. A 19-yard field goal by Wes Byrum, as time expired, won the game for the Tigers, with the final score 22-19.
The game was the first BCS National Championship Game not televised on network television, instead being aired on ESPN
and simulcasted on ESPN3.com, and recorded a 16.1 rating, the highest overnight rating on record for a cable television program, topping the previous high of 14.4, set by Patriots/Saints on ESPN in 2009. This marked the second time that the National Championship under the current system was played in Arizona.
from the Southeastern Conference
faced the Oregon Ducks
of the Pacific 10 Conference for the National Championship. Both teams finished the regular season undefeated. The coaches' poll had Oregon as the No. 1 team in the country, with Auburn as No. 2.
, who tops the conference with 1,682 yards on 281 carries, 21 touchdowns and averaging 152.9 yards per game. His longest carry was for 76 yards. Jeff Maehl was Oregon's top receiver at 78.58 ypg for 12 touchdowns. Casey Matthews
had averaged 6.08 tackles per game for the Ducks, followed by Spencer Paysinger (5.7), Talmadge Jackson III (5.6) and John Boyett (5.6).
Oregon was wearing the Nike new Pro Combat uniforms, their 13th uniform combination worn this season.
Quarterback and Heisman Trophy
winner Cam Newton
led the conference in rushing, pass efficiency, total offense, and scoring. On the receiving end, Darvin Adams
caught 13 of 48 passes for 909 yards (69.92 ypg) and 7 touchdowns. Josh Bynes, Zac Etheridge and Neiko Thorpe made 199 tackles for the Tigers during the season.
was shot in the head and 6 others, including Federal Judge John Roll, were killed.
The first half ended up with Auburn leading 16-11. The half included a safety where the Auburn defense tackled Oregon's LaMichael James in the Oregon end zone.
In the 3rd quarter Auburn kicker Wes Byrum
kicked a 28-yard field goal to give Auburn a 19-11 lead. The teams traded possession several times until Oregon recovered a fumble on the Auburn 40-yard line with 5:05 minutes left. Oregon then drove down the field and scored a touchdown with 2:33 minutes remaining in the game. They added a two-point conversion to tie the score at 19-19.
On the game's final possession, Auburn drove 73 yards to the Oregon 1-yard line and won the game with a field goal as time expired. The drive included a run by Michael Dyer
in which he appeared to be tackled after 6-7 yards, but fell on top of a defender with his knees nor the ball touching the ground. The Auburn sideline urged Dyer to continue after getting back up, and the Oregon defense finally tackled him after a 37 yard gain. The play was reviewed and the ruling on the field was up held.
Michael Dyer would then rush for a touchdown, however a subsequent review would show that Dyer's knee went down before crossing the goal line. The touchdown would be reversed and the ball would be placed at the Oregon 1 yard line. From there, Auburn would run the clock down to 2 seconds.
The Tigers would go on to be named national champions after a game winning kick by Wes Byrum as time expired.
Tostitos
Tostitos is a brand of tortilla chips and dips produced by Frito-Lay and introduced in 1979, with national distribution in the United States reached in 1981. They are made from all-white corn. Traditionally, Tostitos chips contain no extra flavoring or preservatives, and thus are advertised to be...
BCS National Championship Game
BCS National Championship Game
The BCS National Championship Game, or BCS National Championship, is the final bowl game of the annual Bowl Championship Series and is intended by the organizers of the BCS to determine the U.S. national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision...
was the final college football game to determine the national champion of the 2010 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) season. The finale of the 2010-2011 Bowl Championship Series
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
was played at the University of Phoenix Stadium
University of Phoenix Stadium
University of Phoenix Stadium, opened August 1, 2006, is a multipurpose football stadium located in Glendale, Arizona. It is the home of the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League and the annual Fiesta Bowl...
, the host facility of the Fiesta Bowl
Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
in Glendale, Arizona
Glendale, Arizona
Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 226,721....
on January 10, 2011 (8:30 p.m. ET).
The Auburn Tigers
2010 Auburn Tigers football team
The 2010 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 2010–2011 college football season. The Tigers, led by second year head coach Gene Chizik were members of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference and played their home games at Jordan-Hare Stadium...
from the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
faced the Oregon Ducks
2010 Oregon Ducks football team
The 2010 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the 2010 college football season. The team was led by Chip Kelly in his second season as a head coach. The Ducks played their home games at Autzen Stadium for the 44th straight year....
of the Pacific 10 Conference for the National Championship. A 19-yard field goal by Wes Byrum, as time expired, won the game for the Tigers, with the final score 22-19.
The game was the first BCS National Championship Game not televised on network television, instead being aired on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and simulcasted on ESPN3.com, and recorded a 16.1 rating, the highest overnight rating on record for a cable television program, topping the previous high of 14.4, set by Patriots/Saints on ESPN in 2009. This marked the second time that the National Championship under the current system was played in Arizona.
Teams
Finishing No. 1 and No. 2 in the final BCS ranking respectively, the Auburn Tigers2010 Auburn Tigers football team
The 2010 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 2010–2011 college football season. The Tigers, led by second year head coach Gene Chizik were members of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference and played their home games at Jordan-Hare Stadium...
from the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
faced the Oregon Ducks
2010 Oregon Ducks football team
The 2010 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the 2010 college football season. The team was led by Chip Kelly in his second season as a head coach. The Ducks played their home games at Autzen Stadium for the 44th straight year....
of the Pacific 10 Conference for the National Championship. Both teams finished the regular season undefeated. The coaches' poll had Oregon as the No. 1 team in the country, with Auburn as No. 2.
Oregon Ducks
The Ducks led the conference in scoring offense (592 points, 49.3 average), rushing offense (42 touchdowns, 303.8 yards per game), rushing defense (11 touchdowns, 117.6 yards per game), and total offense (71 touchdowns, 537.5 yards per game). The team was led by tailback LaMichael JamesLaMichael James
LaMichael Keondrae James is a college football running back for the Oregon Ducks football team. The 2010 season was a breakout one for James, as he rushed for 1,682 yards during the regular season, the highest in the nation. He finished third in balloting for the Heisman Trophy and received the...
, who tops the conference with 1,682 yards on 281 carries, 21 touchdowns and averaging 152.9 yards per game. His longest carry was for 76 yards. Jeff Maehl was Oregon's top receiver at 78.58 ypg for 12 touchdowns. Casey Matthews
Casey Matthews
Casey Christopher Matthews is an American football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Eagles in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon....
had averaged 6.08 tackles per game for the Ducks, followed by Spencer Paysinger (5.7), Talmadge Jackson III (5.6) and John Boyett (5.6).
Oregon was wearing the Nike new Pro Combat uniforms, their 13th uniform combination worn this season.
Auburn Tigers
The Tigers completed the season on top of the conference in scoring offense (42.7 points per game), rushing offense (287.2 yards per game) and total offense (497.7 yards per game). Auburn also led the conference in pass efficiency (174 of 261 passes, 6 interceptions, 66.7%, 29 touchdowns), third-down conversions (77 of 145, 53.1%) and first downs (316 or 24.3 per game).Quarterback and Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner Cam Newton
Cam Newton
Cameron Lemark Newton is a former American football safety. He played college football at Furman University, then played two seasons in the NFL, one each for the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. He was cut from the Panthers before the 2007 season...
led the conference in rushing, pass efficiency, total offense, and scoring. On the receiving end, Darvin Adams
Darvin Adams
Darvin Adams is an American football wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football at Auburn.-Early years:...
caught 13 of 48 passes for 909 yards (69.92 ypg) and 7 touchdowns. Josh Bynes, Zac Etheridge and Neiko Thorpe made 199 tackles for the Tigers during the season.
Game summary
Before the match a moment of silence was held for the victims of the shooting in Tucson, Arizona two days before the game in which US Representative Gabrielle GiffordsGabrielle Giffords
Gabrielle Dee "Gabby" Giffords is an American politician. A Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, she has represented since 2007. She is the third woman in Arizona's history to be elected to the U.S. Congress...
was shot in the head and 6 others, including Federal Judge John Roll, were killed.
The first half ended up with Auburn leading 16-11. The half included a safety where the Auburn defense tackled Oregon's LaMichael James in the Oregon end zone.
In the 3rd quarter Auburn kicker Wes Byrum
Wes Byrum
Wes Byrum is an American football kicker playing for the Seattle Seahawks from Saint Thomas Aquinas High-School . He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seahawks. Byrum hit the game winning 19 yard field goal as time expired to give the 2010 Auburn Tigers the national...
kicked a 28-yard field goal to give Auburn a 19-11 lead. The teams traded possession several times until Oregon recovered a fumble on the Auburn 40-yard line with 5:05 minutes left. Oregon then drove down the field and scored a touchdown with 2:33 minutes remaining in the game. They added a two-point conversion to tie the score at 19-19.
On the game's final possession, Auburn drove 73 yards to the Oregon 1-yard line and won the game with a field goal as time expired. The drive included a run by Michael Dyer
Michael Dyer
Michael Dyer is an American football running back for the Auburn Tigers. He is considered one of the best running backs in his class.-College career:...
in which he appeared to be tackled after 6-7 yards, but fell on top of a defender with his knees nor the ball touching the ground. The Auburn sideline urged Dyer to continue after getting back up, and the Oregon defense finally tackled him after a 37 yard gain. The play was reviewed and the ruling on the field was up held.
Michael Dyer would then rush for a touchdown, however a subsequent review would show that Dyer's knee went down before crossing the goal line. The touchdown would be reversed and the ball would be placed at the Oregon 1 yard line. From there, Auburn would run the clock down to 2 seconds.
The Tigers would go on to be named national champions after a game winning kick by Wes Byrum as time expired.
Scoring summary
| Scoring play | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st quarter | |||
| No scoring | TIE 0–0 | ||
| 2nd quarter | |||
| ORE – Rob Beard 26-yard field goal, 14:13 | ORE 3–0 | ||
| AUB – Kodi Burns 35-yard pass from Cam Newton (Wes Byrum kick), 12:00 | AUB 7–3 | ||
| ORE – LaMichael James 8-yard pass from Darron Thomas (2-point conversion on Beard run), 10:58 | ORE 11–7 | ||
| AUB – James tackled in endzone by Mike Blanc for a safety, 3:26 | ORE 11–9 | ||
| AUB – Emory Blake 30-yard pass from Newton (Byrum kick), 1:47 | AUB 16–11 | ||
| 3rd quarter | |||
| AUB – Byrum 28-yard field goal, 11:30 | AUB 19–11 | ||
| 4th quarter | |||
| ORE – James 2-yard pass from Thomas (2-point conversion on Jeff Maehl pass from Thomas), 2:33 | TIE 19–19 | ||
| AUB – Byrum 19-yard field goal, 0:00 | AUB 22–19 | ||
Statistics
| Statistics | Oregon | Auburn |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 23 | 28 |
| Total offense, plays - yards | 74-449 | 85-519 |
| Rushes-yards (net) | 32-75 | 50-254 |
| Passing yards (net) | 374 | 265 |
| Passes, Comp-Att-Int | 28-41-2 | 20-35-1 |
| Time of Possession | 27:03 | 32:57 |
Aftermath
By winning the game, Auburn was crowned as the BCS National Champion. In addition, Auburn was ranked as the number one team by the Associated Press.Rankings
- For the second time in BCS history, three different No. 1 teams (Oklahoma, Auburn, and Oregon) were ranked in the first three standings of the year. In 1998, the first season of the BCS, UCLA debuted at No. 1, followed by Ohio State and Tennessee.
- Three teams from non-Automatic Qualify conference schools (TCU2010 TCU Horned Frogs football teamThe 2010 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by tenth year head coach Gary Patterson and played its home games at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas...
, Boise State2010 Boise State Broncos football teamThe 2010 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Broncos were led by fifth-year head coach Chris Petersen and played their home games at Bronco Stadium. They entered the 2010 season with winning streaks of 14 games...
, Utah2010 Utah Utes football teamThe 2010 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by sixth year head coach Kyle Whittingham and played their homes game in Rice–Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were members of the Mountain West...
) were ranked in the top-five at the same time after three weeks of BCS rankings. TCU ended the season as the No. 3 team and won the 2011 Rose Bowl2011 Rose BowlThe 2011 Rose Bowl was the 97th edition of the annual bowl game played on January 1, 2011, as part of the 2010 college football season. Played in Pasadena, California, the TCU Horned Frogs of the Mountain West Conference defeated the Wisconsin Badgers of the Big Ten Conference. The Pasadena...
game.