Instant Feedback: Auburn 22, Oregon 19

I'm not one to be hyperbolic about calling the most recent thing I've seen "the greatest."



Oregon and Auburn staged a decent game in the desert of Arizona Monday evening. I won't call it great.
There was the requisite drama, with Oregon scoring a touchdown with less than three minutes remaining in the game to force a tie.

There was a game winning kick by Wes Byrum with no time left on the clock, giving the Southeast Conference claim to the fifth straight Bowl Championship Series title (the fourth school to win during this streak) and running the SEC's record in BCS title games to 7-0.

There was Chip Kelly, playing the role usually reserved for Les Miles with a two-point conversion try completed on an option toss from the holder to the kicker, and there was a fake punt in Oregon territory to extend a drive late.

But there were also mistakes by both teams. Oregon had an interception in the red zone early, got stopped on fourth and goal from the one, and also gave up a safety after holding Auburn out of the end zone.
Auburn appeared to have the game in hand before a Cam Newton fumble (forced by Oregon linebacker Casey Matthews) gave the Ducks the ball late in the fourth quarter leading to the game tying drive.

But there was still some magic left for Auburn, with stud freshman Michael Dyer being reminded by an alert Auburn sideline to keep running after he appeared to be stopped for a modest gain. Dyer’s knee never went down on the play, and his 37 yard run put the Tigers deep into Oregon territory, eventually setting up Byrum’s chip shot.

The story of the game, though, was the Auburn defensive front. The Tiger’s front seven, led by stud defensive tackle Nick Fairley, held the Oregon Ducks, who averaged over 300 yards per game on the ground during the regular season, to 81 yards rushing for the game.

Auburn made Oregon look tentative on offense at times, forcing quarterback Darron Thomas to make some incorrect reads in the option game and picking him off twice. Thomas did pass for 363 yards, but the tempo and rhythm of the Ducks’ attack never seemed to be there.

Over the last five years, challengers from the Big 12 (Oklahoma/Texas), the Big Ten (Ohio State) and the Pac-10 (Oregon) have faced the SEC in title games. None have come out victors.

There have been offensive explosions and slugfests. It is becoming harder and harder to deny this: the SEC, right now, is king.