Over the first two decades of the century, there have been some memorable football moments for the Auburn Tigers. A feeling of pure exhilaration.
In that same stretch, there have been moments that absolutely feel like a punch to the gut, or getting your heart ripped out. That is the life of a college football fan, especially when you play in the SEC.
Former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton helped bring more of the good feelings to the Plains. He led the Tigers to a national championship against the Oregon Ducks. Not to mention the battle with Alabama in the Iron Bowl.
Another former quarterback, Nick Marshall also had some memorable games and gutwrenching moments. We look at ESPN’s list of the top 60 games of the 2000s (subscription required). There are a total of five Auburn moments on the list, can you guess where they fall in the overall list?
2010 BCS National Championship Game
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
No. 26 Overall: Auburn 22, Oregon 19
The first game on the list for Auburn was their last championship season in 2010. Everything came together for the Tigers under Gene Chizik. Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy and guided them to a perfect 14-0 season. It was a close game but ultimately the Tigers came out victorious. Wes Byrum nailed the 19-yard field goal as time expired to send them home as champions.
What ESPN Says…
While 2010’s BCS championship game pitted Heisman winner Cam Newton against Oregon’s absurdly prolific Chip Kelly attack, the teams combined for just three touchdowns in three quarters. Darron Thomas’ short touchdown pass to LaMichael James brought Oregon even at 19-19, but with help from a controversial call — Michael Dyer probably down? — Auburn won its first national title since 1957 with a 19-yard chip shot from Wes Byrum at the buzzer.
2013 BCS National Championship Game
Mickey Welsh…
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