It’s a showdown in the desert as the No.1 Auburn Tigers do battle with the No. 2 Oregon Ducks for college football’s coveted national championship on Monday night in Glendale, Ariz.
This will be the first meeting in history between these two schools. Last year, the Ducks lost in the Rose Bowl to Ohio State and the Tigers defeated Northwestern University in the Outback Bowl.
In a way, the Tigers are looking for redemption considering their undefeated 2004 season where they were unable to compete for the National Championship being ranked No. 3 in the BCS.
The Auburn Tigers have another undefeated team this year with a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Cam Newton, who outweighs every member of Oregon’s starting defense save three players, at 250 pounds.
Oregon’s quarterback Darron Thomas will need to play a great game for the Ducks to win. The Ducks running game is solid and they’re also strong in the air. Thomas averages 5.8 yards a carry and passes for more than 200 yards a game.
The offense in Oregon is a zone-read option where Thomas analyzes the situation and chooses what to do. Thomas can go to the pass or has two backs he can hand the ball to.
His No. 1 back in the option is running back LaMichael James who was a Heisman Trophy candidate. The second choice on the ground is Kenjon Barner, who is more known for his ability to return the football.
If Oregon keeps the ball on the ground, they will have their hands full with Auburn’s defense, which ranks 20th in rush defense and has 33 sacks for the season. Their defensive line is spearheaded by All-American defensive tackle Nick Fairley.
This will be the first meeting in history between these two schools. Last year, the Ducks lost in the Rose Bowl to Ohio State and the Tigers defeated Northwestern University in the Outback Bowl.
In a way, the Tigers are looking for redemption considering their undefeated 2004 season where they were unable to compete for the National Championship being ranked No. 3 in the BCS.
The Auburn Tigers have another undefeated team this year with a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Cam Newton, who outweighs every member of Oregon’s starting defense save three players, at 250 pounds.
Oregon’s quarterback Darron Thomas will need to play a great game for the Ducks to win. The Ducks running game is solid and they’re also strong in the air. Thomas averages 5.8 yards a carry and passes for more than 200 yards a game.
The offense in Oregon is a zone-read option where Thomas analyzes the situation and chooses what to do. Thomas can go to the pass or has two backs he can hand the ball to.
His No. 1 back in the option is running back LaMichael James who was a Heisman Trophy candidate. The second choice on the ground is Kenjon Barner, who is more known for his ability to return the football.
If Oregon keeps the ball on the ground, they will have their hands full with Auburn’s defense, which ranks 20th in rush defense and has 33 sacks for the season. Their defensive line is spearheaded by All-American defensive tackle Nick Fairley.
