Auburn’s 2010 national title with Cam Newton labeled one of the most unlikely runs ever

Just days before Auburn honors Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton at halftime of Saturday’s game against No. 10 Georgia, ESPN released a list of the 20 most unlikely national champions of the past 75 years.

Newton and the 2010 bunch came in at No. 9 on the list.

The analysis: After more than a half-century without a real title, Auburn finally achieved another one with one of the most lightning-in-a-bottle seasons in college football history. The Tigers had gone just 13-12 in their two previous seasons, and they would go 11-14 over the next two, but in between they played 14 games with Cam Newton at quarterback and won all of them, seven by just one score. It was one of the more clutch runs we’ll ever see; teams on these types of runs usually falter well before the national title game, but Newton’s Tigers did not.

That quote sums up the 2010 Auburn football season — a wild, unlikely run that ended with a national championship. The program’s last recognized AP national title came in 1957, and since then, there had been plenty of close calls. That changed recently when the university officially recognized nine total national championships, with some coming between 1957 and 2010, including 1958, 1983, 1993 and 2004.

But the 2010 season stands alone.

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Newton’s journey to Auburn was unusual. A former Florida quarterback who spent a year at junior college, he joined Auburn in 2010 with plenty of talent but some uncertainty. By season’s end, he had become one of the most dominant players in college football history. Newton totaled 4,369 yards of offense and 51 touchdowns, winning the Heisman and leading Auburn to a perfect 14-0 record.

Auburn didn’t cruise through the season. The Tigers trailed in the second half of eight games and won seven of their 14 victories by one score or less. They pulled out close wins against Mississippi State, Clemson, South Carolina, Kentucky, LSU, Alabama and Oregon. There was a wild shootout against Arkansas where Auburn scored 65 points, a road win at Ole Miss with 51, and a dominant 49-point performance against Georgia.

Each week felt like a test, and every time, Newton found a way to lead his team to victory.

The defining moment came on Nov. 26, 2010, in Tuscaloosa. Alabama, the defending national champion, led Auburn 24-0 in the first half. But Newton led a remarkable comeback, scoring four total touchdowns in a 28-27 win that silenced Bryant-Denny Stadium. It remains arguably the greatest comeback in school history and one of the most important wins in the Iron Bowl rivalry. It was, in fact, the largest comeback in school history.

Auburn advanced to the BCS National Championship Game in Glendale, Arizona, against Oregon. Chip Kelly’s Ducks entered with one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, but Auburn’s defense, led by standout tackle Nick Fairley, held them in check. Newton threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Michael Dyer made the key play — staying on his feet after rolling over a defender to set up the game-winning field goal.

With one second left, Wes Byrum kicked a 19-yard field goal to give Auburn a 22-19 win and its first national title in 53 years.

Auburn rushed for 3,987 yards and 41 touchdowns on the way to a title, becoming the first SEC team to lead college football in rushing for a single season.

The Tigers finished 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).

The 2010 Tigers were not the start of a dynasty. Auburn went 8-5 in 2011 and 3-9 in 2012. But for one season, everything clicked. Newton’s leadership, Gene Chizik’s staff, and a team full of veterans delivered one of the most memorable championship runs in modern college football.

Only three other players, in addition to Newton going No. 1, were drafted in the subsequent NFL Draft. Fairley also went in the first round, with Zach Clayton and Lee Ziemba going in the seventh round.

It was, as the quote says, lightning in a bottle. Auburn’s 2010 season wasn’t about long-term dominance. It was about one extraordinary year when every break, every comeback, and every big moment went their way. Not even the NCAA, Urban Meyer or Dan Mullen could stop Newton and Co.

More than a decade later, that run still stands as one of the most improbable and thrilling in college football history. And Newton will be rightly honored for his contributions on Saturday night.