Enlarge By Rob Schumacher, The Arizona Republic Auburn head coach Gene Chizik holds up the Tostitos BCS National Championship trophy next to Defensive Player of the Game Nick Fairley after defeating Oregon in Glendale, Ariz. Enlarge By Mickey Welsh, Montgomery Advertiser Auburn quarterback Cam Newton leaps through a hole in the line during the first half. Enlarge By Mickey Welsh, Montgomery Advertiser Auburn kicker Wes Byrum celebrates after kicking the game-winning field goal as time expires.

GLENDALE, Ariz.  Much about Monday night's Bowl Championship title game didn't go as expected. Instead of 60 minutes of catch-your-breath excitement, there was five. Instead of an offensive explosion, both high-scoring units were held in check. Instead of heroics by Auburn's Cam Newton and Oregon's LaMichael James, a freshman stole the show.

With a 22-19 win over Oregon in front of 78,603 at University of Phoenix Stadium, the Tigers won their first national championship since 1957. Auburn became the fifth consecutive Southeastern Conference team to win the Bowl Championship Series title.

"Fifty-three years, baby!" coach Gene Chizik said to the cheering crowd soon after the game ended. "This is for you. War Eagle!"

With the game tied at 19 with 2:27 left, Newton led the Tigers on a 73-yard drive which ended with a game-winning 19-yard field goal by Wes Byrum. It was the sixth game-winning field goal of his career. All season long, the Tigers have been defined by their resiliency. Once again, that resolve was tested.

The last five minutes of the game were the most frenetic. Oregon linebacker Casey Matthews knocked the ball out of Newton's hands, causing a fumble that was recovered by cornerback Cliff Harris. Starting on their own 45, Oregon running back LaMichael James scored on a two-yard run, followed by a Jeff Maehl two-point conversion to tie the game.

OREGON STAR: James runs into wall

TITLE GAME BLOG: Relive the details of victory

PHOTO GALLERY: Images from BCS national title game

On Auburn's final drive, running back Michael Dyer took control, running for 57 of his 143 yards to set up the winning field goal. The key play came when Dyer appeared to be down. As he rolled over Oregon's Eddie Pleasant, his knee never touched the ground. After hesitating, Dyer realized the whistle never blew, heard coaches on the sideline and players on the field yelling, "Go, go, go" so he kept running, for 37 yards.

"I was trying to make a play and keep my feet moving," said Dyer, named the game's most valuable offensive player. Dyer also said that because Newton was in pain, he took his game up a notch. Newton, who received medical attention after the game, said his back went out.

"Don't feel sorry for me," Newton said, adding that no one has felt sorry for Auburn all season. "We got the last laugh," he said.

Offensive fireworks were expected, given that both teams combined to average 93 points and more than 1,000 yards per game this season. However, Oregon was held in check by Auburn's All-American defensive tackle Nick Fairley and limited to just 75 yards rushing, well below the Ducks 303.8 average. Oregon failed to rush for 100 yards for the first time since being held to 31 yards in a loss at Boise State in the 2009 season opener.

Fairley, the game's defensive player of the game, finished with five tackles, three for loss and a sack. Several times, James and Fairley jawed at each other, especially after Fairley grabbed James face mask and pushed it into the ground following a tackle. "I told him no matter how hard you hit me I will always get up," said James, who was held to a season-low 49 yards.

"Out there on the field we were talking mad junk," Fairley said. After the game, both talked about their respect for each other. "I just told him to keep his head up and he was a great player," Fairley said.

All game long, the Ducks weren't their warp-speed, quick-strike self. Chizik said that because the Tigers practiced so fast in the weeks leading up to the game, the pace of the Ducks offense was "much slower than we practiced."

"The matchup with our offensive line against their defensive line was really the changing point in the game," Oregon coach Chip Kelly said. "Nick Fairley proved he was the best lineman in the country. It was a tough matchup for us."

For Newton, it was a fitting end to a dramatic season. Nothing has been able to stop the 6-6, 250-pound quarterback. Not an NCAA investigation, not the so-called Heisman jinx and finally, not the Oregon Ducks.

Newton finished 20-for-34 with 265 yards and two touchdowns and 64 yards rushing. However, his father, Cecil, wasn't there to watch what is expected to be the final college game of Newton's career. The fourth-year junior is expected to enter the NFL's April draft.

Auburn limited the access Cecil Newton has to the program after the NCAA determined that he marketed his son in a pay-to-play scheme, an NCAA violation. Though the NCAA did not find sufficient evidence to prove that Cam Newton or anyone at Auburn knew of the scheme, the investigation is still ongoing.

On the field, however, the matter is settled. Auburn is national champ.