Alabama kickerAdam Griffith lined up for a field goal. Auburn return man Chris Davis waited in the end zone with almost no time left on the clock. Over the next few seconds, the kick left Griffith's foot and landed in Davis's arms, producing maybe the most remarkable finish in college-football history. It also set up the Auburn Tigers' surprise appearance in Monday night's Bowl Championship Series title game against the No. 1 Florida State Seminoles.

The miraculous play, however, wasn't so much about divine intervention...