It's completely amazing at how College Football has played out this year. It really has been breathtaking and magical. I am a HUGE Auburn supporter, but if you put any teams name beside what Auburn has been able to do it would still be simply amazing. Last second catches to beat Mississippi State, "The Prayer in Jordan-Hare" to beat a bitter rival in Georgia, and the "Kick Six" that beat the #1 Crimson Tide, on what will be remembered as possibly the best College Football finish ever, and the destruction of #5 Missouri's rush defense. After its all said and done, NO ONE in their right mind would have Auburn at 12-1, with and SEC Championship, heading to the BCS Championship Game. But here we are on December 8, 2013, and #3 Auburn posts 677 total yards and 545 of those rushing yards, 304 by Tre Mason alone, against the #5 Missouri Tigers in the SEC Championship. But more on him in a little bit. Ohio State played their first top ten team in a long time and Michigan State came out on top knocking off the second ranked Buckeyes. What does this mean? It means that the team who went 3-9 overall and 0-8 in the SEC last year is more than likely playing for the BCS Championship in Pasadena on January 6th.
Against Mizzou, Auburn ran early and often. Finishing with 282 at the half. Missouri came into this game only allowing 119 PER GAME. Meanwhile, Nick Marshall decided he wanted to throw as well. He hit Sammie Coates on the first three passes of the game with a TD. Coates ended with 6 catches and 94 out of Auburn's 132 passing. But back to the work horse. Mason, in the first half, had 195 yards in the first half, on what turned out to be the final push for the Heisman Trophy. He broke, the legend, Bo Jackson's school record for single season all purpose yards with 2,137, Bo had 1,859. Mason broke, Heisman winner and first overall pick in the NFL Draft, Cam Newton's single season rushing TD record with 22. Cam had 20 TD runs in 2010. He also carried the ball 46 times which broke Cadillac Williams and Michael Dyers previous record. Another record, most rushing yards in an SEC Championship Game set in 2003 by LSU's Justin Vincent (201). But to look at the past 4 Heisman winners. Three of the, Manziel, Newton, and Ingram, all lead the SEC in most rushing categories. Manziel also passed the ball, but he had 1,181 rushing yards with 19 TDs. Newton had 1,473 rushing yards with 20 TDs. Ingram had 1,658 rushing yards and 18 TDs. This year Tre Mason has ran the ball for 1,621 yards and has 22 TDs, ALONG SIDE of Nick Marshall who has 1,023 rushing yards, which is 8th in the entire SEC, and 11 TDs, only 3 TDs behind the second leading rushing TDs in the SEC. Also shares the ball with Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant, when combined, have 12 rushing TDs and 1,059 yards. No one on this Earth can disagree with him being in New York for the trophy presentation and he should be given a fair chance to win. Back to the last three games for the Tigers. Top 25 opponent in Georgia, and two top 5 wins in consecutive weeks. Impressive as it is, Auburn now gets the #1 team in the Nation again, except this time, it will be for it all. A National Championship.
From Here.
(Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Auburn finishes the final Associated Press Poll at #2 behind Florida State and one ahead of Alabama and is the same position in the Coaches Poll. Later today we will know the final BCS Standings and I will go over my Bowl Picks in a later blog. WAR EAGLE to all.
You can follow me on Twitter @austin_preiss19 for all Auburn, SEC, and many more topics. Feel free to comment and let me know what your opinion is.War Eagle!
