NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — The final BCS National Championship Game pits a team of destiny against a team of domination.
It matches an unstoppable force with an object that keeps moving around until it finds a way to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. It will be a team making history facing a team that’s done things history has never seen.
When No. 1 Florida State (13-0) and No. 2 Auburn (12-1) meet on Monday night at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., only one legend will live to see the morning.
Looking to end the SEC’s string of seven straight national titles and take the championship away from his home state of Alabama for the first time in five years, Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston believes destiny and domination are not mutually exclusive.
“I believe in controlling your own destiny,” Winston said. “At Florida State, we are controlling our own destiny and we’re trying to do it big. We’re not looking for miracles to happen.
“[Dominate] is what we do. We dominate our opponents physically and mentally. That’s what we want to do. Obviously with Auburn it’s going to be a harder task because they’re a great team, but we enjoy dominating our opponent. That’s Florida State football.”
Back in the title game for the first time since 2001 — after appearing in the first three BCS Championships — Florida State brings the top-ranked offense (53 points per game) and defense (10.7 points allowed) in the country, having won every game by 14 or more points — sporting the highest average margin of victory by any team since 1944.
The Seminoles are 28 points from breaking the FBS record for most points scored in a season, have never trailed in the second half of any game and have allowed more than 17 points only once.
“They’re good in all areas, that’s what stands out,” Auburn coach Guz Malzahn said. “They’ve been machine-like on offense. They run it well. They throw it well. They’ve got NFL wide receivers that put people in one-on-one situations.
“[Auburn defensive coordinator] Ellis Johnson is one of the best in the business. He’s been in big games before. He’s got a very good plan, and we’ll just have to do our best to try to keep them off balance.”
The Tigers have a few players who saw time in the 2011 BCS title win, but the majority of the players come from a team that went 3-9 last season — Auburn’s worst record in 61 years. That lost season led to low expectations this season, with the Tigers unranked in the preseason Top 25.
After hiring Malzahn — the offensive coordinator on Auburn’s last title team — the Tigers completed the greatest turnaround in college football history, featuring a fast-paced, no-huddle attack, led by Heisman finalist running back Tre Mason.
The biggest challenge in facing the nation’s best rushing attack is its confusion, said Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher.
“You have to have eye discipline,” said Fisher, a former Auburn assistant. “Any time you have moving parts, any time you bring something in front of you, just like when you’re driving, if somebody flashes a hand in front of you while you’re driving down the road it makes you blink, it makes your eyes distracted and you get off of what you’re looking at.
“The key is you have to know what your assignment is, be disciplined, trust your eyes and not vary from that. They do a great job of disguising all the things they do.”
While Auburn’s defense has allowed 24 points per game this season, few flaws can be found in Florida State. However, playing in the ACC, the Seminoles strength of schedule was roughly ranked 60th in the country, while the Tigers faced the 16th-hardest schedule, according to the final BCS polls.
But that domination that has served the Seminoles so well could lead to issues if the unfamiliarity of a close game arises. Auburn is 6-0 this season in games decided by one possession or less.
“If it’s going to be a close game at the end, we’re going to win,” said cornerback Chris Davis.
And if it’s close, underdog Auburn knows that anything can happen — Georgia and Alabama learned that the hard way, the victims of last-second miracles in Auburn’s final two regular-season games.
“There’s nothing wrong with a little magic,” Auburn defensive end Dee Ford said.