Newton

A new year poses an old question: Who is going to stop Auburn quarterback Cam Newton? Kentucky couldn't do it. He rushed for 198 yards. South Carolina, in two losses against Newton, "held" him to 493 passing yards and 249 rushing. Louisiana State, which has a pretty decent defense, watched Newton cut loose for 217 rushing yards in October. A scandal didn't stop Newton, and neither did the Southeastern Conference, nor the NCAA. More than 100 Heisman Trophy voters left Newton off their ballots, yet he still received 82.2% of the first-place votes in a run-away election.

Auburn quarterback Cam Newton began his trophy haul Thursday night during the College Football Awards at Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Newton received the Walter Camp Award, which honors the college football player of the year. He also won the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best quarterback and the Maxwell Award as the nation's best all-around player. Newton's opponent in the BCS title game, Oregon's LaMichael James , won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's best running back.

Cameron Newton, QB, Auburn Buzz: A favorite since the middle of the season, Newton leads the SEC in rushing (135.5 yards per game in conference play) and is the first player in conference history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. His performance in the SEC championship game, 407 total yards and six touchdowns in a 56-17 victory over South Carolina, was one of the best in the conference's history. The only thing that could prevent him being a unanimous winner would be voters' perception of his off-the-field issues.

Cam Newton, QB, Auburn Buzz: With the Heisman Trophy his to lose, Newton put on a clinic in the SEC championship game, racking up 407 total yards and six touchdowns in Auburn's 56-17 victory over South Carolina. The victory assures the Tigers of a trip to Glendale, Ariz., and a matchup with Oregon for the BCS title. A finalist for the Davey O'Brien, Maxwell, Manning and Walter Camp awards, Newton could continue to add more hardware to his trophy case in the coming month.

It's a game-changer Chris Dufresne Los Angeles Times Yes, the NCAA decision on Cam Newton is a game-changer because it exposed a loophole that is troublesome and dangerous. The NCAA basically established that Newton's father shopped his son to Mississippi State but that Newton can remain eligible because neither he nor Auburn was aware of the violation. This means, apparently, that any dad can shop his kid to any school and it's not a problem if there's no proof the kid or the school knew.

Cam Newton, QB, Auburn Buzz: Newton's ticket to New York was already punched several weeks ago, but his performance against Alabama in the Iron Bowl on Friday might have sealed the deal for becoming the first Auburn player to win the Heisman since Bo Jackson in 1985. The junior rallied the Tigers from a 24-0 deficit with 216 yards through the air and four total touchdowns. Up next: SEC title game vs. South Carolina at Atlanta, Saturday. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon Buzz: Slowed by an aggressive Arizona defense that left him battered and bruised, James carried the ball 28 times for 126 yards and two touchdowns in the second half to lead the Ducks to a 48-29 victory over the Wildcats on Friday.

Cam Newton threw for three touchdowns and ran for one, leading No. 2 Auburn back from a 24-point deficit Friday for a stunning 28-27 victory over No. 9 Alabama that kept the Tigers on course for a shot at the national championship. Auburn (12-0, 8-0 Southeastern Conference) trailed 21-0 before it even picked up a first down, and Alabama (9-3, 5-3) had a 314-2 lead in total yards at one point in the first half. But Newton, with the signature performance in what has become a season of controversy, rallied the Tigers for a victory that left the Tuscaloosa, Ala., crowd of more than 101,000 in stunned disbelief when it was over.

Cam Newton, QB, Auburn Buzz: The SEC's offensive statistical leader — first in total offense (303.2 ypg), rushing (117.9 ypg) and passing efficiency (183.6) — should be rested and ready for this week's Iron Bowl. Brushing aside the recent off-the-field noise, Newton could all but wrap up the Heisman with a stellar performance against Alabama. Up next: at Alabama, Friday. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon Buzz: Looking to recover from his first subpar performance last week against Cal — failing to crack the century mark for the first time this season — James will face possibly his biggest test against the Pac-10's best rushing defense.

Cam Newton, QB, Auburn Buzz: Another week, another round of allegations. But despite all the drama, Newton stepped up again, leading the Tigers to a 49-31 victory over Georgia. The win earned Auburn the SEC West title and a trip to the conference title game against South Carolina. The junior had four touchdowns — two through the air, two on the ground — and accounted for 299 total yards. Up next: At Alabama, Nov. 26. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon Buzz: In a game of season lows for not only himself but his team, James managed only 91 yards and failed to find the end zone for the first time this season.

Stick to the numbers Desmond Conner Hartford Courant It probably already has for some, but not for those of us who believe in the concept of innocent until proven guilty. Allegations are allegations. That's all they are. Cam Newton has this Heisman voter's vote. He has led Auburn to a 10-0 start and a No. 2 ranking in the BCS standings. He has completed 67.2 percent of his passes for 1,890 yards and 19 touchdowns with only five interceptions.