ATLANTA - Cam Newton passed for a career-best 335 yards and four touchdowns, plus ran for a couple of TDs to lead No. 2 Auburn past 18th-ranked South Carolina 56-17 for the Southeastern Conference title Saturday.
His performance assured the Tigers of a spot in the national championship game.
The Tigers (13-0) came into the day sitting atop the Bowl Championship Series standings and they left nothing to chance with a surprising blowout of the Steve Spurrier-led Gamecocks. Auburn will meet No. 1 Oregon (12-0) for the national title on Jan. 10 in Glendale, Ariz.
Before that, Newton will likely be picking up the college game's top individual honor when the Heisman Trophy is awarded next weekend in New York City - especially now that he's been cleared of wrongdoing by the NCAA in a pay-for-play scandal.