No. 3 Auburn handles Tennessee in title game

ATLANTA — Auburn will probably have to be content with a Southeastern Conference championship.

The Tigers aren't likely to get a shot at the title they want most.

Jason Campbell threw for three touchdowns and accounted for more than 400 yards, leading the No. 3 Tigers to a 38-28 victory over 15th-ranked Tennessee in the SEC championship game Saturday night.

Auburn is 12-0 for the first time in school history but appears to be the odd team out in another Bowl Championship Series mess.

Not that the Tigers passed up the chance to get in some last-minute lobbying.

"We definitely deserve a chance to play for the national championship," Campbell said. "We've done all we can do. We've done what people asked. But one thing they can't take away is our SEC championship."

No. 1 Southern California also finished 12-0 by holding off UCLA 29-24 earlier Saturday. No. 2 Oklahoma was still in progress when the Tigers wrapped up their first SEC championship since 1989, but the Sooners had a big lead over Colorado in the Big 12 title game.

Barring a Sooners' collapse, Auburn seemed likely to get twice-beaten Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl — not USC or Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. Those teams had the inside track for the game that will determine another disputed national championship.

"This is a true team, from top to bottom," said Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, capping his own remarkable comeback from nearly getting fired a year ago. "I just hope everyone will be fair when they vote tonight. I know we'll get at least one first-place vote" in the coaches poll.

Campbell, the game's MVP, did all he could to get the Tigers to Miami. He completed 27-of-35 for 374 yards — the first 300-yard passing game of his career. He also rushed for 57 yards, setting an SEC championship game record with 431 yards total offense.

Tennessee (9-3), which will settle for a trip to the Cotton Bowl, played much better than its first meeting against Auburn. The Volunteers were embarrassed on their home field, committing six turnovers in a 34-10 loss in early October.

With third-string Rick Clausen at quarterback because of injuries, the Volunteers rallied to tie this game at 21 on Gerald Riggs Jr.'s 80-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Then, Tennessee pulled to 31-28 with just over 10 minutes remaining when Riggs rumbled for a 9-yard TD.