GLENDALE, Ariz. - They faked like a champion, and tricked like a winner, and gimmicked like no other college football team on this stage ever has done before. Oregon was fascinating to watch on Monday, and entertaining, too, and the Ducks made 78,603 fans afraid to leave their seats and utilize the stadium restrooms during the BCS Championship Game for fear they'd miss a play.

What Oregon was not though, was better or bigger than Auburn.

The Tigers beat the Ducks 22-19. And you shouldn't be fooled by the narrow margin of victory, or distracted by the fake punt, trick two-point conversion, gimmick plays or bright-yellow socks and shoes that Oregon wore. Because Auburn was bigger, tougher and more physical. And in the end, football is a physical game and Oregon got steam-rolled on both sides of the ball.

Said Ducks running back LaMichael James, who was held to 49 rushing yards: "It was tough to get around those guys."

Auburn rushed for 254 yards. It was that numbing output, and not Heisman-winner Cam Newton’s 265 passing yards, which did the Ducks in on defense. And on offense, Oregon became one-dimensional, and rushed only 32 times for a mere 75 yards in the championship game. And in that, Oregon abandoned the style that helped them to a perfect season and got beat doing so.

BCS title game: Auburn 22, Oregon 19 MIKE BLAKE / Reuters Southern charm It's 5 straight BCS titles for the SEC after No. 1 Tigers beat No. 2 Ducks in a thriller. Full story Summary  |  Play-by-play  |  Top images Bordow: Yes, defense still wins championships Canzano: Ducks too small for big stage   |  'O' flops Television rating for BCS game down 11 percent CFT: Newton has title, tainted legacy  |  Last laugh Dyer's improbable run key to game-winning drive Dirty or dominant? Fairley lives up to reputation Auburn on top, but TCU gets No. 1 votes   |  Polls Auburn fans party   |  'Heartbreaking' in Eugene FanHouse: Give credit to title game officials CFT: Top storylines for next season CFT votes: Greatest title game?  |  Auburn repeat? Year-by-year look at BCS title game

Oregon had a magical run this season. Before the game, Nike co-founder and Oregon alumni Phil Knight walked the sideline. Former Ducks coach Mike Bellotti was here, too, as were so many former players and proud fans. But if Oregon wants to get back to the big stage, and win a national championship someday soon, it must realize that it needs to add size on both sides of the ball.

If they don't, they're just a cute BCS sideshow, as they were in last year's Rose Bowl against Ohio State.

"They got a great front four," said Kelly, who is 0-2 in BCS bowl games. "Nick Fairley proved he's the best defensive lineman in the country. It was a tough matchup for us."

Fairley spent the game rumbling up and down the line of scrimmage, picking up the Ducks and pile-driving them.

The Ducks are close to a national-title breakthrough. Fun to watch, too. But if you’re spending today talking about Oregon’s shoe color, fake extra-point conversion, the reverse (or fake reverses) they ran on back-to-back kickoff returns, or that gorgeous fake punt they converted into a first down, you’re missing what the winning coaches already know.

Physical play rules on the big stage.

Slideshow   Bowled over Check out the action from all 35 postseason games. NBCSports.com

Fairley had five tackles, and his incessant pressure caused Ducks quarterback Darron Thomas to throw one of his two interceptions. Also, Fairley disrupted Oregon at the point of attack all game.

I’m certain one day Fairley is going to meet a man as big and as mean as he on a football field. But I will not hold my breath waiting for it. What Oregon must find if it wants to break through on this level is an offensive line that can at least slow down a big, physical player such as Fairley and also, a more physical offensive line itself.

Sure, Kelly could have kicked the field goal on fourth-and-goal in the second half and been in better shape at the end of regulation. If not, the Ducks coach could have given the critical carry there not to Kenyon Barner but to the team’s Heisman finalist, James. But I suspect had Auburn needed more points at the end, they’d simply have lined up and pounded out a few more points instead of kicking the winning field goal.

"My hat's off to Auburn," Kelly said. "They got some great players who made great plays."

Slideshow   College cheer Check out some of the college football cheerleaders from across the country. NBCSports.com

What Kelly needs to do today isn't to nitpick himself, but to recognize that back-to-back BCS bowl appearances have opened more living rooms, and that this appearance could be a course-changer for the program. But only if Oregon decides to lean less on the gimmicks and tricks and find some size.

Newton is a large quarterback, but there's no way he should outweigh every Ducks defensive player, as he did on Monday.

This Oregon season was special. The Ducks opened eyes, and helped give the country a great show on Monday. But they don't hand out trophies for being interesting or fun to watch. And in that, Oregon must be willing to recognize that if it wants to get back to this point and walk off winners, it will have to come back looking and playing more like Auburn.

Jim Rogash / Getty Images The Week in Sports Pictures The nation grieved for those hurt, killed and affected by the Boston Marathon bombings. After one of the suspects was caught on Friday — following a day-long lockdown and manhunt — sports returned to Boston over the weekend.

After the game, wide receiver Jeff Maehl knelt on the sideline with tears in his eyes after compiling 133 yards in receptions. Josh Huff, who had two kick returns, had tears streaking down his cheeks. Kelly waited for them all at the mouth of the stadium tunnel, while he watched the confetti fall and Auburn celebrate.

Kelly hugged linebacker Casey Matthews. To safety Eddie Pleasant, Kelly said, “I am so proud of you guys.” And the coach patted James, who has already announced he’ll return for another season, on the shoulder pads.

Oregon finishes 12-1 this season. Kelly said, "We'll be back."