Auburn's Campbell turns in career game

ATLANTA - Jason Campbell probably couldn&#39;t salvage Auburn&#39;s national championship hopes but he did give another group of voters food for thought.<br> <br> Campbell passed for a career-high 374 yards and three touchdowns, leading the third-ranked Tigers to a 38-28 victory over No. 15 Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference championship game Saturday night and adding to his Heisman Trophy resume.<br> <br> Before the game, Campbell was considered anything but a sure bet to be among the five Heisman Trophy finalists invited to New York in a crowded field of contenders.<br> <br> Auburn tailback Carnell Williams is convinced he&#39;s earned the trip after leading the Tigers to a 12-0 record and their first SEC title in 15 years.<br> <br> ``He took over the game and guided us to victory,&#39;&#39; Williams said. ``Jason&#39;s my MVP. He&#39;s my Heisman winner.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Campbell certainly didn&#39;t hurt his case against the Volunteers (9-3). He was 27-of-35 passing with an interception and also rushed 13 times for 57 yards, reaching 300 yards for the first time in his 39 career starts.<br> <br> ``He just doesn&#39;t throw the ball as much as other guys and tonight he did,&#39;&#39; offensive coordinator Al Borges said. ``He showed you what he can do when he does. This kid does everything we&#39;ve asked him to. He may not be the best, but he&#39;s the most improved.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Campbell&#39;s 431 total yards was the second-most in school history, behind Dameyune Craig&#39;s 445 against Army in 1996.<br> <br> Campbell got his opportunities when Tennessee&#39;s defense focused in on stopping Williams and fellow tailback Ronnie Brown. The Volunteers largely succeeded in the first three quarters, holding them to a combined 94 yards<br> <br> Campbell accounted for 218 of the Tigers&#39; 232 total yards in the game&#39;s opening 21 minutes, going 18-of-24 for 217 yards before halftime.<br> <br> It was comparable to his 12-of-15, 240-yard performance in the opening half of a 34-10 victory over the Vols in October.<br> <br> ``Jason&#39;s done it every time we needed him to,&#39;&#39; Borges said.<br> <br> The Tigers still figure to be left out of the Orange Bowl and a shot at the national championship. They needed to win convincingly to even have a chance to catch No. 2 Oklahoma in the BCS standings, or for the Sooners or No. 1 Southern California to lose.<br> <br> It didn&#39;t happen. The game was tied 21-all late in the third quarter before Campbell hit Devin Aromashodu for a 53-yard touchdown and lofted a near-perfect pass over Ben Obomanu&#39;s right shoulder for a 43-yarder.<br> <br> ``We knew coming in here Tennessee was going to give us their best,&#39;&#39; said receiver Courtney Taylor, who had six catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. ``They came out and played hard to the end. We had to come off the mat and come back.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Then, they had to make their plea to poll voters and they weren&#39;t shy about it.<br> <br> ``This is the best team in the country,&#39;&#39; Borges said. ``If we get a chance to prove it, so be it. But this team&#39;s as good as anybody.&#39;&#39;