( CNN ) -- No . 1 Florida State re-emerged in the second half and rallied to defeat No . 2 Auburn 34-31 in the BCS National Championship college football game on Monday in Pasadena , California . The Seminoles ( 13-0 ) outscored the Tigers ( 12-2 ) 24-10 after halftime to win their third national title . It was FSU 's second BCS crown and third national title . Heisman Trophy winner and FSU quarterback Jameis Winston was 20-for-35 for 237 yards and two touchdowns , including the game-winner to Kelvin Benjamin with 13 seconds remaining . More great photos from the championship game . The fourth quarter turned into a back-and-forth affair . The final 24 points of the game were scored in the last 4:42 of the game . The Tigers appeared to be on the verge of their second title in four seasons when Tre Mason scored a go-ahead touchdown on a determined 37-yard scamper with 1:19 left in the game . But led by Winston , the Seminoles drove 80 yards in seven plays to grab the crown . Who will win next year 's championship ? FSU 's rally included Levonte Whitfield 's 100-yard kickoff return with 4:31 left to put Florida State ahead . The extra point made it 27-24 . Tigers take halftime lead . After an early FSU field goal , Auburn scored three straight touchdowns to take a 21-3 lead . But Florida State 's Devonta Freeman scored on a 3-yard run with 1:28 left in the first half to cut the deficit at intermission to 11 . That FSU drive was kept alive by a fourth-down end-around out of punt formation . The only score in the third quarter was a 41-yard field goal by FSU kicker Roberto Aguayo . He also made a 35-yarder in the first period . FSU also got a fourth-quarter TD from Chad Abram on a 11-yard reception with 10:55 remaining . Final BCS game : Thanks for the memories . Auburn kicker Cody Parkey 's 22-yard field goal with 4:42 left made the score 24-20 . Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall threw for two touchdowns and ran for one . He was 14-for-27 for 216 yards and one interception . Mason ran for 195 yards on 34 carries . The game was the final championship contest under the current system , which featured the top two teams in the Bowl Championship Series poll . Next season , the top four teams will meet in a playoff where it will take two victories to win the title .
Florida State scored 24 points in the second half to win its third national championship . Heisman Trophy winner Mike Winston leads rally with two consecutive ##s . Next season the NCAA moved to a four - team tournament .