( CNN ) -- Auburn quarterback Cam Newton won the 2010 Heisman Trophy on Saturday night , his on-field heroics enough to overcome off-the-field questions about his role in a purported pay-for-play scheme . Newton bested a field that included Oregon running back LaMichael James , Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck , and Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore . The award , given in New York City , is voted on by hundreds of media members and past winners . The junior from College Park , Georgia , leads Auburn , the nation 's top-ranked team . The Tigers will play likewise undefeated Oregon on Jan. 10 in the Bowl Championship Series title game for what amounts to a national championship . Newton has thrown for 28 touchdowns and run for another 20 scores this season , helping the Tigers win the Southeastern Conference Championship . His performance came despite his being dogged all fall by allegations that his services were being shopped around before he landed at Auburn . On November 30 , the NCAA cleared him to play -- one day after Auburn declared him ineligible because the interscholastic sports body had determined there had been a violation of amateurism rules . The NCAA changed course , it said , after concluding that Newton was n't aware that his father , the Rev . Cecil Newton , and an unnamed owner of a scouting service tried to market the star quarterback `` as a part of a pay-for-play scenario in return for Newton 's commitment to attend college and play football . '' It has been widely reported that the school involved in the attempt was Mississippi State . The NCAA said that , given the information it had at the time , it did `` not have sufficient evidence that Cam Newton or anyone from Auburn was aware of this activity . '' Auburn did limit Newton 's father 's access to its athletic program and Mississippi State has cut off relations with the other person , the NCAA said . The Rev . Newton did not attend Saturday 's Heisman presentation , though Cam 's mother , Jackie Newton , was in the audience .
Auburn 's Cam Newton wins the Heisman Trophy as college football 's best player . He is the quarterback of top-ranked Tigers , who will play in the national title game . Comment: