No two teams better illustrate the absence of the traditional powers better than the teams playing in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game, No. 1 Auburn and No. 2 Oregon. Before this season, the Tigers and Ducks combined to win a share of one national title (Auburn, 1957) and three BCS bowl bids (Oregon, 2001, 2009; Auburn, 2004).

Yet the gap between the two would-be champions and the traditional powers pales before the gap between Oregon and Auburn themselves. The only thing these two schools have in common is their brand of offensive football, a spread attack run at a fast pace. As for the rest, the cultures of the two are so foreign that it's like they're separated by an entire country -- which, of course, they are.

In downtown Eugene, there's a statue of Ken Kesey, a writer known mostly for dropping acid.

In downtown Auburn, if the streets surrounding campus may be called that, they drop toilet paper.

The tradition of "rolling" the stately oaks at Toomer's Corner after an Auburn victory is as beloved as the lemonade sold at Toomer's Drugs. Eugene upholds its northwest honor by having its own microbrew. Ninkasi Brewing's top brand seems brewed with the Ducks in mind: Total Domination IPA.

Oregon and Auburn both open new basketball arenas this season. Auburn Arena opened in traditional Tigers fashion -- the men's basketball team lost the inaugural 70-69 to UNC-Asheville. Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene features 500 valet parking spaces -- for bicycles.

In Auburn, they are happy that the Iron Bowl moved back one week to Thanksgiving weekend, leaving the previous weekend for the opening of deer season.

In Eugene, quarterback Nate Costa's story of killing his first deer during an off week was met with howls of protest by local readers.

In Auburn, they love Tiger, their War Eagle.

In Eugene, they love spotted owls.

In Auburn, they have an annual race during Homecoming Week in which the top 25 finishers receive a homemade cake.

In Eugene, they have an annual Naked Bike Ride.