PASADENA, Calif. — It was all Florida State could ask for.

Jameis Winston had the ball in his hands.

The redshirt freshman and Heisman Trophy winner, so cool and so collected all season, had his chance to build on an already legendary season.

With 1:11 remaining in Monday’s BCS National Title Game against Auburn, Winston led FSU from its own 20-yard line down to Tigers territory.

As the clock ticked, Winston found his favorite target, Kelvin Benjamin, for a touchdown, giving the Seminoles a 34-31 win with 13 seconds remaining.

Winston, who had completed 50 percent of his passes going into the final possession, was 6-of-7 passing for 77 yards on the drive.

“I said, ‘Guys, we didn’t come here for no reasons,’ ” Winston said on the field after the game. “I said, ‘Guys, this is ours. … We control our own destiny.’ “

The Seminoles (14-0) rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat Auburn (12-2) in historic fashion, giving FSU its third national championship in school history. It was the first time a team overcame a halftime deficit to win a championship game in the BCS era. An announced crowd of 94,208 witnessed Winston’s historic rally.

Media members dubbed Auburn “a team of destiny” thanks to a run of nail-biting unthinkable finishes.

But it was a slew of timely and unlikely plays that saved FSU’s perfect season, setting up Winston’s miraculous drive.

“These kids are special,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. “This group never faltered, they wanted to be elite.”

FSU’s title hopes seemed to be dashed just moments before the game-winning drive when Auburn running back Tre Mason ripped off a 37-yard touchdown run. Mason bounced off FSU defenders to give Auburn a 31-27 lead with 1:19 remaining.

The play came shortly after FSU seemed to cap its unlikely comeback.

FSU freshman receiver Levonte “Kermit” Whitfield, a track standout from Orlando’s Jones High, broke off a 100-yard kickoff return for a score to give the Seminoles a 27-24 lead with 4:31 left in the game.

FSU desperately needed a spark heading into the fourth quarter, down 21-13. It received one, in the form of a P.J. Williams interception.

Williams fumbled the ball on the return, but Lamarcus Joyner recovered it to give FSU the ball at its own 44 with 12:34 left in the game.

The Seminoles capitalized with a five-play, 56-yard drive that was capped off by an 11-yard touchdown pass from Winston to fullback Chad Abram.

An unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty forced FSU to settle for the point-after-attempt instead of a two-point conversion. FSU’s Roberto Aguayo made the kick, cutting Auburn’s lead to 21-20 with 10:55 left in the contest.

Down 21-3 early on, FSU faced its biggest deficit of the season. The Seminoles pieced together an unorthodox drive that resulted in a touchdown.

After running back Karlos Williams picked up seven yards and a first down on a fake punt, FSU moved into the red zone following a 21-yard run by Winston. Devonta Freeman scored from three yards out on the next play, putting the Seminoles behind 21-10 before halftime.

FSU’s prolific offense, which entered the game needing 28 points to set the NCAA mark for points in a season, was frequently flustered by Auburn’s overall speed. Winston did not look the part of a Heisman Trophy winner, but like he has throughout this season, he overcame a slow start.

Tigers quarterback Nick Marshall was on point early, helping Auburn amass a 21-3 lead in the second quarter.

Normally known for his running skills, he picked apart the Seminoles’ highly regarded secondary and accounted for two touchdown passes and another rushing score early.

FSU’s win stopped a reign of dominance by the Southeastern Conference, which had won the past seven national titles.

“It’s a heck of a football team and the SEC’s a dadgum good football conference,” Fisher said.