Tim Tebow

When Florida freshman Xavier Nixon found out he was going to make his first career start, he kept it quiet. He didn't tell friends or classmates. He didn't even tell his parents, two Army sergeants who were traveling to South Carolina for the game.

After the game, my mom was crying and stuff, and they were just telling me how proud they were   -Xavier Nixon

 

The Southeastern Conference championship game is still 14 days away, but the comparisons between Florida and Alabama already have begun. When the top-ranked Gators (10-0) host Florida International (3-7) at 12:30 p.m. at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, it will be the seventh and final time this season in which Florida and Alabama have played a common opponent. Alabama defeated FIU 41-14 in Tuscaloosa, Ala., in the Crimson Tide's second game of the season.

There is no question FIU will be a bowl team sooner than you think   -Urban Meyer

 

Like week eight (when Mark Ingram rushed for 246 against SC), there's no reason to go with our typical format for this segment, as last week, one performance so out-shined the rest. Ole Miss RB Dexter McCluster ran for 282 yards and 4 TDs against what at the time was the 3rd best rushing D in the conference. HC Houston Nutt made the commitment to go with McCluster full-time after giving him the ball just nine times in the loss to Alabama.  

12:30 p.m. -- Where : Florida Field, Gainesville -- TV/Radio : Pay-per-view/WFXJ (930 AM) -- Records : FIU is 3-7; Florida is 10-0. Florida should have little trouble with FIU - the Panthers' defense is ranked 118th and the pass defense is ranked 100th in the nation - so the Gators should be able to put the game away early. Once that's done, it's time to substitute liberally.  

And they have a chance to close this thing out the way many were predicting they would when it all started back on the first Saturday in September. The final push begins today in The Swamp against Florida International. "The finish line is right there," UF coach Urban Meyer said.

The finish line is right there   -Urban Meyer

 

The Florida Gators may be undefeated and ranked No. 1, but they sure aren't deaf. They've heard some criticism from the media and their fans this season for not scoring as many points as last year and blowing out teams as they once did. Instead of ignoring the criticism Florida has embraced it, as it carries the Gators into Saturday's home game against FIU, a Sun Belt Conference team.

I think we’ve taken the approach where our back’s against the wall a little bit   -Tim Tebow

 

ROGELIO SOLIS/Associated Press Florida coach Urban Meyer completed his fifth SEC season last week with a victory over South Carolina that gave him the highest winning percentage in conference games in league history and also lifted him into the top spot for winning percentage among active coaches. Meyer passed Southern Cal's Pete Carroll for the top spot last week, when the Gators beat South Carolina while the Trojans lost to Stanford. Meyer improved to an .845 winning percentage with a record of 93-17 in  

1. We know Rich Rod wants to beat Ohio State. But does he have to beat Ohio State?

I was really disappointed when we weren't in that position. I don't really think about it long term. I really don't   -Bo Pelini

 

We've arrived at the penultimate weekend of college football's regular season, which means it's time to put up or shut up. Several conference races still hang in the balance, and many teams, including Texas Tech, are scrambling to become bowl eligible. Others, like No. 1 Florida and No. 2 Alabama, might as well have byes.