Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators showed those upstarts from Kentucky they’re still the team to beat in the SEC East.
Tebow threw for 256 yards and a career-high four touchdowns, and No. 14 Florida rebounded from back-to-back losses with a 45-37 victory over No. 8 Kentucky.
A week after the Wildcats knocked off No. 1 LSU, they lost to Florida for the 21st straight time.
Kentucky came into the game concerned about Tebow’s ability to run and held him to 78 yards, but the sophomore’s left arm proved far more problematic.
“He’s as competitive a human being as I’ve ever been around,” Florida coach Urban Meyer said. “Someone said, ‘Can he throw it?’ Sure, he can throw it very well.”
Florida led 21-10 at halftime, but the Wildcats made a comeback behind their own Heisman candidate. Andre Woodson threw for 415 yards and five TDs.
“It’s difficult to swallow right now, but … we’re still in a really good situation,” he said.
Getting offensive
With a game-opening onside kick to get things rolling and a John Parker Wilson-to-DJ Hall connection that never stopped, Alabama picked a fine time for its best game of the season.
The Crimson Tide’s 41-17 win over No. 20 Tennessee turned into a rollicking debut for coach Nick Saban in the intense border rivalry.
Wilson passed for a career-high 363 yards and three TDs and Hall had a school-record 13 catches for 185 yards and two scores.
As a result, Alabama got its most lopsided win in the series since a 56-28 victory in 1986 after losing 10 of the last 12 meetings.
Even without two of his starting blockers — Antoine Caldwell and Marlon Davis were suspended for violating school policy on receiving textbooks — Wilson completed a school record-tying 32 passes in 46 attempts.
“It was one of the best games he’s ever had,” Hall said.
On the defense
No. 15 Missouri throttled the nation’s top offense in a 41-10 win over Texas Tech. The scoring total and yardage total (388) were by far season lows for the No. 22 Red Raiders, who entered the game first in points (50) and yards (582) per game. Missouri picked off Graham Harrell four times. He entered the game with only three interceptions.
The number
7. Kansas beat Colorado 19-14 (its first win in Boulder since ’95) to start the season with seven straight wins for only the second time since 1968. The 15th-ranked Jayhawks also started 7-0 in 1995.
They’re still talking about Quarterback Jack Elway, son of NFL Hall of Famer John Elway, has verbally committed to playing for No. 12 Arizona State. Sun Devils head coach Dennis Erickson was offensive coordinator on the staff of Jack Elway Sr., John’s father, at San Jose State from 1979 to 1981.
