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The last time Florida beat Alabama, Tim Tebow was the Gators quarterback and the team were on their way to a second national title under coach Urban Meyer.
Tebow is now retired and Meyer is a coach in the NFL.
So yes, it’s been a long time.
The top-ranked Crimson Tide will visit Florida’s No.11 on Saturday in one of the biggest games on college football’s Week 3 schedule.
Alabama bring a seven-game winning streak against the Gators in The Swamp, but only one of those games (2011) was played in Gainesville. On four occasions, including the last three, Alabama have beaten Florida in the Southeastern Conference Championship game.
The Gators enter the game with a quarterback … from the competition? Controversial? Combination?
Florida coach Dan Mullen used Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson effectively for the first two weeks, but it was against Florida Atlantic and South Florida.
We’ll see how it works against the tide.
BEST GAME
No.22 Auburn at No.10 Penn State, a cool showdown between college football bluebloods who have never faced each other in a regular season game. It is also the first meeting of an SEC ranked team against a Big Ten ranked team at a home stadium since Alabama played at Penn State in 2011.
HEISMAN WATCH
Spencer Rattler, QB, Oklahoma
Rattler was the pre-season favorite for the Heisman Trophy and he’s been doing well so far, completing 76.9% of his passes with six touchdowns and two interceptions.
This week, the third-placed Sooners renew their old Big 12 / Eight rivalry against Nebraska in Fox’s Big Noon game. It’s a great scene, if not a really great game. Oklahoma are a three touchdown favorite. Rattler has the opportunity to present garish acts in front of a large audience.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
2005 – The last time Virginia Tech played in West Virginia. The Hokies and Mountaineers, 15th, renew their rivalry Saturday in Morgantown. They have played once since 2005, but it was at FedEx Field, home of the Washington football team, in 2017. It will be the 52nd meeting between the schools.
8.57 – Meters per game by Michigan State, which visits No.24 Miami on Saturday. In the second year under coach Mel Tucker, the Spartans shone on offense like they haven’t seen at East Lansing in years. It’s early, but the Spartans are almost doubling their output from last year (4.81 ypp). Michigan State hasn’t cracked 6 yards per game in a season since 2014.
20-54-3 – Cincinnati’s No.8 record against the Big Ten Schools ahead of Saturday’s game in Indiana. The Bearcats are 3-9-2 against the Hoosiers, but they have rarely had such a good team. UC’s last victory over a Big Ten opponent was in 2016 against Purdue.
29 – Back-to-back home wins for No.6 Clemson ahead of his game against Georgia Tech. One more win would give the Tigers the 24th consecutive home winning streak of at least 30 games in major college football history.
UNDER RADAR
Nevada in the state of Kansas.
Both teams are 2-0 down, but the reason the Wolf Pack and the Wildcats are registered is two of the most exciting players in college football.
Nevada quarterback Carson Strong is 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, and has the tools to become a first-round pick. Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn probably isn’t an early-round draft pick at 5-6, 173 pounds, but it’s a big game ahead, with four touchdowns and an average. per stroke of 6.26 yards.
SADDLE
Southern California parted ways with coach Clay Helton after last week’s loss, a reminder that mid-season coaching changes are just one thing that happens in college football these these days.
It seems like no one else is in this kind of danger until week three of the season, but at the top of the list of coaches who could really benefit from a win is Washington’s Jimmy Lake.
The Huskies are 0-2 after starting the seeded season, and they host Arkansas State on Saturday. The Red Wolves (1-1) under first-year coach Butch Jones have some offense, averaging 45 points and 596 yards.
Washington scored 17 points in total. Probably need to do better than that to avoid 0-3 for the first time since 2008.
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Follow Ralph D. Russo on https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen to https://APpodcast.com
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