TALLAHASSEE - Lost amid the Gators' 30-point victory against the Seminoles on Saturday might be the most important play of UF's season.
Midway through the second quarter, UF junior wide receiver Percy Harvin took a direct snap at quarterback, ran left, and was tackled after a 5-yard gain.
But Harvin didn't get back up immediately.
Harvin, who coach Urban Meyer frequently describes as one of the top players in the country, sprained his right ankle on the play.
After the game, Meyer called Harvin questionable for Saturday's Southeastern Conference Championship Game against No. 1 Alabama (12-0, 8-0 SEC).
"Our playmaker, Percy Harvin, has a sprained ankle," Meyer said. "We'll know more of the extent as we get going."
Harvin rolled around on the field for a few minutes in obvious pain, and then tried to put weight on his ankle. He failed at first, but after trainers came out to help him, he was able to limp off the field on his own.
Many Seminoles fans cheered Harvin's injury, something that fired up quarterback Tim Tebow and made him demand the ball.
"I think that's the first time I've seen practically the whole stadium cheer when Percy got hurt," Tebow said. "I really wanted to hit somebody extremely hard the next play."
Tebow scored two plays later on a 4-yard touchdown run.
Harvin did not return, and he was wearing a boot after the game. He finished the contest with 13 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Harvin's injury could not come at a worse time for a team contending for an SEC title.
"You can't replace a guy like that," Tebow said.
Senior wide receiver Louis Murphy was concerned when Harvin went down, but he has confidence Harvin will return.
"It hurt me to my heart," Murphy said, "but he'll be back."
Harvin leads UF in receiving yards (595) and is second in total touchdowns (16) to Tebow.
