Even Tim Tebow couldn't have imagined this.
Moments after UF fell to Mississippi at home on Sept. 27, the Gators' quarterback issued a teary-eyed promise that he and his teammates would work harder than any players before them.
He had no way of knowing just how true that statement would become.
"I just tried to say heartfelt things, not make any statements like we're going to win the rest of our games or go undefeated or anything," Tebow said. "It was just that we were going to play with intensity, play with passion, character and love for the game."
The strategy has worked on a higher level than Tebow could have expected, as UF has gone undefeated since the comments, reeling off eight straight wins by a margin of 414-97, with the closest contest a 28-pointer against Vanderbilt.
Now, the thing that felt so distant for Tebow that afternoon at the podium is within reach - a national championship.
The No. 2 Gators (11-1) are one game away from a probable berth in the BCS Championship Game. All that remains is a duel with No. 1 Alabama (12-0) for the Southeastern Conference title.
The two squads rank near the top of almost every SEC statistical category, leading some to proclaim it as the greatest conference championship matchup ever.
The Gators lead the SEC in scoring offense (46.3), rushing offense (237.1 yards) and total offense (449.4 yards), while the Crimson Tide is first in scoring defense (11.5), rushing defense (73.6 yards) and total defense (248.5 yards).
It's a clash of different styles, as UF's electrifying offense and playmaking defense will go up against Alabama's smashmouth, more traditional scheme.
"This is the most intriguing matchup I've ever done, and basically it's because of the styles," said CBS commentator Gary Danielson, who will announce the game on television. "This is Frazier vs. Ali. This is ugly vs. pretty. This is new vs. old. This is spread out vs. tight."
And this is Tebow against the team he almost joined. When he was recruited out of St. Augustine Nease High in 2005, his decision came down to UF and Alabama, and despite being a lifelong Gators fan, he couldn't choose until just minutes before his announcement.
UF coach Urban Meyer knows things would be drastically different if Tebow went to Tuscaloosa, but he didn't want to accept that reality at the time.
Meyer said assistant coach Greg Mattison told him on a recruiting trip that not landing Tebow would set the program back 10 years.
"I go, 'Shut up. We'll be all right,'" Meyer said. "And he goes, 'Ten years.' I got so upset with him that I grabbed a blanket and didn't even talk to him the rest of the trip. But he's right. That's how important Tim was."
Things worked out fine for the Crimson Tide. Then-coach Mike Shula, who recruited Tebow, was fired after the next season, clearing the way for Nick Saban to abandon the Miami Dolphins and take over.
In just his second season at Alabama, Saban has led the Tide to its first undefeated regular season since 1994, and although his team has held the top spot in the polls for several weeks, it comes in as nearly a double-digit underdog against the Gators.
That might change if Percy Harvin, UF's leading receiver and second-leading rusher, is unable to play because of an ankle injury, but for now, the Gators are commanding more respect than their unblemished opponent.
"If I was Alabama, I definitely would (be motivated) with all the talk about us being in the national championship," UF cornerback Joe Haden said. "They're still the undefeated team, still have not lost a game yet. If I was them, I would definitely use that as fuel."
