It doesn't matter if it's John Brantley or Tim Tebow who gets the start at quarterback, No. 1 Florida (4-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) will face its toughest test of the season Saturday night as it heads to Death Valley to take on No. 4 LSU.
UF coach Urban Meyer said Tebow will likely be a game-time decision.
If he is unable to go, backup John Brantley will get his first career start under the lights.
"(John has) always been a guy who could throw the ball. It's like a running back that just can run. Now, he seems to be a quarterback who has command of the game, command of the huddle," Meyer said.
Brantley has completed 22 of 30 passes for 232 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions this season.
"He's getting the full (playbook). When he's in that game, there's no baby steps. He's going to go play," Meyer said.
The Tigers (5-0, 3-0 SEC) have been dominant when playing at home on Saturday nights, winning their last 32 games, including 21 straight under Les Miles.
Since 1960, LSU is 211-59-4 all time at night in Tiger Stadium. Its last Saturday night home loss came against Alabama in 2002.
"It's the toughest place I've played at since I've been here," cornerback Joe Haden said.
Two years ago, Tim Tebow received death threats on his cell phone the week before the game. This year, LSU fans were able to get a hold of Brantley's and wide receiver Riley Cooper's phone numbers.
Saturday's game against Florida is the highest-ranked matchup to be played in Baton Rouge since No. 1 LSU beat No. 3 Ole Miss 7-3 in 1959.
That day, Billy Cannon took a fourth-quarter punt back 89 yards for the game's only touchdown. The play would become the highlight of the Heisman Trophy winner's career.
Cannon's distant successor, sophomore Jordan Jefferson, has played well this year for the Tigers, throwing for 920 yards, seven touchdowns and just two interceptions - a marked improvement from the 18 interceptions LSU quarterbacks threw in 2008.
Jefferson is also coming off the biggest win of his young career on the road against Georgia last week.
He led LSU on a game-winning 13-play, 88-yard drive.
He could struggle, though, against a Florida defense which is giving up just 7.25 points (second nationally) and 212.75 yards (first in the nation).
LSU's offensive line has allowed 13 sacks through five games, including six against Georgia.
Assuming the offensive line can keep Jefferson standing and the defense can keep the Gators out of the end zone, Tiger Stadium will show why it's thought of as one of the toughest places to play.
The school has issued an advisory for fans, and an overflow crowd is expected to top the 93,000 capacity.
But Meyer said he's seen the softer side of Death Valley.
"It's when those guys wearing the jerseys are really good that it gets loud," he said. "I remember coming there with Colorado State, and we beat them and their team wasn't very good. It was pretty quiet that day."
The game Meyer was referring to was a 17-14 Colorado State victory in 1992 when he was the Rams' wide receivers coach. The Tigers finished 2-9 that season and 1-7 in the SEC.
Since 1939, a total of 11 No. 1 teams have gone into Tiger Stadium. LSU has won just one of the 11, a 1997 victory vs. Florida.
The winner of the last three Florida-LSU games has gone on to win the national title (UF in 2006 and 2008, LSU in 2007).
