No. 1 Florida didn’t embarrass Tennessee and its new coach, just beat them behind Tim Tebow and a stingy defense.
Tebow ran for 76 yards and a touchdown, Caleb Sturgis kicked three field goals, and the Gators opened Southeastern Conference play with a 23-13 victory over the Volunteers yesterday in Gainesville, Fla.
“It wasn’t how we envisioned or hoped,’’ said Tebow, whose streak of games with a TD pass ended at 30. “But it’s a win and it’s good enough for all of us.’’
The Gators (3-0) won their fifth straight in the series and set a school record with their 13th consecutive victory.
Florida started counting down the days for this one more than nine months ago, right after Lane Kiffin vowed to sing “Rocky Top’’ all night long after beating the Gators. Kiffin also riled up Florida with his false allegations of NCAA violations by Florida coach Urban Meyer.
The Gators downplayed Kiffin’s comments publicly, but privately vowed to make him pay on the field. Meyer and Kiffin exchanged a quick handshake when it ended. Meyer then spent more time with several Tennessee players, offering them congratulations on a game well played.
Kiffin said afterward that his plan from Day 1 was to take the focus off his players and put it on him.
“It worked perfectly,’’ Kiffin said. “It took all the pressure off the players. We played the No. 1 team in the nation with no pressure on them . . . It was all on me. We were 30-point underdogs in this place and it really helped them go out and play ball.’’
Tebow completed 14 of 19 passes for 115 yards, but also had two turnovers that Tennessee (1-2) turned into 10 points.
Texas 34, Texas Tech 24 - Colt McCoy threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Dan Buckner in the fourth quarter and the No. 2 Longhorns (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) shook off the visiting Red Raiders to gain a measure of revenge against the team that cost them a shot to play for the national title last season.
Taylor Potts passed for 420 yards and three touchdowns for Texas Tech (2-1, 0-1), but fumbled on sack by Sergio Kindle to set up McCoy’s TD pass.
Oregon 31, Utah 24 - LaMichael James rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown and John Boyett’s interception with two minutes left allowed the host Ducks (2-1) to hold off the No. 14 Utes, snapping the nation’s longest winning streak at 16 games.
Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli ran for two touchdowns, but had two fumbles and an interception in the second half to help Utah (2-1) rally from a 21-7 deficit to within 28-24 by the end of the third quarter.
Georgia 52, Arkansas 41 - Joe Cox threw for 375 yards and five touchdowns, and the No. 23 Bulldogs (2-1, 2-0 SEC) pulled away for a wild win over the host Razorbacks.