January 9, 2009

Tom Dienhart
Rivals.com College Football Senior Writer

MORE: BCS Central

MIAMI ? We just finished watching one of the best teams in college football history. Really, it's true.

The 2008 Florida Gators deserve a spot in that hallowed pantheon after capping a 13-1 season with a 24-14 victory over Oklahoma in the BCS title game. This Florida squad navigated one of the most ambitious schedules of any national champion, playing 11 teams that went to bowls, and toppling the likes of Miami, LSU, Georgia, Florida State, Alabama and finally an Oklahoma team that had the most prolific offense in college football history.

"Just look what they did," Gators coach Urban Meyer said after Thursday night's victory over OU in the BCS Championship Game. "Look at their scores, look at the offense, look at the balance, look at the defense, and it's all relative. That offense ? nine of our opponents finished in the top 25 in defense. A lot of people overlook that.

"Same thing defensively. Our defense finished in the top five in America playing the schedule we play. ? They've got my vote as one of the best teams in history."

This was the second BCS title in four seasons for Meyer ? the first coach to win two ? and stamped him as perhaps the best college football coach in the nation.

"I wanted to do my job the best I could and hire a great staff and more importantly recruit some good kids," Meyer said. "The beautiful thing about Florida football ? two years ago we were a great team and a bad program, and I think we're a great team and a great program right now. We have a bunch of good kids. ? I love these guys."

Certainly Oklahoma still loves Bob Stoops, even though he has lost his past five BCS bowl games, including three shots at the national championship (2003, '04, '08). The Sooners are threatening to unseat the Buffalo Bills of the 1990s as football's biggest bridesmaid.

"Everyone will have their opinions on it; that's fine," Stoops said. "In the end, I'll be glad to try it again next year. If that's the biggest burden I have to bear in my life, I'll be a pretty lucky guy. We'll do our best to be trying again next year, and we'll keep going after them, if it's all the same to everybody else."

No doubt, Stoops may have another shot next season, when the BCS title venue moves to the Rose Bowl. Ditto Meyer. Each coach again figures to have a preseason top 10 team. In fact, there's a chance either Florida or Oklahoma could be the preseason No. 1 ? if their quarterbacks return.

That's the $64,000 question that hangs over Gainesville and Norman: Will Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford declare for the NFL draft? Considering what both have accomplished, if wouldn't be a shock if we just saw the last college game for each.

Further fueling the Tebow-to-the-NFL chatter is that Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen is off to coach Mississippi State. And it appears almost certain that Tebow's best weapon, wide receiver/running back Percy Harvin, will go pro.

Underclassmen have until Jan. 15 to declare for the draft. After that date, they have 72 hours to withdraw and retain their eligibility.

"We lost our entire defense two years ago," said Meyer, who helped Florida become just the fourth school to win two outright national titles in three seasons, along with Oklahoma (1955-56), Miami (1987, '89) and Nebraska (1994-95). "There's a chance we might not lose any players on our defense. Offensively, we'll lose a few players, but we've also developed some great players."

If Florida hopes to be in the same position next season, it can lean heavily on a defense that didn't start one senior in the BCS title game. Even if linebacker Brandon Spikes turns pro, the Gators still will have one of the strongest defenses in the nation led by what could be the nation's best secondary.

The offense is another story. In addition to the possibility of Tebow and Harvin leaving, Florida definitely will lose senior wide receiver Louis Murphy and starting tackles Phil Trautwein and Jason Watkins.

If Tebow turns pro, the man of the spot when spring drills open will be sophomore-to-be John Brantley, a 6-foot-3, 215-pounder whose presence will alter the look of the attack. Brantley is a decent athlete, but he can't match Tebow's running ability. But Brantley is a superior passer, meaning the Gators' attack could take on more of an aerial dimension in 2009 and look similar to the offense when it was operated by Chris Leak.

"Some guys are going to make some decisions on their careers here in the next few days," Meyer said. "I know one thing: We've got a very, very good team coming back."

Tom Dienhart is the national senior writer for Rivals.com. He can be reached at dienhart@yahoo-inc.com.