Alabama 31, Florida 6. Last week's harrowing escape from Arkansas was one kind of "Hallmark of a Champion" win for the Crimson Tide, an impressive fourth-quarter rally with their backs against the wall in a hostile environment on the road. Tonight was another kind: The total obliteration of another elite contender.
In fact, the domination was so thorough almost from the opening kick that Florida may have ceded its elite status for the rest of the season sometime around the middle of the second quarter, when 'Bama went up 24-0 to essentially ice the game. The Gators didn't seem to need much help or time confirming everyone's worst fears about the offense, especially quarterback John Brantley, who ground whatever hype remained over his arm and potential to a grinding half with two ugly interceptions – one to set up a quick Tide touchdown, the other returned to the end zone directly – and a lost fumble.
Florida had one chance here, when it marched 75 yards to the 'Bama goal line the first time it touched the ball. But once true freshman Trey "Tebow Lite" Burton's attempt to recreate the Tebow jump pass was picked off in the end zone on 4th-and-1 the first time Florida touched the ball, the Gators looked like they couldn't wait to get back on the buses. By the time the Florida defense found its feet in the second quarter, it had already been gashed for three straight touchdowns. By Florida standards, the mediocrity hinted at throughout September was pitilessly exposed in no time.
Clearly, though, Alabama took the biggest step in its quest to "leave no doubt" about the No. 1 team in the country, efficiently turning the most hyped game of the regular season into an even more lopsided rout than last December's winner-take-all SEC Championship Game. One of the themes coming into the season was the lack of an obvious, dominant frontrunner for the BCS Championship. For now, that position has been filled. It may be open again after 'Bama goes to South Carolina next week. But until further notice, the position has been filled, and we won't be taking any more applications.
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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.
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