Latest news with #TimTebow
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida Gators legend Tim Tebow named one of top 25 college QBs of last 25 years
It's been more than a decade since Tim Tebow last took a snap for the Florida Gators, but the legend hasn't faded one bit. In its latest ranking of the 25 best college football quarterbacks of the past 25 years, Sports Illustrated placed Tebow at No. 4 overall–a reminder that few have ever done it better in college football, and no one has ever done it quite like Tebow. Tebow was the first sophomore to ever win the Heisman Trophy, the first player in NCAA history to rush and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in a season and the only quarterback in SEC history to rush for more than 50 touchdowns in a career. By the time he left Gainesville, Tebow owned five NCAA, 14 SEC and 28 UF records. Tebow's career totals–9,285 passing yards, 88 passing touchdowns, 2,947 rushing yards, 57 rushing touchdowns–read like something out of a video game. Gator Nation knows that Tebow isn't just one of the best quarterbacks of the last 25 years–he's the program's gold standard. His fiery postgame speeches, his willingness to run through a wall for his team and his dominance on the field defined an ear when Florida football ruled the sport. Of course, Tebow isn't the only former Gator to make SI's list. Cam Newton checks in at No. 2 after leading the Auburn Tigers to a national championship and winning the Heisman in 2010. Newton's time in Gainesville was brief–backing up Tebow before transferring–but it's hard not to wonder what might have been had he stayed. Here is everything SI's Bryan Fischer wrote about Tebow and why he was one of college football's best quarterbacks in the past 25 years. What SI said about Tebow "The lefty sandwiched winning two national titles with the Gators with becoming the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy in 2007. He finished his career with a remarkable 145 total touchdowns—his 57 on the ground were more than Herschel Walker had rushing in his career—and spent a decade as the SEC's career leader in passing efficiency before his 170.8 mark was eventually broken. Though Tebow's persona could at times be divisive, there's little questioning his leadership on and off the field that has to be factored into how he played the position." SI's top 10 quarterbacks from the past 25 years Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
States with the most players in the Rivals All-Time 5-Star rankings
Rivals unveiled its All-Time Five-Star ranking on Monday with the list beginning with former standout and ending with star . As one would expect, the most talent-rich (and population-dense) states are well-represented across the board. Florida holds an edge over Georgia and Texas for producing the most all-time five-stars, with California hot on their heels. Alabama, Louisiana and South Carolina trail just behind. With the rankings release, Rivals is breaking down where the 32 all-time five-stars hail from: Florida – 7 The Sunshine State has produced well over 100 five-star prospects overall since 2004, so its spot on this list should come as no surprise. Former standout Tim Tebow, who played high school football for Ponte Vedra (Fla.) Nease, is the highest-ranked former five-star on the all-time list. He is joined by standouts such as Pompano Beach (Fla.) product Patrick Peterson and Ohio State star , who starred on 's 2022 and 2023 state championship teams. Georgia – 5 Georgia has emerged as one of the top states for high school football talent over the last 25 years. Former Heisman Trophy winner , who starred at Atlanta (Ga.) in high school, tops the Peach State products on the all-time list. He's joined in the ranking by (), () and the late (). Texas – 5 Tied with Georgia for the second place spot is the Lone Star State, which has produced around 100 five-star recruits since 2004. Texas boast two of the top three players on the list and five of the top 12, headlined by Red River rivals () and (). California – 4 Seeing the three names of the players that hail from the Golden State shouldn't surprise anyone as they're are synonymous when it comes to college football and beyond. First up would be , who played his high school ball at High School before starring at the and then the NFL. Another is the first overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, , who played at before playing collegiately at . Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina – 2 In a three-way tie with for the final spot on our list are all states from the Southeast. Both players that come from Alabama on this list have had a major impact playing in college before being drafted into the NFL. Jameis Winston (Hueytown), who is currently with the NFL's New York Giants, is on the list along with Julio Jones (Foley), who is 16th in NFL history when it comes to receiving yardage. Among other notables between Louisiana and South Carolina are former No. 1 pick Jadeveon Clowney (South Pointe, S.C.) and 2017 No. 4 overall pick Leonard Fournette (St. Augustine, La.).
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Urban Meyer Names College Football Conference Fighting to Stay Relevant
Urban Meyer Names College Football Conference Fighting to Stay Relevant originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Florida Gators had a solid run with head coach Urban Meyer, leading them to two national titles (2006, 2008) and producing Heisman winner Tim Tebow in 2007. Before his time in Gainesville, he served as the head coach of the Utah Utes from 2003-04 in the Pac-12. On a recent episode of "The Triple Option," the Pac-12 was a topic of discussion after it was announced Texas State was joining. Meyer emphasized how much the conference was fighting to stay alive. "They're fighting their ass off, man," Meyer said. "They're fighting and fighting." In 2025, the Pac-12 only members will be the Oregon State Beavers and Washington State Cougars. However, the conference has added new members who will officially join on July 1, 2026. Utah State, San Diego State, Gonzaga, Colorado State, Texas State, Boise State and Fresno State are set to join. Gonzaga is the only school that will only play basketball, as the university does not have a football program. In July of 2024, the Pac-12 lost 10 of its members to other Power conferences. The Oregon Ducks, Washington Huskies, USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins joined the Big Ten. The Colorado Buffaloes, Utah, Arizona State Sun Devils and Arizona Wildcats joined the Big 12. The California Golden Bears and Stanford Cardinal left for the ACC. Meyer has not been afraid to share his true opinions on the podcast, revealing how he does not like the idea of college football jerseys having sponsors on the front. He even named his pick for the greatest college football player of all time, going with former Florida receiver Percy story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox Sports
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
What are the 10 Biggest College Football Rivalries of All Time?
Rivalries, both in-conference and out-of-conference, are among the best elements of college football. More often than not, the schedule is devised so that teams play their No. 1 historical opponent in the last week of the regular season. These rivalries include recruiting battles, amazing late-game finishes and some of the best matchups in all of sports; there are too many of them to count. Here are the 10 biggest college football rivalries of all time, according to FOX Sports Research. 10 Biggest College Football Rivalries of All Time 10. Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State If you lose this game, don't expect to be greeted well by the locals for the next 365 days. A two-hour drive separating the two schools who compete in the yearly "Egg Bowl," Ole Miss and Mississippi State make for the rivalry in the state of Mississippi. The first game in the rivalry's history was Nov. 24, 1932, with Ole Miss getting a 13-0 victory. And, overall, the Rebels have the upper hand in the all-time series, boasting a 57-30-4 record. Of late, this game has usually been played on Thanksgiving Night or on Black Friday. 9. Texas vs. Texas A&M Last year, Texas officially joined the SEC, allowing it to play in-state rival Texas A&M for the first time in 13 years, with the Longhorns getting a 17-7 win on the road at College Station. This matchup was traditionally played at the end of the regular season when the two schools were each in the Big 12. Texas A&M won the first meeting between the two teams on Nov. 19, 1915, 13-0. The Longhorns have historically gotten the better of the Aggies, however, boasting a 77-36-5 all-time record. With the two schools back in the same conference, expect heated recruiting battles and anticipated Saturday night matchups in November. 8. BYU vs. Utah From 1922-2010, Utah and BYU were each in the same conference before the Utes joined the Pac-12 and the Cougars became an independent for the 2011 season. As part of the historic conference realignment, the two schools each joined the Big 12 in 2024, allowing two schools separated by one hour to be arch rivals once again — and not just face off once in a while. BYU has won each of the last two matchups against Utah, but the former has a 52-30-4 all-time record against the former. Much like the aforementioned Texas rivalry, expect the inner-Utah battle to spice up in the coming years. 7. Florida vs. Georgia Two of the most historic programs in college football are in neighboring states and play each other every year at a neutral site in Jacksonville. Granted, Gainesville (Florida) is much closer to Jacksonville than Georgia (Athens). The Bulldogs have had the Gators number of late, winning seven of the last eight matchups and owning a 56-44-2 record in the all-time series. But that doesn't mean the Gators haven't had their share of success over the Bulldogs. For instance, Florida got the better of Georgia in the Tim Tebow era (2006-09) and won 18 of 21 over Georgia from 1990-2010. 6. Miami vs. Florida State An arduous, seven-to-eight-hour drive separates Florida State from Miami, but it's still an in-state rivalry, nevertheless — and a tightly contested one, with the Hurricanes having a slim, 36-33 record against the Seminoles. The ACC teams first squared off on Oct. 5, 1951, with Miami getting the first of five consecutive wins over Florida State and eight of nine victories. Later, the Seminoles returned the favor with a seven-game winning streak over the Hurricanes, and it has continued to be a rivalry of streaks. Miami won the 2024 meeting, but Florida State had won the previous three. 5. Notre Dame vs. USC It's a matchup of one team that can see the Pacific Ocean and one team that pays homage to Rudy. Put them in a blender, and it makes for one of the best rivalries in collegiate sports and two historic venues: LA Memorial Coliseum and Notre Dame Stadium. Whether it be Matt Leinart's goal-line sneak to get USC a win in South Bend in 2005 or Notre Dame putting together a game-winning touchdown drive in the final minutes of a 2010 game in L.A., this matchup has continually delivered. Of late, the Fighting Irish have had their way with the Trojans, winning six of the last seven meetings and having a combined 52-37-5 record in the series. 4. Army vs. Navy "America's Game" is not only a great football game but the most meaningful one of them all, as the two service academies play at a neutral site every December in the all-important Army-Navy game. Another matchup that has been one of streaks, the Midshipmen have a 63-55-7 record against the Black Knights. The first-ever matchup was in 1890, with Navy getting a 24-0 win. After Navy won 14 consecutive games over Army from 2002-15, the latter changed the tide in 2016 and has won six of the last nine contests. Two years ago (2023), the game was literally decided by inches, as Army kept Navy out of the end zone on a quarterback sneak at the 2-yard line with one second remaining. This matchup is a battle up front from start to finish. 3. Oklahoma vs. Texas "The Red River Showdown" is fierce, a great environment (the game is played at a neutral site in Dallas) and makes for an intense scuffle. The first-ever meeting between Texas and Oklahoma was a mere one-point Sooner victory in 1950. In 2020, the two teams played into a fourth overtime, with the Sooners escaping with the victory. The Longhorns have won two of the last three games, with those wins combining for a whopping 83-3 score, but the Sooners have the narrow lead in the all-time series, 37-31-3. Previously bitter Big 12 rivals, the two schools each joined the SEC in 2024, with their yearly game at Cotton Bowl Stadium remaining intact. 2. Alabama vs. Auburn Every year, the state of Alabama is on the line in the "Iron Bowl," which has delivered some of the most memorable moments in college football. In 2013, Alabama attempted a would-be, game-winning 58-yard field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter, but Cody Parkey's kick missed. Then, Chris Davis ran the missed kick back 100 yards for a walk-off touchdown in arguably the most chilling finish in the history of the sport. Recently, Alabama pulled off a pair of miracle wins against Auburn, including a 97-yard touchdown drive with under two minutes to play and no timeouts to force overtime and later win in 2021. In 2023, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe completed a go-ahead and eventual game-winning, 31-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal to Isaiah Bond with 32 seconds remaining in the game. The Crimson Tide have won the last five games and are 51-37-1 in the all-time series. 1. Michigan vs. Ohio State These two programs literally hate each other. It's called "The Game" for a reason, as Michigan and Ohio State make for a timeless college football rivalry and the best in the Big Ten Conference. Ohio State lost or tied each of its first 14 games against Michigan, including an 86-0 defeat in 1902. Following the 14th all-time meeting, this has been a dead heat of a rivalry. Whether it be Desmond Howard's Heisman pose, Curtis Samuel's overtime walk-off touchdown for Ohio State in 2016 or Michigan trying to plant a flag on Ohio Stadium after its 2024 upset victory, there are countless iconic moments, great finishes and entertainment implanted in this Rustbelt hatred. Michigan is 62-51-6 in the all-time series and has won each of the last four matchups, though, Ohio State won the previous eight games and 15 of 16 beforehand. Honorable mention: USC vs. UCLA Nebraska vs. Oklahoma Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Stanford vs. Cal Oregon vs. Oregon State Oregon vs. Washington Washington vs. Washington State West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh Ohio State vs. Penn State Florida vs. Florida State Check out all of our Daily Rankers . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience College Football recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida Gator Legend Earns Bigger Role on Coaching Staff
Florida Gator Legend Earns Bigger Role on Coaching Staff originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Florida Gators football program has a storied history. Winners of eight SEC titles and three national championships in the 120 years of Florida football, the Gators have long been one of the premier programs in the country. Advertisement However, many Florida fans would agree the best era of the Gators on the gridiron was when the team won two BCS National Championships in a three-year span. The Urban Meyer-led Florida team from 2006-2009 captured SEC and national titles in 2006 and 2008 with the help of Tim Tebow at quarterback in a star-studded roster. While Tebow led the offense, the Gators' defensive leader was linebacker Brandon Spikes. Since his playing days ended, Spikes came back to his alma mater to join the coaching staff, and now has a bigger role under head coach Billy Napier. November 28, 2009; Gainesville FL, USA; Florida Gators linebacker Brandon Spikes (51) during the first half against the Florida State Seminoles at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports© Kim Klement-Imagn Images Spikes returned to Gainesville in 2023 to complete his degree in anthropology and joined the coaching staff as a student assistant coach. Now, Spikes has earned a promotion on the staff to the role of assistant director of player development, according to the Florida Gators website. Advertisement During his four years on Florida's title-winning defense, Spikes played in 47 games at linebacker, totaling 307 tackles, 31.5 tackles-for-loss, 6.5 sacks and six interceptions, four of which he returned for touchdowns. His illustrious Gators career was rewarded with two consensus All-American selections. Not only did Spikes fill up the stat sheet as a player, but he was also a vocal leader on the field and in the locker room. He has brought that mentality and championship pedigree to a Gators coaching staff that is hoping to bring the glory days back to Gainesville. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
