Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

The greatness of a player like Tim Tebow always begs the invariable question of what comes next for a team.

In other words, what’s it going to look like after he’s gone?

	Mark Zerof-US PRESSWIRE
	John Brantley would be the starting quarterback against LSU if Tim Tebow is unable to play.

We might find out sooner than expected in what will easily be Florida's toughest road game of the season.

The good news for Tebow and the Gators is that he has a week to recover from a concussion after taking a wicked hit last Saturday in the 41-7 win at Kentucky.

Florida is off this Saturday. Depending on the severity of Tebow’s concussion and when he’s cleared by doctors for contact, he could be back next week. But there's also no guarantee that he will be available for the trip to LSU on Oct. 10.

In the meantime, you can bet Urban Meyer & Co. will be preparing without him.

Life without Tebow isn’t a pleasant thought for anybody in the Gator Nation. He’s been the ultimate take-charge quarterback, willing the Gators to first downs and touchdowns seemingly whenever they need them.

Third-and-short has become automatic with Tebow on the field. The same goes for goal-line situations.

Playing against him is like playing against an extra player because he’s a 240-pound fullback who can throw it at the quarterback position.

If the Gators have to go with backup John Brantley, they will tweak what they do to his strengths, which is throwing the football. Meyer had already said prior to this season that Brantley earned the opportunity to play -- and not just in mop-up roles. Florida already had a package in place geared to Brantley's game.

He throws a gorgeous pass and gave everybody in Gainesville a ton of confidence with the way he played in spring practice. Brantley would be starting at a lot of places in the SEC right now.

If Tebow can’t play, the most pressing question becomes: Who’s going to get the tough yards on the ground for the Gators? They’re not brimming with proven every-down running backs, and Tebow has carried the ball 53 times in his last three games.

If it is Brantley, it becomes even more important for the Florida receivers to step up and play well. They’ve still blown hot and cold this season, and Deonte Thompson has missed the last two weeks with a hamstring injury.

The thing that absolutely can’t be replaced if Tebow has to sit is that infectious will to win of his that has impacted the entire team.

Plain and simple, he’s the heartbeat of this club. There are other strong leaders on the team like Brandon Spikes, Maurkice Pouncey and Joe Haden, but Tebow is the one that makes it all go.

The faces of the Florida players as he lay motionless on the turf at Commonwealth Stadium last Saturday tell you all you need to know.

In so many ways, he’s the most indispensable player in college football. For my money, he’s also the best player in college football.

The vigil continues on when we might see him back on the field again … and what the Gators will look like without him if he needs a few weeks to fully recover.