Florida coach Urban Meyer didn’t waste any time Wednesday in calling Alabama the most talented team in the country.

He also said he’s gauging his team on how it practices.

“We’re gauging our progress here at Florida in how we practice, not so much in the games right now,” Meyer said. “Our practice was reflective in the game last week, so we’re anxious more than anything to get this Wednesday practice underway.”

Several other times Wednesday during the SEC coaches’ teleconference, an obviously dialed-in Meyer made reference to Wednesday’s practice and said he had a hard time seeing past that.

He was, however, brutally honest about the Gators’ last trip to Bryant-Denny Stadium, which produced his first loss as Florida’s head coach and the most lopsided defeat he's suffered at Florida. Alabama, coached by Mike Shula at the time, drilled Florida 31-3 in the fifth week of the 2005 season.

“I remember a great SEC environment. I remember we had a very bad team, and we didn’t play well,” Meyer said.

Later, Meyer was asked where he would put his team on a talent meter with Alabama.

After initially saying he wouldn’t answer that question, his response was pretty interesting.

“I think the thing they have over every other team in the country at this point is talent and experience, so they would plus us in experience right now,” Meyer said. “But as far as talent, I kind of like where our team’s headed.”

The reality is that both teams have recruited like gangbusters the last few years. In fact, it’s to the point where they do more selecting than they do recruiting.

According to ESPN’s recruiting rankings, Florida had the No. 1 class in 2010 and Alabama the No. 3 class. In 2009, Alabama’s class was ranked No. 2 and Florida’s No. 5. In 2008, Alabama’s class was ranked No. 3 and Florida’s No. 4. And in 2007, Florida’s class was ranked No. 2 and Alabama’s No. 17.

In other words, there won't be any shortage of talent on the field Saturday in Tuscaloosa.