ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

	Rick Dole/Getty Images
	Florida quarterback Tim Tebow struggled Saturday, throwing two interceptions in a 29-19 that left him in no mood to talk to reporters after the game.

STARKVILLE, Miss. - There were a couple of firsts for Florida quarterback Tim Tebow on Saturday night at Scott Field, neither one the kind we've grown accustomed to from the Gators' record-setting quarterback.

He threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns by Mississippi State freshman Johnthan Banks, the first one putting the Bulldogs right back in the game when it looked like the Gators were about to take command at the end of the first half.

The second pick was even more inexplicable. Tebow was trying to throw out of his own end zone with less than four minutes to play and the game already in hand when he was hit by Mississippi State's Pernell McPhee, and the ball fluttered right to Banks.

And then after the game, which No. 1 Florida hung on and won 29-19 despite repeated woes in the red zone and a determined effort by Dan Mullen's Bulldogs, Tebow declined to talk to the media for the first time in his career.

At least, the first time he was healthy enough to talk to the media after a game.

Several Florida officials were asked about Tebow's availability, but they said he opted not to come down and speak with reporters and was already on the bus.

So all the way around, it wasn't one of Tebow's better performances, especially for a guy who's been showered with positive publicity throughout his career.

But Tebow wasn't the only no-show. So was the Gators' offense any time it sniffed the Bulldogs' goal line, which is quickly becoming a trend. They've scored touchdowns on just two of their last 15 trips inside the red zone.

The frustration in Florida coach Urban Meyer's voice was obvious as he did his best to take the blame for an offense that's clearly not hitting on all cylinders right now.

"I didn’t coach very well," Meyer said. "I put Tim in some tough situations down in the red zone. Our red zone offense right now is really an issue and something we’ll get on during the plane ride home."

How's this for perspective: A true freshman safety for the Bulldogs (Banks) scored as many touchdowns as the Gators' offense did the entire game.

Meyer was candid about the pressure starting to get to his club. He said there were too many people on the team pressing to live up to the No. 1 billing, and it starts with him.

"I think they’re pressing like crazy, and I think the head coach wants to score so damn bad that he’s not used to this," Meyer said. "I’m not used to it. But even more important to me, those people in that (locker) room aren’t used to it. You make a call or something, and I can feel it. I mean, I’m pressing … score, score, do this, do that ... and we do things we shouldn’t be doing."

In SEC wins over Tennessee, LSU, Arkansas and Mississippi State this season, the Gators have scored just seven offensive touchdowns. There were single games a year ago where they could have scored seven offensive touchdowns had they left the pedal to the metal in the fourth quarter.

But this isn't last year, nor is this last year's offense.

"The game of football is people making plays, and we just have to step up and make more," Florida center Maurkice Pouncey said.

Asked specifically what was going on in the red zone, Pouncey answered, "No comment."

Once again, the Gators' downfield passing game wasn't very effective, and Tebow finished 12-of-22 for 127 yards. He was also sacked three times and ended up with 22 rushing attempts. He's now carried the ball 121 times this season. He carried it 234 times as a sophomore during his Heisman Trophy season.

Meyer balked at the notion that Tebow was trying to do too much.

"No, we might be asking him to do too much," said Meyer, who kept his team in the locker room for a long time after the game was over.

His message to his players was to not allow themselves to be splintered. In other words, he doesn't want to hear any offense vs. defense talk.

The truth is, though, that the defense is carrying this team right now.

"I think the best football for the Florida Gators is still yet to come," senior linebacker Ryan Stamper said. "We haven’t played our best football on both sides of the ball, and we’re still 7-0.

"I look at that as a plus."

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- On a night when Florida wasn’t particularly sharp on offense, the No. 1 Gators leaned on their defense to pull away from Mississippi State for a 29-19 victory at Scott Field.

The Gators (7-0, 5-0) extended their winning streak to 17 straight games, but were pretty helter-skelter at times before finally shaking loose from the Bulldogs, who weren’t about to make it easy on the defending national champions.

Florida was clinging to a 16-13 lead heading into the fourth quarter, before capitalizing on a failed fake punt by Mississippi State and then getting a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown by Dustin Doe.

If the Gators were looking for style points, they didn’t get any. Tim Tebow threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns, the final one from his own end zone in the waning minutes and with the Gators leading by 16 points at the time.

Florida also struggled in the red zone offensively, but got another stellar effort from its defense.

The Bulldogs (3-5, 1-3) didn’t score an offensive touchdown and really only threatened one time when they got to the Gators’ 9-yard line in the third quarter, but bogged down and had to kick a field goal.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- After seeing the replay on television, it looked like the ball might have been loose before Florida's Dustin Doe crossed the goal line with his 23-yard interception return for a touchdown.

The play was reviewed, but the call on the field stood -- which was that he had already crossed the goal line before the ball came out of his hand.

Either way, it was really close. Mississippi State hasn't gotten the best end of the deal this season on close calls. Remember the Houston game and Tyson Lee being ruled across the line of scrimmage on the fourth-down pass when he clearly wasn't?

Here's another question: What was Doe doing holding the ball out like that before he got in the end zone anyway?

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen wasn't going to play it conservative and called for a fake punt deep in his own territory early in the fourth quarter, but Robert Elliott slipped down before he had a chance to get to the first-down marker.

The Gators made him pay by taking over and scoring a touchdown a few plays later to go ahead 22-13 on Chris Rainey's 8-yard scoring run.

It's always a questionable gamble when it doesn't work, but Mullen had seen his offense not have much success moving the ball against Florida's defense and figured he might catch the Gators napping there.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The more you watch Florida's offense, the more you realize that this team is going to go offensively as far as Tim Tebow will take them.

Tebow is the Gators' offense right now, and with nobody else really stepping up around him, he's becoming easier to defend. Mississippi State has done an excellent job tonight of keeping him bottled up.

It's also pretty obvious that Florida coach Urban Meyer doesn't think Mississippi State can drive the ball against his defense, so he's not going to take many chances.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- I don't blame Mississippi State's Dan Mullen for trying to shake it up a little bit and go with Chris Relf at quarterback.

Relf, more of a runner and a much more physical player, had been suspended for the last two games. He helped trigger a nice drive for the Bulldogs inside Florida territory, but was sacked on third-and-short from the 32.

I sort of thought Mullen might play for two downs there and run the ball.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- This is the first chance I've had to see Mississippi State junior defensive end Pernell McPhee live, and he is one heck of a player.

McPhee has been a load for Florida to handle all night and draws so much attention. He's one of the best defensive linemen I've seen in the SEC this season with how active he is and how hard he plays on every down.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- No. 1 Florida took a shaky 13-10 lead into halftime Saturday night against Mississippi State with the cowbells clanging and Scott Field rocking.

Here’s a quick halftime analysis:

Turning point: With Florida at the Mississippi State 7 and threatening to add to its lead, Tim Tebow floated a pass into traffic that was deflected into the hands of Mississippi State freshman defensive back Johnathan Banks in the end zone. Banks took the interception back 100 yards for a touchdown.

Stat of the half: Florida moved inside Mississippi State’s 10-yard line three times in the first half and only came away with six points. The Gators also missed a 37-yard field goal after getting to the 20 on their first possession.

What Mississippi State needs to do: If the Bulldogs can get this game into the fourth quarter and keep it a one-possession game, all the pressure shifts to the Gators. To win, though, Mississippi State is going to have to find some offense and keep its defense off the field in the second half.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- While it's beginning to feel like Florida might be taking control of this game against Mississippi State, a bigger-picture concern for the Gators is not being able to score touchdowns when they get inside the 10.

Twice, they've had to settle for short field goals. Not having an every-down running back certainly hurts them in those situations, but there's also not a Percy Harvin-type player to really spread everybody out down there.

In other words, it's all falling on Tim Tebow's shoulders in those short-yardage situations.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Tim Tebow has pulled into a tie with SEC royalty.

His 26-yard touchdown run to put Florida ahead 10-3 over Mississippi State moved him into a tie with Herschel Walker for the most career rushing touchdowns in the SEC. They both have 49.

To be fair to Walker, he did set the record in three years.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Kudos to Mississippi State defensive end Pernell McPhee for blowing up Florida's third-down play inside the 1, forcing a field goal late in the first quarter.

But how can the Gators not have some package in place there where Tim Tebow lines up under center? I understand they run their offense out of the shotgun. But when you need a foot for a touchdown and have a 240-pound quarterback who thrives on contact the way Tebow does, how can you not run a quarterback sneak there from under center?

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Florida is playing without senior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes, and Mississippi State has had some success moving the ball in the first quarter in taking an early 3-0 lead.

Florida junior defensive tackle Lawrence Marsh has also yet to play, which means Terron Sanders and Omar Hunter are going to be playing a bunch of snaps Saturday night for the Gators.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Florida defensive tackle Jaye Howard didn't make the trip and won't play in Saturday night's game against Mississippi State.

Senior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes is dressed and has been working some with the first-team defense in warmups. He's been bothered by a groin injury, and the Gators are going to play it by ear how much, and if, he plays in the game.

Defensive tackle Lawrence Marsh is also doubtful to play in the game.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The cowbells have been clanging since early this morning.

You hear the clanging and immediately know where you are, and they're clanging a little louder today.

No. 1 Florida is in town.

The entire Mississippi State community has been ready for this game, been anticipating it, been counting down the days.

The fans were scurrying for spots to put up their tents on campus at 5 o'clock on Friday, a tradition around here. But they were doing so with a little more intensity than normal.

Mississippi State athletic director Greg Byrne, who's done a terrific job of marketing the program and building on the excitement of first-year coach Dan Mullen, said Friday night that normally there are 50 to 100 tickets that are held back for home games just in case.

This week, he had a grand total of six.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- One of the biggest storylines in the Florida-Mississippi State game on Saturday night may end up being how many of their injured defenders the Gators are able to get on the field.

Middle linebacker Brandon Spikes and tackles Jaye Howard and Lawrence Marsh are all iffy and didn't practice much this week. Tackle Justin Trattou (torn biceps) is definitely out, and Florida coach Urban Meyer said Howard (knee) and Marsh (ankle) are both doubtful.

Spikes missed most of the Arkansas game last week with a groin injury. The Gators missed his productivity and leadership. The players on that side of the ball will all tell you that they typically go as Spikes goes.

Here's the other thing: When you're going against Mississippi State bruising running back Anthony Dixon, the last place you want to be shorthanded is the middle of your defense.