Tim Tebow (pictured) vowed after the setback that he would play hard and make sure his teammates did, too. The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and Gators seek their seventh straight victory over Razorbacks.
GAME 5: FLORIDA GATORS at ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
WHEN: Today at 12:30 p.m. EDT.
WHERE: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (72,000), Fayetteville, Ark.
TV: Raycom.
RADIO: Gator Radio Network.
RECORDS: Florida 3-1 overall, 1-1 SEC East; Arkansas 2-2, 0-1 SEC West.
RANKINGS: Florida is ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press media poll and No. 13 in the USA Today coaches’ poll; Arkansas is ranked in neither poll.
COACHES: Florida, Urban Meyer, fourth season, 34-9 (overall 73-17, eighth season); Arkansas, Bobby Petrino, first season, 2-2 (overall 43-11, fifth season).
SERIES: Florida leads 6-1. 1982: Arkansas 28-24 at Bluebonnet Bowl, Houston; 1995: Florida 34-3 in SEC Championship, Atlanta; 1996: Florida 42-7 at Fayetteville; 1997: Florida 56-7 at Gainesville; 2003: Florida 33-28 at Fayetteville; 2004: Florida 45-30 at Gainesville; 2006: Florida 38-28 in SEC Championship, Atlanta.
RESULTS: Florida beat Hawaii in Gainesville 56-10 Aug. 30, beat Miami 26-3 in Gainesville Sept. 6, beat Tennessee in Knoxville 30-6 Sept. 20, lost 31-30 Mississippi in Gainesville Sept. 27; Arkansas beat Western Illinois in Fayetteville 28-24 Aug. 30, beat Louisiana-Monroe 28-27 Sept. 6 in Fayetteville, lost to Alabama 49-14 in Fayetteville Sept. 20, lost to Texas 52-10 in Austin Sept. 27.
NEXT GAMES: Florida, Louisiana State in Gainesville Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. EDT (CBS); Arkansas, Auburn in Auburn, Ala., Oct. 11 at 5 p.m. EDT.
GATOR NOTES: Florida has scored 14 of the 15 times inside the red zone this season (the only time the Gators didn’t was at Tennessee when they went on fourth-and-9 at Vols 12 with a 30-6 lead and less than five minutes remaining). … Only California, UNLV and Louisiana-Monroe have as many turnovers as the Gators’ 3, which is the lowest total in the nation. All three of those turnovers were fumbles lost in last week’s 31-30 loss to Ole Miss. … Because of its special teams, Florida has started drives 10 times in enemy territory and scored on eight of those drives; only one opponent has started a drive in Florida territory. … In eight seasons as a head coach (two years at Bowling Green, two at Utah and four at Florida) Urban Meyer’s teams have committed just 125 turnovers, a total fewer than any school in the nation during that period. Minnesota has 128 turnovers, Air Force 131 and Wake Forest 138.
HOG NOTES: This is the third straight week Arkansas has taken on a ranked team; Alabama was No. 9 when it played Arkansas while Texas was No. 7. … Next week, the Razorbacks travel to Auburn, which is ranked No. 13; Arkansas has never played four ranked opponents in a row in its 115-year football history. … There are five players on the Arkansas roster with ties to the Sunshine State, with three of them hailing from Tallahassee – tailback Michael Smith, wide receiver Carlton Salters and offensive guard Kareem Crowell; Michael Aguirre is from Fort Lauderdale and safety Walner Leandre is from Tampa. … This is the third time Arkansas has faced the reigning Heisman Trophy winner (Florida’s Tim Tebow); In 2005, Arkansas faced 2004 Heisman winner Matt Leinart of Southern California, which won 70-17 in Los Angeles, and in 1949, Arkansas faced SMU’s Doak Walker, who won the Heisman in 1948, and the Mustangs won 34-6 in Dallas.