Tim Tebow walked toward the sideline, raised his arms above his head and shared a long embrace with Florida coach Urban Meyer. It wasn't quite how either of them expected this season to end. It came in the Sugar Bowl instead of the national championship game. It came against Cincinnati instead of Texas. It was about redemption instead of perfection.
Regardless, it was hard to top for both of them because of Meyer's uncertain future, Tebow's triumphant finale and a 51-24 victory over #4 Cincinnati that may have been as important as any of the others the two have shared during the last four seasons.
Tebow threw for a career-high 482 yards and three touchdowns, ran for 51 yards and another score and capped a storied college career with his finest performance. It was the best in BCS history, too.
After a 32-13 loss to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game last month, Tebow had to settle for the Sugar Bowl.
And anyone who thought the #5 Gators (13-1) wouldn't be ready against the Bearcats (12-1) doesn't know their emotional leader.
The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner completed his first 12 passes, led the Gators to scores on their first five possessions and finished with 533 total yards - more than anyone in Bowl Championship Series history. He topped former Texas star Vince Young's record of 467 yards set against Southern California in the 2005 Rose Bowl.