ATLANTA -- The Gators entered Saturday's SEC Championship Game as a heavy underdog to Alabama.
The UF defense played well enough to win. However, the offense did not in No. 18-ranked Florida's 29-15 loss to the second-ranked Crimson Tide, who kept their bid for a national title alive with their 10th consecutive victory.
Florida's offense was non-existent in the second and third quarters as Alabama pulled away to become the first back-to-back SEC Championship Game winners since Tennessee 17 years ago.
The highlight for Florida was
Antonio Callaway's 85-yard punt return for a touchdown that gave the Gators a 7-2 lead in the second quarter. The Crimson Tide responded with 27 consecutive points before Florida scored again on
Treon Harris' 46-yard touchdown pass to
C.J. Worton late in the fourth quarter.
WHAT IT MEANS: After a 10-1 start, the No. 18-ranked Gators enter bowl season on a two-game losing streak. While Florida fans are certainly disappointed in Saturday's performance, the Gators surpassed expections in their first season under
Jim McElwain to return to the SEC Championship Game for the first time in six years.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Gators quarterback Harris took a lot of heat after Florida's 27-2 loss to Florida State for his shaky performance. Harris started off OK Saturday, passing for 68 yards in the first quarter, including a 46-yard pass to Callaway. However, nothing went right after the first quarter as Florida's offense went silent. Harris finished 9 of 24 for 165 yards with one touchdown and one interceptions. The Gators managed just 180 yards of total offense, and only 97 after the first quarter.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: The Gators opened the game with some success against Alabama's defense, ranked second nationally. Florida owned an 83-38 advantage in total yards in the first quarter. After that, well, it got ugly for Florida's offense. Alabama outgained Florida 308-3 over the second and third quarters.
SUBPLOT: Much of the pregame speculation focused on whether Florida's defense could slow down Heisman Trophy favorite Derrick Henry. Henry managed 68 yards on 19 carriers in the first half as Florida held Henry to 3.4 yards per carry, well below his season average. However, with UF's defense on the field so much, Henry began to assert himself in the second half and finished with 189 yards on 44 carries to win the game's MVP award. Henry eclipsed the SEC's single-season rushing record, surpassing Herschel Walker's record of 1,891 yards set 34 years ago.
UP NEXT: The Gators await their bowl destination following the program's first trip to the SEC Championship Game in six years. Most projections have Florida facing Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.
