Associated PressGAINESVILLE, Fla. ó Tim Tebow and No. 11 Florida looked like the juggernaut everyone expected this season.
Tebow threw two touchdown passes to Percy Harvin and ran for a score, and the Gators thumped defending national champion LSU 51-21 Saturday night in The Swamp.
The fourth-ranked Tigers (4-1, 2-1 SEC) had won six conszecutive games, 19 in a row at night and 23 straight in regulation. Florida (5-1, 3-1) ended all those streaks with a fast start and some huge plays from Tebow, Harvin, Jeff Demps and Brandon Spikes.
The Gators also may have put to rest all those uneasy feelings about an inconsistent offense.
LSU, meanwhile, lost for the first time in regulation since falling 23-10 two years ago in Gainesville ó taking the worst beating of coach Les Miles’ four-year career with the Tigers. They had three turnovers, a near interception that went for a touchdown and a costly face-mask penalty.
It was the most-lopsided loss for LSU since a 31-0 beating at home by Alabama in 2002, when Nick Saban was leading the Tigers. The last time LSU gave up more points, Steve Spurrier’s Gators beat the Tigers 56-13 in 1996.
LSU trailed 20-0 late in the first half, but scored touchdowns going into the locker room and coming out to make it a game and put all the pressure on Florida.
Tebow hardly flinched, responding with a 67-yard TD drive that included a perfect pass to Louis Murphy down the sideline and a few nifty runs.
The Gators pulled away from there, getting a 42-yard TD run from Demps, a 52-yard interception return for a score from Spikes and a short TD run from Kestahn Moore.
Tebow finished 14-of-21 passing for 210 yards. He also ran 12 times for 22 yards. Harvin had six catches for 112 yards.
Maybe the biggest difference between this game and others this season for Florida was the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner got plenty of help.
Demps ran 10 times for 129 yards. Chris Rainey added 66 yards on the ground. The Gators finished with 265 yards rushing and outgained LSU 475-321.