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BCS Championship Game Top images from No. 1 Florida's 24-14 victory over No. 2 Oklahoma more photos

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Tebow delivered a passionate promise after Florida’s 31-30 loss to Mississippi in late September, vowing to work harder than anyone else in the country. Teammates called him “prophet” leading up to the title game, and he made good on his word again in the second half Thursday night.

Tebow ran for 85 of his 109 yards after the break, bowling over defenders, riling up the pro-Florida crowd and even drawing a unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for doing the Gator chomp. Fourth-best quarterback in the country?

Oklahoma cornerback Dominique Franks said last week that Tebow wasn’t better than any of the top three quarterbacks in the Big 12 this season.

“Maybe we need to send that guy some flowers and some chocolates and a thank you note,” receiver David Nelson said. “That really fired him up. He played outside himself in the first half, trying to do too much. But he calmed down in the second half and was really the Tim Tebow we all know.”

Harvin looked like his usual self, too, even though Meyer said he about 80 percent following an ankle injury. Harvin ran for 122 yards and a touchdown, added 49 more receiving and had a 52-yard run that set up the go-ahead field goal in the fourth.

“That was a tremendous effort,” Meyer said. “Very unselfish effort. What he did to prepare for that game is what legends are made of.”

Florida’s defense did the rest, holding Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford and the high-powered Sooners to a season-low in yards (363) and points (14). Meyer said two plays stood out: Ahmad Black’s fourth-quarter interception at the Florida 24-yard line, the one in which he stripped the ball out of Juaquin Iglesias’ hands; and Major Wright’s pick near the goal line at the end of the first half, when the ball bounced off three other defenders before landing in Wright’s hands.

“I want to make sure that our players, this team goes down as one of the great teams in Florida football history,” Meyer said. “It’s one of the greatest group of young people I’ve ever been around. Everything they have coming to them, they deserve it.”

It could be NFL riches or maybe a trip to the Rose Bowl.

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