Tim Tebow's world, again

COLUMBIA -- He jogged off the field at Williams-Brice Stadium with big bruises and a bigger smile as the Florida band played victory songs and friendly fans cheered his every step.

It wasn't as much about what Tim Tebow did Saturday, though he ran for a touchdown and threw for a touchdown to help the No. 1 Gators stay undefeated with a 24-14 win over South Carolina.

It was what the senior celebrity quarterback didn't do: Make significant mistakes.

Tebow, perhaps the greatest college football player since everyone stopped playing both offense and defense several decades ago, didn't necessarily look like a leading Heisman contender.

But he won, for the 10th time this season and 20th time in a row.

"That's the most important thing out of everything that's

going on, just winning," Tebow said. "Being 10-0, going through the SEC undefeated, it means a lot. It's a really good conference and we've played a lot of really good teams. To go undefeated means a lot."

Credit South Carolina with keeping the game closer than expected. Hard to believe the Gamecocks, injuries and youth considered, can play much better against such a good team.

"When you're at Florida and you're defending national champions," Tebow said, "you know you're going to get everyone's best game. That's something we take pride in."

Hybrid vehicle

It was so similar to Florida's 23-13 win over Tennessee on Sept. 19 and 29-19 win at Mississippi State on Oct. 24.

The Gators' offense is not a well-oiled machine.

Wideout Riley Cooper dropped two touchdown passes, or at least missed a pair of Tebow deep throws NFL receivers will catch.

"I was so tired of seeing balls go off fingertips," Florida head coach Urban Meyer said. "We have to make those plays. We all know what's coming down the road."

Oh, that.

An already advertised clash with No. 3 Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.

The Gators have qualified with defense and a 6-3, 240-pound hybrid willing and able to take more punishment than all the other quarterbacks in the conference combined.

A brief glimpse at Tebow vs. the Gamecocks:

--First play: As Florida was preparing to kick off, Tebow was so busy encouraging special teamer Omarius Hines, Meyer had to literally pull his quarterback off the field to avoid a penalty.

--First snap: After a South Carolina punt, Florida was backed up to its own goal-line. But Tebow immediately provided breathing room with an 11-yard run to the 25 before diving, colliding, spinning and landing on his helmet.

--First third-down test: Later in that initial drive, a 68-yard touchdown play on a laser to Cooper for a TD (ho-hum).

--First crisis: After the Gamecocks tied the game, 7-7, Tebow responded to a third-and-12 with a 30-yard strike to Cooper on the way to a field goal.

Tebow's TD count

The case for South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia out-playing Tebow on Saturday includes solid evidence. Garcia pulled off the single most impressive play of the day, dodging an All-America linebacker (Brandon Spikes) and standing strong against the charge of a projected first-round draft pick (Fort Dorchester High School grad Carlos Dunlap) to deliver a touchdown strike to tight end Weslye Saunders.

But Tebow holds or will break a whole bunch of NCAA records and this one speaks loudest: He already leads all players current and gone in touchdown responsibility with 132 (former Florida quarterback and Heisman winner Danny Wuerffel is second at 122).

Two more for Tebow on Saturday.

As we know, No. 15 in Florida blue, white and orange is two star players in one, a fullback good enough to lead the SEC in career rushing touchdowns and a premier passer.

He also takes twice as many shots as a conventional quarterback, and the South Carolina defense was pounding Tebow all day. Tackles. Knockdowns. Two sacks.

"I've had a lot worse as far as that," Tebow said with another big grin. "When you win, it takes away a lot of the pain."

Reach Gene Sapakoff at gsapakoff@postandcourier.com or 937-5593.