A Look At The College Football Landscape:

Gators, Tide Remove Suspense

Posted Nov 11, 2008 by Scott Brown

Updated Nov 11, 2008 at 06:38 PM

The SEC Championship Game is going back to the future, with Alabama and Florida hooking up for the sixth time in the 17-year history of the event.

Usually, of course, at least one SEC division championship is in doubt much later than the second Saturday in November, but there can hardly be any question that the Gators and Tide have established themselves as the class of the conference. Think Georgia would dare dispute the claim of either?

Most observers assume the title game will also catapult its winner into the showdown for the BCS championship, but Bama and UF have a collective five opponents to handle (OK, four and the Citadel) before then, and it goes without saying Auburn and/or Florida State would love to change that equation.

Rock Bottom At Rocky Top
Another victim of both division champions, Tennessee, simply can’t finish 2008 soon enough, the latest debacle being a home loss to Wyoming this past weekend. Neither of the Vols’ final two opponents - Vanderbilt and Kentucky - is a gimme, and what’s worse; who in the world is going to take over for Philip Fulmer?

Jon Gruden has already passed, and it’s hard to imagine the prospect of dealing with Urban Meyer, Mark Richt and Nick Saban every year is going to draw many of the best and brightest to seek the job. David Cutcliffe may reverse his stance of no interest once the season is finished, but is that what it’s come to for Tennessee? Hoping a guy who got fired from Ole Miss changes his mind?