GATORS NOT YET OUT...

Gators not yet out of national picture

By BRYAN JONES
Alligator Staff Writer

Kim Klement / Alligator
Senior quarterback Chris Leak falls after missing a lateral from Jarred Fayson. Auburn defensive back Patrick Lee recovered the ball for the Tigers' final touchdown as the final seconds expired. Leak also lost a crucial fumble earlier in the fourth quarter of UF's loss.

AUBURN, Ala. - Don't close the book on UF's national title hopes just yet.

Despite dropping to No. 9 in the Associated Press poll, the Gators debuted at No. 6 in the poll that counts - the Bowl Championship Series standings.

Compromised of the USA Today Coaches' Poll, the Harris Poll and six computer polls, the BCS will ultimately decide who plays for a national title Jan. 8.

UF dropped to No. 10 in the USA Today poll and No. 9 in the Harris Poll, but the Gators are ranked No. 4 based on an average of six computer criteria, trailing only USC, Ohio State and Michigan in this third of the BCS.

Should the Gators win their remaining games, they would still need some minor miracles, but if the right pieces fall into place, the Gators could conceivably find themselves in Arizona for the BCS National Championship game.

"Florida's still in the picture," said Jimmy Johnson, former NFL and college coach, on FOX. "A lot of these teams with just one loss, they're going to be in the picture at the end of the year."

There are four undefeated teams ahead of UF in the BCS - Ohio State, Southern California, Michigan and West Virginia. The only other undefeated team with a legitimate shot is Louisville, who is surprisingly one spot behind the Gators at No. 7.

Ohio State and Michigan will play each other this season, as will Louisville and West Virginia.

USC - who is ranked No. 1 in all but one computer poll - hasn't had a convincing win in weeks, and its toughest games are still ahead. The Trojans have a three-game stretch in November when they'll face Oregon, California and Notre Dame.

UF may also need to root against Arkansas.

The Razorbacks lost to USC earlier this season, and every Arkansas win helps the Trojans' strength of schedule. Also, the Gators' best chance to make a statement win would be to get another shot at Auburn in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game. The Tigers are ranked No. 4 in the BCS, despite losing to Arkansas.

"We just have to look forward to Georgia and move forward, and hopefully we'll get to see [Auburn] again in the SEC championship," wide receiver Andre Caldwell said.

Arkansas would need to lose two SEC games for Auburn to win the West division. However, the Razorbacks are still scheduled to play LSU and Tennessee, two teams the Gators have already defeated this season.

In any case, UF controls its own destiny in the SEC title race.

UF (6-1, 4-1 SEC) has three remaining conference games - Georgia in Jacksonville, a road game against Vanderbilt and a meeting with South Carolina in the Swamp - and the Gators figure to be substantial favorites in each game. Should they win all three, they are guaranteed a spot in Atlanta.

"We work too hard and we are going to keep fighting, and it will all pay off at the end," Caldwell said. "[The loss to Auburn] is real bitter, but we're just going to move forward and stay focused towards an SEC championship."