11 Florida in a 52-46 shootout for the Southeastern Conference championship Saturday night. “The resiliency this team has shown this season to win 11 games is pretty phenomenal.”After falling behind 35-17 by halftime, Florida (8-3, No. Alabama had won every game in the pandemic-affected season by at least 15 points until Florida gave the Tide a scare. Florida: The Gators might’ve pulled off the upset if not for some crucial mistakes in the first half. But Florida also had two silly penalties on apparent third-down stops, extending a pair of drives that turned into touchdowns.

6 Florida defeat Virginia 36-28 in Monday night’s Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. 9 College Football Playoff) capped their first 11-win season since 2012 and improved to 4-0 all-time at the Orange Bowl. “That’s pretty incredible.”Dan Mullen, whose Mississippi State team was upset by Georgia Tech in the 2014 Orange Bowl, improved to 7-2 in bowl games as a head coach. Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen reacts to a call against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half at the Orange Bowl, Dec. 30, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Getty Images)That includes Steve Spurrier, who coached his final game as a Gator in the 2002 Orange Bowl and took part in the pregame coin toss.

6 Florida’s game against Virginia in the Orange Bowl. Virginia Cavaliers head coach Bronco Mendenhall and Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen pose for a photograph during a news conference for the Orange Bowl, Dec. 29, 2019, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (AP Photo)Under Mullen, Florida has quickly surpassed Florida State and Miami to become the premiere program in the Sunshine State. (AP Photo)Florida hasn’t played in a true Orange Bowl game since Steve Spurrier coached his final game as a Gator to conclude the 2001 season. “The Orange Bowl is the first bowl game that I was ever a part of as a grad assistant at Syracuse,” Mullen recalled.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – For the first time since Steve Spurrier coached his final game at Florida, the Gators are headed back to the Orange Bowl. The Orange Bowl announced Sunday that No. 9 in the College Football Playoff rankings) will face Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division champion Virginia (No. Florida hasn’t played in the Orange Bowl since the Gators defeated Maryland 56-23 to conclude the 2001 season. The Cavaliers (9-4) will make their first-ever appearance in the Orange Bowl.

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Tim Tebow said he won't be speaking at the Republican National Convention next week. "I wake up this morning to find out that I'm speaking at the Republican National Convention," Tebow said. "So let's come together on that. "Let's forget about our quarrels and our differences and let's come together on one nation under God." Tebow has been out of football since being released by the Philadelphia Eagles before the start of the 2015 season.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Longtime University of Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley, one of the most successful college sports leaders in the country, is retiring. Foley, 63, informed his staff and head coaches of the move Monday, calling it quits after 40 years at Florida. He will remain at Florida as emeritus athletic director for the duration of his current contract. Florida President Dr. Kent Fuchs thanked Foley for his years of service and commitment to the Gators. "I firmly believe my time as athletics director is ending so that I can move into the next phase of my life, and I eagerly look forward to this next phase," Foley said.

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Tim Tebow has won a Heisman Trophy, two national championships and an NFL playoff game in his young career. The former Florida Gators star quarterback will appear in an upcoming episode of Spike's "Lip Sync Battle." A promotional video for the show released Monday features Tebow doing his best Rocky Balboa as he performs to Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger." The song was featured in the 1982 movie "Rocky III" starring Sylvester Stallone, who is an Oscar nominee for best supporting actor in "Creed." Find out Thursday night when the new episode of "Lip Sync Battle" premieres.