Florida vs. Arkansas in the SEC title game: Florida beat FSU by the widest margin of the SEC schools-seven points. The Seminoles had a chance to tie the game with less than two minutes remaining, but turned the ball over on downs deep in their territory. Florida has won three straight over FSU. Quarterback Chris Leak was 21- of- 34 for 283 yards and two scores in the FSU win. Receiver Percy Harvin ran four times for 84 yards including a 41 yard touchdown. Receiver Bubba Caldwell caught eight passes for 124 yards and one score. Punter Eric Wilbur punted eight times for 41 yards. The Gators were 6- of- 16 on third down in the win over FSU. The Gators tallied 388 total yards. Florida had seven penalties for 65 yards. Leak, who is 3-1 against FSU, was 7- of- 8 for 79 yards on the game winning drive. Coach Urban Meyer is 6-0 against Tennessee, Georgia and FSU. Florida has 34 players with four years of eligibility left and 21 seniors. Florida is 11-1 for the third time in school history (1995 and 96 seasons). Wilbur had a 64 yard punt and pinned the Noles at the 1-yard line with 1:42 left in the game. Defensive back Reggie Nelson led the Gators with six tackles and he also intercepted a pass. Coach Urban Meyer said after the game that Nelson was the best defensive back he has seen. Former Gator commit, Jevan Snead who signed with Texas, is considering a transfer.

Gator tailback DeShawn Wynn is battling a shoulder injury, but he will play. Meyer said the only questionable injury is linebacker Earl Everett. Chris Hetland is only 3- of- 12 in field goal attempts. He has missed six from 30-39 yards out. In comparison, Arkansas kicker Jeremy Davis has hit 6 –of- 11 field goals.

Arkansas ran for 297 yards in the loss to LSU. Darren McFadden ran 21 times for 182 yards including an 80 yard touchdown. He also completed two passes in as many attempts for 32 yards. Felix Jones carried 16 times for 137 yards and one score. Jones had three kickoff returns for 83 yards. Arkansas was 5- of- 20 for 62 yards passing. Quarterback Casey Dick was 3- of- 17 for 29 yards and one interception. The Hogs also had eight penalties for 55 yards. The two teams scored 28 points in the fourth quarter. McFadden has 1,485 yards on the season, which broke Madre Hill’s record of 1,387 in 1995.

The Hogs have run the ‘Wildcat formation’ with McFadden at quarterback 52 times this season gaining 453 yards and eight scores. Defensive coordinator Reggie Herring has been nominated for the Broyles Award given to the best job from an assistant coach. Others named are Ohio State quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels, Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster, Louisville offensive coordinator Paul Petrino and OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables. Arkansas offensive lineman Tony Ugoh, Stephen Parker, Jonathan Luigs, Robert Felton and Zac Tubbs have allowed only eight sacks this season. Felton is the only junior, the rest are seniors. Florida tackles Ray McDonald and Joe Cohen did well against the run last week and ends Jarvis Moss and Steven Harris got consistent pressure on the FSU quarterbacks. Arkansas has a chance to win if the quarterbacks either Mustain or Dick can limit the interceptions and complete 60% of their passes. Arkansas receiver Marcus Monk (6-foot-6) presents matchup problems for the Gator secondary. The Arkansas defense is ranked No. 36 in pass defense (182 ypg), run defense No. 37 (117 ypg) and No. 31 (384 ypg). The Hogs are minus 14 in turnover ration.

LSU: Quarterback JaMarcus Russell was 14- of- 22 for 210 yards and two scores in the win over Arkansas. Tailback Keiland Williams ran 12 times for 67 yards in the win over Arkansas. LSU has beaten Arkansas four straight years. Safety LaRon Landry had nine tackles and a pick. Freshman Trindon Holliday ran a kickoff back 92 yards for a score. The Tigers have won 10 games for consecutive years, a first in school history. Three Tiger receivers have at least 50 catches each. LSU could end up in ranked No. 1 in the SEC in total offense and defense, also a first in school history.

Tiger offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher’s name has been linked to the North Texas job, the N C State job and the FSU offensive coordinator vacancy. Tiger fans have requested 32,000 Rose Bowl tickets, but Rose Bowl officials say it’s too premature. Speculation has LSU playing either Michigan or USC. The Rose Bowl has the first pick after the participants in the BCS title game are selected. If Michigan plays Ohio State for the title, then USC would represent the Pac-10 in the Rose Bowl. Lacking a Big Ten or Pac 10 champ then they would either create a game with competitively matched teams or match teams of national interest for TV. The Tigers 2007 schedule has been changed. Middle Tennessee has moved from a November date to the opener on Sept. 1. The Sept. 8 game is Virginia Tech at home. ESPN has proposed to move the Miss State game in Starkville on Sept. 15 to a Thursday night season opener on Aug. 30. If that is done then LSU would have a 10- day cushion before the Virginia Tech game.

South Carolina beat Clemson by three points after Ryan Succop kicked a 35- yard field goal with 7:51 left in the game. Clemson nearly drove the length of the field, but Jad Dean missed a game tying field goal with 13 seconds left in the game. South Carolina broke a four game losing streak to the Tigers. USC was balanced offensively in the win over Clemson. The Gamecocks had 208 yards rushing and 284 yards passing on 72 plays. Tailback Cory Boyd ran 16 times for 106 yards and a score. He has 729 yards on the season. After trailing by 14 points, the Gamecocks scored the final 17. Quarterback Blake Mitchell was 23- of -36 for 268 yards and three picks. Mitchell has thrown for more than 200 yards in four straight weeks. He is 83 of 118 for 1,146 yards and six scores since replacing Syvelle Newton in the second half of the Arkansas game. Receiver Sidney Rice caught eight passes for 103 yards. Rice had at least six catches for the fourth straight week. He is currently No. 5 in career yardage with 2,094. USC overcame the loss of a possible touchdown when Tiger tailback James Davis knocked the ball out of defensive lineman Nathan Pepper’s hands near the goal line after he picked off quarterback Will Proctor. Linebacker Jasper Brinkley had 10 tackles and one sack.

The Gamecocks received commitments Wednesday from 6-4 receivers Jason Barnes of Charlotte, N. C. and Joseph Hills of Bradenton, Florida. South Carolina looks to be going to the Music City Bowl or the Liberty Bowl.

Kentucky gained 410 total yards in the loss to Tennessee. They punted only once. The Wildcats had a chance to win the game when they moved to inside the Tennessee 10- yard line, but they threw consecutive incomplete passes. The Wildcat much maligned defense held Tennessee to under 20 points for only the third time this season. Running back Rafael Little ran 23 times for 119 yards. Tight end Jacob Tamme caught seven passes for 120 yards. Linebacker Wesley Woodyard had 11 tackles and one forced fumble.

Tennessee extended its hex over Kentucky to 22 straight games. Tailback LaMarcus Coker scored on a short run to give the Vols a five point lead with 14:02 left in the game. Kentucky drove down to the Vol 10- yard line but turned the ball over on downs with 3:12 left. Vol quarterback Erik Ainge was 19- of- 33 for 240 yards and one touchdown. The Vols kept Kentucky out of the end zone in the second half. The Vols have beaten Kentucky 22 straight times. Tennessee clinched second place in their division. Receiver Robert Meachem caught six passes for 116 yards. Meachem has 1,265 receiving yards on the season, a Vol record. Tailback LaMarcus Coker ran 22 times for 90 yards and one score. He also caught four passes for 51 yards. Vol officials are speculating that the team’s 9-3 record could land them in the Cotton or Outback. Redshirt freshman center Josh McNeil sustained a foot injury that will put him out of action for a few weeks.

Georgia beat Georgia Tech by three when freshman quarterback Matthew Stafford hit receiver Mohamed Massaquoi for a 4- yard pass with 1:45 left in the game. The same two players combined for the two point conversion to put Georgia up. Tech quarterback Reggie Ball was picked off by defensive back Paul Oliver to end any comeback. Georgia has beaten Tech three straight times. The victory over Georgia Tech was No. 60 for Mark Richt in his coaching career. Richt admitted in his Sunday teleconference that he allowed Mike Bobo to call all the plays. The winning drive for the Dawgs covered 64 yards on 12 plays and took 7:05 off the clock. Georgia became the first unranked Bulldog team to beat a ranked Tech team. Matthew Stafford was 16 –of- 29 for 171 yards and a touchdown. Tech receiver Calvin Johnson was limited to two catches for 13 yards and no scores. Massaquoi came up huge in the final drive. He caught the touchdown pass, two point conversion and a key first down in the same drive. Georgia ran 33 times for 122 yards. Linebacker Tony Taylor returned a fumble 29 yards for a score and had five tackles.

Bulldog center Ian Smith was arrested Wednesday after being found drunk and passed out. He was suspended for the first two games of the season for public intoxication. He was expected to compete for the starting job next year. Georgia assistant Willie Martinez said he has withdrawn his name from consideration for the FIU job. Georgia has 21 verbal commitments after Joe Blaes (6-2, 290), an offensive lineman from Coffeyville Community College and Vince Vance (6-7, 300), an offensive lineman from Georgia Military College, have pledged to the Bulldogs.

Mississippi State’s special teams failed them for the second straight week. State missed two field goals, allowed 134 return yards including a punt return for a score in the loss to Ole Miss. Tailback Anthony Dixon gained 97 of his 125 yards in the first half. Quarterback Omarr Conner was 16- of- 31 for 162 yards and one pick.

Ole Miss beat Mississippi State by three points in the annual Egg Bowl. Freshman receiver Marshay Green took a punt back 47 yards to put the Rebels up by 10 points with 3:29 left in the game. State staged a furious rally to pull within three points with 2:20 left in the game when Conner hit receiver Jason Husband on an 8-yard scoring pass. The Bulldogs failed to recover the onside kick. State got the ball back, but missed a 51-yard field goal as the clock ran out that would have tied the game. The Rebels have won four of the past five games in the series. Ole Miss quarterback Brent Schaeffer completed 9- of- 19 for 131 yards and a score in the State win. Tailback Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis ran for just 37 yards on 17 carries. He fell one yard short of a 1,000. Linebacker Patrick Willis, who had 13 tackles and a sack against Mississippi State, has 355 tackles and 12 sacks in his amazing career.

Kentucky held Tennessee to 336 yards after surrendering 501 to Louisiana Monroe the previous week. Kentucky’s defense, ranked No. 119 nationally, has forced 28 turnovers.

Alabama defensive coordinator Joe Kines has been linked to the opening at Texas for the co-defensive coordinator position after Gene Chizik left to go to Iowa State as head coach.

New Alabama: South Carolina is trying to redo Steve Spurrier’s contract which is in the second year valued at $1.25 per year. He turned down $1.5 originally and told the school president to give it to staff and women’s athletics. Alabama officials reportedly contacted Spurrier Thursday with some kind offer. Spurrier told his team in a Thursday meeting that he would not be leaving. Alabama has also hired Chuck Neinas, a consultant who has helped several schools find administrators or coaches. He helped North Carolina land Butch Davis and earned a fee of $35,000. He is also helping the Miami and NC State searches. No decision will be announced until probably after the SEC title game.

N. C. State possible replacements are Art Briles of Houston, Norm Chow of Tennessee Titans, Dave Clawson from Richmond, Jim Donnan of ESPN, LSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, Paul Johnson of Navy, former East Carolina coach Steve Logan and Tennessee OC David Cutcliffe. Cowher has pulled his name from consideration. The same names as above are in consideration. Former coach Dick Sheridan’s name has also been mentioned. He is currently in private business.

Miami coach Larry Coker has been fired, but he will coach the bowl game. Possible replacements are Greg Schiano from Rutgers, believed to be the top target, and defensive coordinator Randy Shannon. Cane assistant Mario Cristobal is a possibility for the vacancy at Florida International to replace Don Strock. San Diego Chargers assistant Rob Chudzinski and Arkansas quarterbacks coach Alex Wood are also mentioned.

New Miami: AD Paul Dee said he has strong interest in Randy Shannon as head coach.

Two area prospects Brandon Hicks (6-3, 205), one of the best defensive players in the area from Forrest High and Tray Herndon (5-10, 166), a receiver from The Bolles School, have a lot of interest in the Canes. Miami will play Nevada in Boise, Idaho on Dec. 31 in the MPC Computers Bowl.

Florida State possibilities at offensive coordinator are Jimbo Fisher of LSU, Al Borges of Auburn, Bob Petrino’s brother Paul Petrino, Mike Dunbar of Cal and Gary Crowton of Oregon.

North Carolina officially announced the hiring of Butch Davis on Monday.

Wake Forest had nine players on the All-ACC team including five on the first team (offensive linemen Steve Vallos and Steve Justice, linebacker John Abbate and senior safety Josh Gattis and kicker Sam Swank). Quarterback Riley Skinner was a second team selection.

Wake can win if they keep Reggie Ball to less than 150 yards passing. In the three losses to Notre Dame, Clemson and Georgia he was less than 150 yards. Wake will struggle to cover Johnson and Johnson so they must rush the passer and contain Tashard Choice. Wake is No. 6 in turnover margin, but Tech has forced 25 turnovers and have only 13 giveaways. Tech’s run defense has held 9 of 12 opponents to under 100 yards. Wake is No. 21 in run defense primarily because of linebacker Jon Abbate and sophomore Aaron Curry. Ball has completed only 46% of his passes and thrown 12 picks.

Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta’s name has been rumored for the Cincinnati vacancy and offensive coordinator Patrick Nix for the Tulane opening.

BRENT BEAIRD IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE CLAY COUNTY LINE IN ORANGE PARK, FLA., HE ALSO WRITES FOR RIVALS.COM, SAMSPORTSLINE.COM AND GATOR BAIT MAGAZINE. HE CAN BE HEARD ON ESPN 1460 ON MONDAY AND THURSDAY AFTERNOONS ON THE RUMBLE WITH MIKE DEMPSEY AND TOM MCMANUS.