ESPN revisited some of the top plays college football has seen since the year 2000, compiling a list of the top 25 plays of this century. Florida, with two national championships and nine double-digit win seasons, was represented on the list -- and not for the wrong reasons.
Gator legend Tim Tebow was featured in ESPN's 16th best play of the century for his unforgettable debut of the Jump Pass in 2006 against No. 9 LSU.
Iconic Tim Tebow plays highlighted by ESPN
Tebow, a freshman backup quarterback, had been by Urban Meyer as a short-yardage rusher during the 2006 season. Facing second and goal from the one yard line with 27 seconds left in the first half against No.9 LSU, Meyer shocked the world and let Tebow throw the football.
As Tebow trotted onto the field with the rest of the offense, the announcers dismissed the possibility of a pass, and it seemed like the Tigers defense did as well.
"With Tebow in the game, there's no way they are going to let Tebow throw a pass, is there?'
That's exactly what the Gators did, faking a quarterback blast and having Tebow pull up short of the line of scrimmage to go airborne and deliver a double-clutch pass to Tate Casey in the back of the end zone.
The pass was Tebow's first-career passing touchdown and gave Florida a 14-10 lead going into halftime, and enough momentum to finish out the game with a monstrous 23-10 victory.
Florida paid homage to the moment two seasons later by calling it again. But this time, Tebow wasn't a lesser-known freshman looking to provide a spark in a potential upset; he was the reigning Heisman winner and the most lethal playmaker in college football. Oh, and he was looking to lead his Gators to their second National Championship in three seasons.
Ahead by three over Oklahoma with three minutes left in the National Championship Game, Tebow sealed the victory with another jump pass, delivering the football to David Nelson in a tight window to make it a two-score game.
You could argue that Tebow deserved more than one play on ESPN's Top 25 list, but the two-time Heisman Trophy winner's highlights will undoubtedly live on -- even if they don't get as much recognition as they deserve.