Florida Football: How Many National Titles Do the Florida Gators Deserve? | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

A decade after reaching the mountain top, the Gators returned.

The Gators overcame their next challenge, beating LSU at home.

By the end of the regular season, UF was 11-1. 

But wait! Even with an 11-1 record Urban's crew was not assured a berth in the title game. As winners of the SEC East, they would first have to play Arkansas (with Heisman Trophy contender back Darren McFadden) for the SEC championship crown. But even a victory in Atlanta might have not been enough.

Starting on Thanksgiving Weekend 2006, the pieces started to fall into place as Ohio State faced Michigan.

Should the Trojans (10-1) beat UCLA (6-5) at the Rose Bowl next weekend, they'll probably face top-ranked Ohio State in the BCS title game Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz...The Trojans played in the BCS title game the past two years -- winning one and losing one -- and earned a piece of the national championship three years ago after being bypassed for the title game.

So basically, the new No. 2 USC Trojans were favored to play for their third national championship in three years and win their third in four years. Their dynasty was nigh unstoppable; even if the Gators won the SEC championship, there was a huge possibility that the team would be given the cold shoulder.

Unless USC lost to mediocre UCLA. And on the night on the SEC championship, that miracle just happened.

But anyways, the case for the Gators in the BCS National Championship Game was a strong one: They'd played one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Having an extra game to play (the SEC championship) didn't hurt either. 

Nevertheless, it was up to the voters and formulas to decide who would play the Buckeyes in Pasadena.

For those of you who dislike Urban Meyer now, at least take comfort that Ohio State lost both national title games to the Gators.

But before Urban left, the best was yet to come.