Best SEC teams of the last decade: No. 5 (’06 Florida)

Editor’s note: SDS is ranking the 10 best SEC teams of the last decade (since 2005). Previously revealed: No. 10 LSU (2007), No. 9 Alabama (2008), No. 8 LSU (2011), No. 7 Florida (2009), No. 6 Alabama (2012).

5.) 2006 FLORIDA (13-1, BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS)

Urban Meyer’s second season in Gainesville kicked off a mini-dynasty for the Gators who went on to garner a No. 1 ranking of some kind (various polls) during the season — or postseason — during the next four years.

Faced with the nation’s toughest schedule based on winning percentage, Florida’s spread option offense did just enough behind senior Chris Leak and a freshman named Tim Tebow thanks to an elite-level defense which only gave up more than 20 points twice during the 2006 campaign. The Gators overcame a midseason loss on the road at Auburn (Leak’s infamous pump-fake fumble) to win the SEC Championship (against Darren McFadden’s Hogs) and earn a berth in the national championship game.

Defensively, the Gators were led by three All-Americans — Reggie Nelson, Brandon Siler and Ryan Smith — and finished No. 1 in the SEC in scoring defense at 13.5 points per game.

Freshmen Tebow and Percy Harvin provided flash in Meyer’s attack, leading to a national rookie honor for Harvin. Defensive stars Nelson and Jarvis Moss were both selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

During the 2006 season, Florida became the first university in Division I history to capture football and basketball national championship during the same season. The 2006 campaign also marked 100 years of Florida football (1906) and was the 10th anniversary of the program’s first title.

Best offensive players: QB Chris Leak/WR Dallas Baker
Best defensive players: DB Reggie Nelson/LB Brandon Siler
Best wins: Florida won its first SEC Championship since 2000 against Arkansas (38-28) after Harvin tallied 167 yards of total offense and two touchdowns. Trailing by 10 points in the third quarter at Tennessee early in the season, the Gators held on to win, 21-20, after Nelson’s game-clinching interception near midfield late in the game.
Defining moment: The Gators blocked three kicks during a one-point win over South Carolina during former coach Steve Spurrier’s initial return to the Swamp. Jarvis Moss blocked an extra point in the fourth quarter and a potential game-winning 48-yard field goal as time expired. Rated fourth at the time in the BCS standings, it was the first time since a 6-0 start that the Gators started thinking national championship game.

FLORIDA’S 2006 SCHEDULE