MIAMI - Joe Haden is a starting cornerback for UF - one of the nation's most well-known and respected teams - and he's about to play for the Gators in their second BCS Championship appearance in three seasons.
It would seem as though Haden is sitting atop the college football world, but he doesn't see it that way just yet. He knows UF still has work to do before it can lay claim to being America's preeminent program, and he marvels at the school that currently holds that honor.
"I look at college football and see a lot of good teams, but when I look at USC, even though I'm playing college football, I'm still just like, 'Man, that's a great team,'" Haden said. "They have one guy, (safety) Taylor Mays, when I look at him, he looks like a superhero or something.
"Me and my dad were talking about how you're not supposed to look that good in your equipment."
For most of the 2000s, Southern Cal has ruled the NCAA. The Trojans have finished in the top five of the final Associated Press rankings every year since 2002, and they're poised to extend that streak after defeating Penn State in the Rose Bowl last week.
USC has been the benchmark for success in college football lately, but if Haden and No. 1 UF can get past No. 2 Oklahoma tonight in the BCS title game, they'll accomplish something even the Trojans haven't.
Since the BCS started in 1998, just one team has won two outright championships, but both the Gators (2006) and Sooners (2000) have a title in hand, meaning tonight's winner will join 2007 champion LSU as the only teams with two BCS titles.
A UF win would establish the Gators as serious challengers to USC's throne, and with a wealth of talent and a solid coaching staff, they are poised to start a dynasty.
"It'll put us way up there," Haden said. "To have two championships in three years, and then we pretty much have the whole team coming back next year, so it will do a lot for momentum heading into next season on such a high."
But the Sooners - who have the most BCS title appearances (four) - are thinking the same thing, and each team will lean on its dynamic offense to make the difference.
Both squads have great balance, averaging more than 200 yards passing and rushing each game, but Oklahoma has blown UF away statistically while playing in the suddenly high-scoring Big 12 Conference.
The Sooners average 54 points and 562.1 yards per game, compared to UF's 45.2 and 442.4, but they'll be without electrifying running back DeMarco Murray (hamstring), while the Gators could get a big boost from the return of receiver Percy Harvin, who missed the Southeastern Conference Championship with a sprained ankle.
Harvin says he feels 95-percent healthy and can sprint and make cuts, but his status will be a mystery until he touches the ball in Dolphin Stadium at 8 p.m.
Oklahoma cornerback Dominique Franks said he is actually hoping Harvin will be fully healthy, because "when we win, we don't want any excuses." Still, the talented wideout's effect on the Gators' offense might be too much for the Sooners' beleaguered defense to handle, as, in addition to his own playmaking ability, he opens up the field for teammates by drawing attention from defenders.
And after more than a month without playing in a game, Harvin is more ready than ever to turn in a classic performance.
"What I told the team and what coach (Urban) Meyer told me was, if I get to play in this game, it's going to be one of the best shows that has ever been put on," Harvin said.
