The Tim Tebow show may soon make its way to New York.
The sophomore quarterback's Heisman Trophy candidacy is back on track after a ridiculous seven-touchdown performance Saturday night at South Carolina in the Gators' 51-31 dismantling of the Gamecocks.
In what has been an upset-filled college football season, even the sharpest critics are being forced to consider Tebow as a true contender for the award presented each December in New York.
Even his coach is finally chiming in.
"This was a Heisman performance," UF coach Urban Meyer said during the postgame press conference. "I normally don't say stuff like that. Five touchdowns rushing? Five touchdowns rushing? That's unbelievable. That's a pretty good day's work. I might buy him a sandwich on the way home."
Compare Tebow's performance with others' that have weakened lately, and his case becomes stronger.
Kentucky quarterback Andre' Woodson has faded, and the Wildcats have lost two of their last three. Boston College's Matt Ryan has completely left the national picture after his team lost two straight, the second of which, against unranked Maryland, required a fierce Eagles comeback to even make it a respectable 42-35 loss.
Arkansas running back Darren McFadden's chances also took a hit this weekend when his team was walloped 34-13 at Tennessee.
"I'd vote for him," team captain and wide receiver Andre Caldwell said of Tebow. "He's got my vote. Games like that will hype you up - get you to win the Heisman. If he keeps playing like that, there's no way he shouldn't get it."
Tebow's biggest competition at the moment is Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon. Tebow has 42 total touchdowns on the season and Dixon only has 28, but the Ducks have just one loss compared to the Gators' three.
Also, a sophomore has never won the award. Former UF quarterback Rex Grossman may have come the closest of any second-year player, but he finished runner-up behind Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch in 2001.
While Meyer said it was "as good of a performance as I've ever seen a quarterback play," he doesn't plan on launching a major campaign. When Meyer was at Utah, there was a campaign to get quarterback Alex Smith the award. However, Meyer said that UF generates more exposure than Utah does, and it's not as necessary to hype a name like Tebow's.
"I imagine a lot of people have seen him play," Meyer said.
Although Gators fans may cheer as Woodson trails in the Heisman race, UF needs some strong performances from him to keep slim Southeastern Conference championship hopes alive.
Tennessee and Georgia must lose for the Gators to get back to Atlanta. The Wildcats play the Bulldogs this week and the Volunteers next week.
At least for the time being, the Gators have turned into Wildcats fans.
Tebow said he would gladly trade a Heisman Trophy for a spot in Atlanta.
"Now we're stuck praying and hoping and rooting for Kentucky," Tebow said. "Hopefully, Andre' Woodson has some great games and goes and wins the Heisman for us."
