Tebow, Spurrier and Wuerffel take over SEC Nation

Florida football royalty took over the Week 1 edition of SEC Nation and discussed what needs to change for the Gators to return to greatness.

Florida football royalty appeared on SEC Nation Saturday morning in Gainesville ahead of the season opener against Miami.

The two “greatest quarterbacks in the history of Gator football” appeared alongside the man who brought the winning culture to The Swamp — the Head Ball Coach, [autotag]Steve Spurrier[/autotag] — in a segment hosted by UF Journalism School alumna [autotag]Laura Rutledge[/autotag].

Spurrier deflected much of the praise that came from [autotag]Tim Tebow[/autotag] and [autotag]Danny Wuerffel[/autotag], but he offered some commentary on the mentality shift he’d like to see from the Gators after three-straight losing seasons.

“That’s what we need to get back to right there,” Spurrier said after being reminded of a time when Florida consistently competed for the SEC crown.

“Our expectations have got to be up there and go after them. Somebody asked me one time, ‘How did you guys win so many SECs?’ Danny and his guys won four in a row, ’93 through ’96.

“Somebody once said, that what you accomplish in life is proportionate to what you attempt to do. And we tried to win it every year. Y’all did too,” Spurrier said pointing to Tebow. “You can’t win it every year. It just doesn’t work out. But if you try to every year, sometimes you might just do it.”

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Wuerffel added to Spurrier’s comments, noting that it takes more than desire to accomplish what his teams did.

“When you have great players, you also have people who care about one another,” Wuerffel said remembering a Tebow comment from earlier.

“There’s some magic that happens when it’s not just about you. You kind of sprinkle that in with some swagger, with maybe the greatest offensive head coach ever (Spurrier) and you make a run.

“I think we were a little ahead of our time. We were cutting edge. Several of those pieces are together now, but this team needs to find their swagger, find what they can do to put a run together.”

Spurrier closed the segment out by remembering a quote from tennis great Arthur Ashe.

“Preparation will build confidence, and confidence leads to success.”

Wuerffel and Tebow concluded that the culture is changing in Gainesville under Billy Napier.

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Florida football will host SEC Nation in Week 1 season opener

SEC Nation will be in Gainesville at the Plaza of the Americas for the Week 1 showdown between Florida and Miami in the Swamp.

SEC Network’s traveling show, SEC Nation, will open the 2024 season in Gainesville at the Plaza of the Americas when the Gators host the No. 19-ranked Miami Hurricanes inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Aug. 31.

SEC Nation returns to college football tailgates, stadiums and sidelines this fall and will regularly follow the site of the 3:30 p.m. ET SEC on ABC showdown. Florida graduate Laura Rutledge will host the show for her eighth season — her ninth on the show overall — joined by Gator great Tim Tebow, Paul Finebaum, Jordan Rodgers and Roman Harper.

It all begins on Friday at the Plaza of the Americas with The Paul Finebaum Show. Fans are encouraged to arrive before the show goes live at 3 p.m. On Saturday for SEC Nation at 9 a.m. ET, fans can show up early to secure a spot at the front for a chance to meet the talent, be on TV and win giveaways.

The University of Florida has hosted SEC Nation 11 times previously — including six times in Gainesville — since the show first aired in 2014. The show most recently came to Gainesville on Sept. 18, 2021, when the No. 11 Gators hosted the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide in the Swamp.

SEC Nation was also in attendance when the Gators last faced Miami, as the show traveled to Camping World Stadium in Orlando for the Aug. 24, 2019, matchup.

Florida’s upcoming 12th time playing host will move the Gators into a tie with the Georgia Bulldogs for the second-most host appearances on SEC Nation.

SEC Nation will also be getting a new theme song, commemorating the program’s tenth season on air and new era for the conference as a whole, written and recorded by Florida alumnus Brooke Eden.

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The Swamp will host SEC Nation on college football’s opening weekend

Florida’s upcoming 12th time playing host will move the Gators into a tie with the Georgia Bulldogs for the second-most host appearances on SEC Nation.

The SEC Network’s traveling show, SEC Nation, will open the 2024 season in Gainesville when the Florida Gators host the Miami Hurricanes on Aug. 31, the network announced on Wednesday.

SEC Nation returns to college football tailgates, stadiums and sidelines this fall and will regularly follow the site of the 3:30 p.m. ET SEC on ABC showdown. Florida graduate Laura Rutledge will host the show for her eighth season — her ninth on the show overall — joined by Gator great [autotag]Tim Tebow[/autotag], Paul Finebaum, Jordan Rodgers and Roman Harper.

Set location, times and more details about the show will be shared in the coming weeks.

The University of Florida has hosted SEC Nation 11 times previously — including six times in Gainesville — since the show first aired in 2014. The show most recently came to Gainesville on Sept. 18, 2021, when the No. 11 Gators hosted the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide in the Swamp.

SEC Nation was also in attendance when the Gators last faced Miami, as the show traveled to Camping World Stadium in Orlando for the Aug. 24, 2019, matchup.

Florida’s upcoming 12th time playing host will move the Gators into a tie with the Georgia Bulldogs for the second-most host appearances on SEC Nation.

SEC Nation will also be getting a new theme song, commemorating the program’s tenth season on air and new era for the conference as a whole, written and recorded by Florida alumnus Brooke Eden.

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SEC Nation picks Florida to pull off upset against No. 4 FSU

Florida football is hours away from hosting the Florida State Seminoles, and the SEC Nation crew thinks the Gators will pull off the upset.

The SEC Nation crew picks every game involving a team within the conference, and the majority of a four-man crew thinks Florida will pull off the upset against Florida State on Saturday night.

Paul Finebaum, Jordan Rodgers and Gators legend Tim Tebow all picked Florida. Only former Alabama safety Roman Harper picked Florida State to pull through without Jordan Travis.

“I think the pressure is clearly on Florida State. They’ve got the playoff committee watching,” Finebaum said. ” I’m going with Florida here because I believe in what Billy Napier is selling.”

Rodgers pointed out that being on the road will make it tougher for Florida State’s offense to gel. The Swamp is known as one of the most intimidating venues in college football, and tickets to this game have been sold out for weeks.

“For the first 11 weeks, Florida State was a lot better. I think for Week 12 — where it’s at, with how much pressure is on FSU, with a backup quarterback — I think all of that adds up to Florida playing inspired and getting a close one at home. Because I really do think it’s going to mean more to upset their rival than it is just to be able to make a bowl game.”

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SEC Nation is coming to Oxford for Texas A&M vs. Ole Miss

SEC Nation is coming to Oxford (MS) for Texas A&M’s pivotal road test vs. Ole Miss on Saturday, Nov. 5th.

Texas A&M’s (5-3, 3-2 SEC) Week 10 road test vs. the 11th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels (7-1, 4-1 SEC) is by far the Aggies’ most critical game remaining on the schedule, outside of the season finale road trip vs. LSU, of course.

While revenge is a dish best served cold, Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin is less strategic when it comes to facing Jimbo Fisher, who, after hiring former Ole Miss defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin to the same position two seasons ago may still harbor some anger, but after the display he put on after defeating the Aggies in Kyle Field last season, this Aggies squad, specifically the defense, is out for some revenge of their own.

Returning to the win column after downing the visiting South Carolina Gamecocks, Texas A&M is just one win away from bowl eligibility. Still, the main goal is to win the next 3 out of four or win out.

Due to the importance of the matchup, SEC Nation, including host Laura Rutledge, along with analysts Tim Tebow, Paul Finebaum, Roman Harper, and Jordan Rodgers, will return to The Grove in Oxford (MS). At the same time, the show is set to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, as the Marty & McGee show will air a couple of hours beforehand before the 11:00 a.m. kickoff.

Ole Miss, of course, defeated Texas A&M 35-28 last season, spoiling then-freshman quarterback Conner Weigman’s four-touchdown performance, while Rebels star running back Quinshon Judkins ran for 205 yards in a memorable back-and-forth contest. With the new SEC format in 2024, this will be the final meeting between both programs until at least 2025.

Texas A&M will now travel to Oxford (MS) to face the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday, Nov. 5, where the game will again air on ESPN at 11:00 a.m. CT.

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Florida-Georgia game bringing SEC Nation to Jacksonville

Florida’s annual clash with Georgia draws in fans from all over the southeast, so it’s only right that the SEC Nation crew joins in.

Perhaps the biggest question for some football every Saturday is whether to tune into ESPN’s College Gameday or SEC Nation for their pre-game fix.

That question will have a simple answer next week, though, at least for fans of the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs. Laura Rutledge, Tim Tebow and the rest of the SEC Nation crew will be broadcasting live from Jacksonville on Saturday ahead of The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.

The broadcast will begin at 10 a.m. EDT and end at noon on the SEC Network from outside EverBank Stadium. Additionally, Marty & McGee Presented by Old Trapper, will also make the trip down to Jacksonville. Hosted by Marty Smith and Ryan McGee, the show will air Saturday morning from 9-10 a.m.

Marty & McGee will be filmed in Lot P, which is also where The Paul Finebaum Show will emanate from on Friday from 3-7 p.m.

Kickoff for Saturday’s game is scheduled for 3:30 in Jacksonville. The game will air on CBS.

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SEC Nation is coming to Knoxville for Texas A&M vs. Tennessee

SEC Nation is coming to Knoxville (TN) for Texas A&M’s critical Week 7 road trip face the Tennessee Volunteers.

Texas A&M (4-2, 2-1 SEC) will travel to Knoxville (TN) to face the Tennessee Volunteers (4-1, 2-1 SEC) in a crucial Week 7 matchup, as the Aggies are coming off their disappointing 26-20 loss to Alabama on Saturday afternoon, while the Vols are returning from their bye week after defeating South Carolina 41-20 a week prior.

Due to the critical nature of the matchup for both programs, it was announced the weekend that SEC Network’s Saturday morning pregame show, SEC Nation, as host Laura Rutledge, along with analysts Tim Tebow, Paul Finebaum, Roman Harper, and Jordan Rodgers, is coming to Knoxville and will likely broadcast live from the Ayres Hall lawn.

The show is set to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14, as the Marty & McGee show will air a couple of hours beforehand. For the Vols, this is the third time in two seasons that the program will head to Tennessee under head coach Josh Heupel.

The last meeting between both programs came during the shortened 2020 COVID season, as the then Kellen Mond-led Aggies defeated Tennessee 34-13 in Neyland Stadium, while the series is tied at 2-2 all-time.

Texas A&M cannot afford a second SEC loss, which would ultimately destroy their chances at contending in the West at the end of the season. The game will also act as yet another litmus test for head coach Jimbo Fisher’s future with the program.

Texas A&M will travel to face the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 2:30 p.m. CT, inside Neyland Stadium (TV: CBS).

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College Gameday/SEC Nation predict Florida-Kentucky winner

Moments before the Florida and Kentucky game kicked off, the College Gameday and SEC Nation crews submitted their predictions for the game.

Moments before kickoff on Saturday, the College Gameday and SEC Nation crews made their picks for the Florida-Kentucky game.

On ESPN, Desmond Howard, guest picker and actors Ken Jeong and Pat McAfee were all in on Florida, while Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit took the home-team Kentucky Wildcats.

“Man, this is going to be a grudge matchup,” Howard said. “I’m talking about a hard-fought fistfight.”

McAfee added that he expected a big day from Trevor Etienne.

SEC Nation’s crew was also split. Tim Tebow picked Florida to win, but Paul Finebaum, Roman Harper and Jordan Rodgers all went with Big Blue.

They all noted that Kentucky being at home gave them an edge, and it’s a fair point considering Florida’s only loss came on the road against Utah. This is a young Gators team that could easily show its age early on.

Hopefully, Tebow is right, though, and the Gators prove that beating Tennessee wasn’t a fluke.

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SEC Nation will be in Lexington for Week 5 Florida-Kentucky game

Laura Rutledge won’t be on hand this week, but Tim Tebow and the rest of the SEC Nation crew will be in Lexington for the Florida-Kentucky game on Saturday.

The SEC office announced that the SEC Network’s traveling pre-game show, SEC Nation Presented by Dr Pepper, will emanate from Lexington during Week 5 — the site of the Florida-Kentucky games scheduled for noon on Saturday.

Unfortunately, University of Florida alumna Laura Rutledge won’t be hosting the show this week as she continues her Monday Night Football reporting assignments. Rutledge is set to return to the broadcast on Oct. 7.

Marty Smith will guest-host the Week 5 edition of the show. Smith also hosts Marty & McGee Presented by Old Trapper before SEC Nation airs, starting at 9 a.m. EDT.

Of course, Gators legend Tim Tebow will appear on SEC Nation this week alongside Paul Finebaum, Roman Harper and Jordan Rogers. Although the game won’t be at the Swamp, it’s always fun to see Tebow pick the Gators while on the road.

Florida is looking to avoid a three-game losing streak to Kentucky, which would be a first since the 1950s if it happened. After winning the previous 31 contests without stumbling, the Gators have dropped three of their last five to the Wildcats.

UK enters the weekend undefeated, but this is a revenge game of sorts for Florida. No wonder SEC Nation is showing up.

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SEC Nation is coming to College Station for Texas A&M vs. Auburn

SEC Nation is coming to College Station for Texas A&M’s big SEC home opener vs. the visiting Auburn Tigers next Saturday morning.

Saturday’s showdown between Texas A&M (2-1) and the visiting Auburn (3-0) Tigers is big, folks, as the SEC opener for both squads is filled with future implications in the wide-open SEC West.

For the Aggies, Saturday’s decisive 47-3 home win over UL Monroe didn’t answer any lingering questions, while the Tigers 45-13 win over Samford showed a versatile performance from quarterback Peyton Thorne (283 yards, 1 TD pass, 123 rushing yards, two TDs).

Due to the importance of the matchup for both programs, it was announced Sunday that SEC Network’s Saturday morning pregame show, SEC Nation, is coming to College Station and will broadcast live from Texas A&M’s Aggie Park before kickoff.

Outside of the regular morning broadcast, The Paul Finebaum Show will also be live from Aggie Park from 2:00-6:00 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 22, while Marty & McGee on Saturday morning from 8:00-9:00 a.m.

After falling to the Tigers 13-10 on the road in what was a miserable game within an even more miserable 2022 season for both programs, revenge is on Jimbo Fisher’s mind behind the arm of ascending quarterback Conner Weigman.

Texas A&M will host the Auburn Tigers at Kyle Field on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 11:00 a.m., where it will air on ESPN.

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