[size=+2]BCS National Championship[/size]
[size=+1]#2 Wisconsin (12-0) vs #1 Florida (13-0)[/size]
Glendale, AZ - Florida came into this game as huge favorites as they have clearly looked like the best season all season. The Gators would be coming into the championship game with the second highest scoring offense in the nation and were able to get through the toughest conference, the SEC, unscathed. For Wisconsin, it has been a different story. The Badgers just kept winning all season as all of the other top teams fell. When USC fell to UCLA, Wisconsin was the last team standing with an undefeated record besides the Gators. It did appear that the Badgers were overmatched. However, the last time the Gators were on this stage, they were defeated by the Ohio State Buckeyes who man-handled them. Could the same thing happen to the Gators again against another Big Ten team?
The stadium seemed really pumped from the very beginning for this game and the noise the Gator fans were making seemed to have Wisconsin QB Curt Phillips rattled as he did not look good early, leading to a three-and-out on the Badgers' first possession. Florida QB John Brantley looked unprepared early as he threw a terrible pass that was not anywhere near his receiver. The result was an interception by Wisconsin SS#39 who took it back for a pick-six. The Badger fans erupted as they had just taken a 7-0 lead over the Gators.
[size=-5]Wisconsin SS#39 with a pick-six off of Florida QB John Brantley.[/size]
Highlight-Wisconsin SS#39 pick-six
Brantley did not seem to be phased by the pick-six he had just thrown. The Gators started going with their option offense as Brantley was doing most of the running. The Florida QB would lead his team to a 55-yard field attempt that was drilled though the uprights to put the Gators on the board down 7-3.
Wisconsin QB Curt Phillips continued to look rattled by the atmosphere as the Badgers were forced to punt after another three-and-out. Florida QB John Brantley started to get WR Deonte Thompson involved on the Gators' next possession. The Gators would get in position for a 45-yard field goal but it was kicked wide right. However, Wisconsin still could not do anything on offense as the punted again after three plays. On the ensuing possession, the Gators put together their best drive thus far but Wisconsin was able to make a big goalline stand, forcing a Florida 21-yard field goal to make it 7-6 Wisconsin as the first quarter came to an end.
It was apparent that the Gators were out of rythm on offense and were not playing the way they had most of the season. Wisconsin would finally make a play on offense when the explosive sophomore HB Will Pittman took a toss to the outside, breaking three tackles speeding downfield for a 39-yard gain to the Florida 23-yard line.
[size=-5]Wisconsin HB Will Pittman breaks off a 39-yard run.[/size]
Highlight-Wisconsin HB Will Pittman 39-yard run
The big run would lead to an impressive pass from Phillips to his TE#86, who made the catch on the sideline of the endzone just barely keeping one foot in bounds to put Wisconsin up 14-6 on the 10-yard touchdown pass.
[size=-5]Wisconsin TE#86 cathes the ball in the endzone, keeping one foot in bounds.[/size]
The Gators seemed to energized, feeling the pressure that Wisconsin had actually taken an 8-point lead as Brantley chucked one deep to WR#87 who jumped up between two defenders, making the catch for a 42-yard gain.
[size=-5]Florida WR#87 makes a catch between two defender for a 42-yard gain.[/size]
Highlight-Florida WR#87 42-yard gain
Brantley would take advantage of the big gain getting the Gators into the red zone. However, just as it appeared the Gators were about to get into the endzone, Brantley threw a ball into the flat to red-shirt freshman WR Kurt Howard, but it was picked off, ending the scoring opportunity for the Gators. Although Wisconsin could only manage another three-and-out and the Gators would get a 30-yard field goal in the last seconds of the half to make it 14-9 Wisconsin at halftime. One got the feeling that Florida could not play any worse and the Badgers were only up by five points.
It is hard to know what Florida head coach Urban Meyer said to his team at halftime but it did not take long for the Gators to respond as red-shirt freshman WR Kurt Howard got the ball on a fly sweep, broke a tackle and took it to the house for a 49-yard touchdown. Just like that, the Gators had taken the lead 17-14 as the 2-point conversion was successful.
[size=-5]Florida WR Kurt Howard with a 49-yard touchdown off of a fly sweep.[/size]
Highlight-Florida WR Kurt Howard 49-yard touchdown
Now the pressure was on the Badgers as for the first time Wisconsin was behind. Wisconsin QB Curt Phillips would throw deep to WR Isaac Anderson who jumped up and made the catch and was upended out of bounds for a 36-yard gain. The play was ruled a catch but it appeared he never got a foot in bounds. However, the play was not reviewed. The big play would set up a 55-yard field goal but the ball fell just short of the crossbar.
[size=-5]Wisconsin WR Isaac Anderson jumps up and makes the catch for a 36-yard gain.[/size]
Highlight-Wisconsin WR Isaac Anderson 36-yard gain
The Gators would respond with an unimpressive three-and-out. However, the Gator defense was starting to get some serious pressure on Phillips and getting sacks, forcing another Badger punt which Florida HB Chris Rainey took back for a touchdown but there was holding on the play so it was called back. It did not matter though as Brantley was able to get the Gators back in the red zone when he connected on a screen to Rainey for a 24-yard gain. It would set up a 3-yard touchdown pass from Brantley to WR Deonte Thompson to put the Gators further ahead 24-14.
Wisconsin needed to counter back but the Badgers had another three-and-out. It was not looking good for Wisconsin as the Gator offense was getting in gear as Brantley hit Rainey for a 13-yard touchdown pass to put the Gators up 31-14 going into the fourth quarter.
[size=-5]Florida HB Chris Rainey with a 13-yard touchdown reception.[/size]
The Badgers would be forced to go for it on fourth down from their own side of the field as it was no surprise to anyone that they were again unable to get a first down on three plays. Unfortunately for the Badgers, they were unsuccessful. Luckily for Wisconsin, Brantley would give them another chance as a screen pass to Rainey was deflected and intercepted. Although Wisconsin was unable to take advantage of the opportunity. Florida DE Carlos Dunlap would record his 14th sack of the season as he broke the team record for most sacks in a season.
[size=-5]Florida DE Carlos Dunlap with a team-record 14th sack.[/size]
Florida would hold Wisconsin again on a fourth down attempt and tack on a 56-yard field goal to make it a 34-14 final as the Gators woke up in the second half and whipped an overmatched Badger team. Urban Meyer took a gatorade bath as the Gators won the BCS National Championship.
Wisconsin 14
QB Phillips: 18-32, 172 yds, td (8 sacks)
HB Pittman: 20 car, 69 yds
WR Anderson: 5 rec, 80 yds
SS SS#39: 8 tkl, int, td
Florida 34
QB Brantley: 22-38, 248 yds, 2 td, 3 int
HB Rainey: 9 car, 29 yds, 6 rec, 86 yds, td
WR Howard: 3 car, 70 yds, td
WR Thompson: 7 rec, 65 yds, td
DT DT#95: 5 tkl, 3 tfl, 3 sk
[size=+1]#2 Wisconsin (12-0) vs #1 Florida (13-0)[/size]
Glendale, AZ - Florida came into this game as huge favorites as they have clearly looked like the best season all season. The Gators would be coming into the championship game with the second highest scoring offense in the nation and were able to get through the toughest conference, the SEC, unscathed. For Wisconsin, it has been a different story. The Badgers just kept winning all season as all of the other top teams fell. When USC fell to UCLA, Wisconsin was the last team standing with an undefeated record besides the Gators. It did appear that the Badgers were overmatched. However, the last time the Gators were on this stage, they were defeated by the Ohio State Buckeyes who man-handled them. Could the same thing happen to the Gators again against another Big Ten team?
The stadium seemed really pumped from the very beginning for this game and the noise the Gator fans were making seemed to have Wisconsin QB Curt Phillips rattled as he did not look good early, leading to a three-and-out on the Badgers' first possession. Florida QB John Brantley looked unprepared early as he threw a terrible pass that was not anywhere near his receiver. The result was an interception by Wisconsin SS#39 who took it back for a pick-six. The Badger fans erupted as they had just taken a 7-0 lead over the Gators.

[size=-5]Wisconsin SS#39 with a pick-six off of Florida QB John Brantley.[/size]
Highlight-Wisconsin SS#39 pick-six
Brantley did not seem to be phased by the pick-six he had just thrown. The Gators started going with their option offense as Brantley was doing most of the running. The Florida QB would lead his team to a 55-yard field attempt that was drilled though the uprights to put the Gators on the board down 7-3.
Wisconsin QB Curt Phillips continued to look rattled by the atmosphere as the Badgers were forced to punt after another three-and-out. Florida QB John Brantley started to get WR Deonte Thompson involved on the Gators' next possession. The Gators would get in position for a 45-yard field goal but it was kicked wide right. However, Wisconsin still could not do anything on offense as the punted again after three plays. On the ensuing possession, the Gators put together their best drive thus far but Wisconsin was able to make a big goalline stand, forcing a Florida 21-yard field goal to make it 7-6 Wisconsin as the first quarter came to an end.
It was apparent that the Gators were out of rythm on offense and were not playing the way they had most of the season. Wisconsin would finally make a play on offense when the explosive sophomore HB Will Pittman took a toss to the outside, breaking three tackles speeding downfield for a 39-yard gain to the Florida 23-yard line.

[size=-5]Wisconsin HB Will Pittman breaks off a 39-yard run.[/size]
Highlight-Wisconsin HB Will Pittman 39-yard run
The big run would lead to an impressive pass from Phillips to his TE#86, who made the catch on the sideline of the endzone just barely keeping one foot in bounds to put Wisconsin up 14-6 on the 10-yard touchdown pass.

[size=-5]Wisconsin TE#86 cathes the ball in the endzone, keeping one foot in bounds.[/size]
The Gators seemed to energized, feeling the pressure that Wisconsin had actually taken an 8-point lead as Brantley chucked one deep to WR#87 who jumped up between two defenders, making the catch for a 42-yard gain.

[size=-5]Florida WR#87 makes a catch between two defender for a 42-yard gain.[/size]
Highlight-Florida WR#87 42-yard gain
Brantley would take advantage of the big gain getting the Gators into the red zone. However, just as it appeared the Gators were about to get into the endzone, Brantley threw a ball into the flat to red-shirt freshman WR Kurt Howard, but it was picked off, ending the scoring opportunity for the Gators. Although Wisconsin could only manage another three-and-out and the Gators would get a 30-yard field goal in the last seconds of the half to make it 14-9 Wisconsin at halftime. One got the feeling that Florida could not play any worse and the Badgers were only up by five points.
It is hard to know what Florida head coach Urban Meyer said to his team at halftime but it did not take long for the Gators to respond as red-shirt freshman WR Kurt Howard got the ball on a fly sweep, broke a tackle and took it to the house for a 49-yard touchdown. Just like that, the Gators had taken the lead 17-14 as the 2-point conversion was successful.

[size=-5]Florida WR Kurt Howard with a 49-yard touchdown off of a fly sweep.[/size]
Highlight-Florida WR Kurt Howard 49-yard touchdown
Now the pressure was on the Badgers as for the first time Wisconsin was behind. Wisconsin QB Curt Phillips would throw deep to WR Isaac Anderson who jumped up and made the catch and was upended out of bounds for a 36-yard gain. The play was ruled a catch but it appeared he never got a foot in bounds. However, the play was not reviewed. The big play would set up a 55-yard field goal but the ball fell just short of the crossbar.

[size=-5]Wisconsin WR Isaac Anderson jumps up and makes the catch for a 36-yard gain.[/size]
Highlight-Wisconsin WR Isaac Anderson 36-yard gain
The Gators would respond with an unimpressive three-and-out. However, the Gator defense was starting to get some serious pressure on Phillips and getting sacks, forcing another Badger punt which Florida HB Chris Rainey took back for a touchdown but there was holding on the play so it was called back. It did not matter though as Brantley was able to get the Gators back in the red zone when he connected on a screen to Rainey for a 24-yard gain. It would set up a 3-yard touchdown pass from Brantley to WR Deonte Thompson to put the Gators further ahead 24-14.
Wisconsin needed to counter back but the Badgers had another three-and-out. It was not looking good for Wisconsin as the Gator offense was getting in gear as Brantley hit Rainey for a 13-yard touchdown pass to put the Gators up 31-14 going into the fourth quarter.

[size=-5]Florida HB Chris Rainey with a 13-yard touchdown reception.[/size]
The Badgers would be forced to go for it on fourth down from their own side of the field as it was no surprise to anyone that they were again unable to get a first down on three plays. Unfortunately for the Badgers, they were unsuccessful. Luckily for Wisconsin, Brantley would give them another chance as a screen pass to Rainey was deflected and intercepted. Although Wisconsin was unable to take advantage of the opportunity. Florida DE Carlos Dunlap would record his 14th sack of the season as he broke the team record for most sacks in a season.

[size=-5]Florida DE Carlos Dunlap with a team-record 14th sack.[/size]
Florida would hold Wisconsin again on a fourth down attempt and tack on a 56-yard field goal to make it a 34-14 final as the Gators woke up in the second half and whipped an overmatched Badger team. Urban Meyer took a gatorade bath as the Gators won the BCS National Championship.
Wisconsin 14
QB Phillips: 18-32, 172 yds, td (8 sacks)
HB Pittman: 20 car, 69 yds
WR Anderson: 5 rec, 80 yds
SS SS#39: 8 tkl, int, td
Florida 34
QB Brantley: 22-38, 248 yds, 2 td, 3 int
HB Rainey: 9 car, 29 yds, 6 rec, 86 yds, td
WR Howard: 3 car, 70 yds, td
WR Thompson: 7 rec, 65 yds, td
DT DT#95: 5 tkl, 3 tfl, 3 sk