Florida

Until 1983, the Gators were 0-3 in UCFC games. Now they have a record of 23-13. Most of those wins came during the Tim Tebow era. Florida's 41-14 win over Ohio State for the 2006 national championship game was a UCFC game, and Florida's 24-14 win over Oklahoma for the 2008 national title was another. Florida then kept the UCFC throughout the entire 2009 regular season, before losing 32-13 to Alabama in the SEC championship. On the whole, Florida went 18-2 in UCFC games with Tebow. And now -- only five games after they lost the title -- they have the chance to win it back.

This will be the fourth UCFC game between Florida and Alabama. Here are the results of the other three:

09/20/1986: Alabama 21, Florida 7

09/19/1987: Florida 23, Alabama 14

12/05/2009: Alabama 32, Florida 13

Arkansas 20 - 24 Alabama (Final)

So, when I left Arkansas had just kicked a field goal to take a 20-7 lead, and it looked quite grim for Alabama. Here's what happened after that:

1. With 4:56 left to go in the 3d quarter, Alabama drove 74 yards in eight plays for a touchdown. Arkansas 20 - 14 Alabama.

2. Arkansas was held and forced to punt. Alabama took over at its own 20.

3. Alabama launched an 8-minute drive that stalled at the Arkansas 18. A field goal cut the Arkansas lead to 3. Arkansas 20 - 17 Alabama

4. With 4:19 left in the game, Ryan Mallett threw a disastrous interception that was returned to the Arkansas 12.

5. Mark Ingram took three rushes to go 12 yards. With only 3:18 left, Alabama had the lead. Arkansas 20 - 24 Alabama

6. Arkansas drove to the Alabama 48. With 1:48 left, Mallett threw another interception. Alabama took over at its own 35.

7. Alabama kept the ball on the ground for five more plays, running out the clock.

A few observations. First, Mallett's two interceptions killed Arkansas. As I said earlier, he had been the difference for Arkansas -- he had to play at a very high level for the Razorbacks to win. Second, Mark Ingram was incredible. The best running back Alabama has ever had carried the ball 24 times for 154 yards. Third, Alabama's quarterback -- who has not lost a game as a starter since he was in the 8th grade -- made plays as needed, while not making any more huge mistakes.

Finally, this has to go down as one of the all-time great Alabama wins. For the first 35 minutes of this game, almost everything went Arkansas's way. Alabama was 13 points behind -- they were on the road -- they were playing in an incredibly difficult environment -- they were facing an excellent coach -- and they still won. But there is no rest for the weary. Next Saturday night, Alabama will defend the UCFC at home against the last UCF Champion -- Florida.

Alabama's record in UCFC games is now 28-12, and they have now defended their title five times.

Arkansas's record in UCFC games drops to 24-14-2.

Arkansas 17 - 7 Alabama (Halftime)

Greg McElroy will go down as one of the legends of Alabama football, because he quarterbacked the team to the 2009 national title. But he will not go into the NFL, which is where Ryan Mallett -- the Arkansas quarterback -- is heading.

This half has demonstrated -- quite vividly -- the gap between NFL talent and really good college-level talent. Alabama has a better team than Arkansas. But Arkansas has Mallett and Alabama has McElroy. Mallett is 15 of 22 for 250 yards, a passing TD and a rushing TD (he just scored on a QB sneak). McElroy is 9 of 13 for 92 yards with two huge interceptions.

Because of a prior commitment, I will not be able to live-blog the second half -- I'll write up a final report later this evening. But this was the best half of football I've seen all year.

By the way, if Arkansas wins this game, the next UCFC game will take place in two weeks in Cowboys Stadium when the Razorbacks take on Texas A&M.

Arkansas 10 - 7 Alabama (18 seconds left in 2d quarter)

Alabama stopped Arkansas, and was driving when the Tide quarterback threw another interception, this time giving the Razorbacks the ball at their 34. Arkansas has roared down the field, and now has it 1st and goal on the 1.

Arkansas 10 - 7 Alabama (5:50 left in 2d Quarter)

Right back at you. Alabama drives the length of the field, has the ball 3d and goal at the 5 -- and throws an interception. This is not looking great for the Tide.

Arkansas 10 - 7 Alabama (11:32 left in 2d Quarter)

A huge play. After stopping Alabama, Arkansas took over at its own 20-yard-line and zipped down to the Alabama 7 on two long passes. But on 3d and goal at the six, Alabama picked up a huge, huge interception. So the Tide will start at their own 20, still down by only 3 points.

Arkansas 10 - 7 Alabama (1:42 left in 1st Quarter)

Arkansas responds with a very hard-fought drive that peters out at the Alabama 15, and the Razorbacks kick an easy field goal to re-take the lead. That was a huge possession by Arkansas.

Arkansas 7 - 7 Alabama (6:21 left in 1st quarter)

Now that's your Heisman trophy winner! Mark Ingram has a tremendous 54-yard touchdown run that includes at least two successful stiff-arms and multiple broken tackles. Alabama temporarily silences what had been an unbelievably rabid Arkansas crowd, and lets the Razorbacks know that the Tide will not easily give up the UCFC.

Arkansas 7 - 0 Alabama (14:10 left in 1st Quarter)

For the first time this year, Alabama has fallen behind. Arkansas took the opening kickoff and went 76 yards in only two plays. It is hard to imagine a better start for the Razorbacks.

Background on Arkansas v. Alabama

This is the first game between two top-10 teams in Fayetteville, Arkansas since 1979.

It is the first meeting between Alabama and Arkansas when both teams were ranked since the 1980 Sugar Bowl, when Alabama blasted Arkansas 24-9 and won the national title.

Alabama leads the all-time series 13-7 and has won the last three meetings in a row. However, the Tide is only 2-4 in Fayetteville.

Arkansas

Interestingly, Arkansas's history in the UCFC is tied to Alabama's history in a very unique way. The Razorbacks have an all-time record of 24-13-2 in UCFC games. Seventeen of Arkansas's wins game during a single stretch from 1964 to 1965. The Razorbacks, who were in the old Southwest Conference back then, took the title from Texas (the 1963 national champions) with a 14-13 victory on October 17, 1964 -- and then went undefeated for the rest of the season. But Alabama was also undefeated, and at the end of the regular season the AP picked Alabama over Arkansas as the National Champions. Alabama subsequently lost to Texas in the Orange Bowl, while Arkansas beat Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl. But the AP did not have another poll after the bowl games, so Arkansas had to be content with the UCFC -- the national title went to the Crimson Tide.

The next year, Arkansas defended the UCFC title for the entire regular season -- the Razorbacks' second consecutive year with a perfect record. Once again, however, the Razorbacks finished the season ranked number 2 -- this time they were behind Michigan State. But this time the AP decided that it would hold its final vote after the bowl games. On New Years' Day 1966, Michigan State lost the Rose Bowl to UCLA (in a stunning upset) by the score of 14-12. At the same time, Arkansas's long winning streak finally ended, as they lost the Cotton Bowl (and the UCFC) to LSU by 14-7. That meant the Orange Bowl (between #3 Nebraska and #4 Alabama was effectively for the national title. The Tide romped home, 39-28, and took its second straight crown. Both years, the AP's voting system helped Alabama and hurt Arkansas. But because of Arkansas's long winning streak, neither of Alabama's great teams in 1964 or 1965 ever had the chance to play for the UCFC.

Arkansas has only played for the UCFC seven times since the 1966 Cotton Bowl, and the Razorbacks have a record of 1-6 in those games. Their only victory was on November 23, 2007, when they ended the regular season with a stunning 50-48 victory over LSU in triple overtime. LSU came back to win the national title, while Arkansas lost the UCFC in their very first defense -- they were crushed by Missouri 38-7 in the Cotton Bowl.

Duke 13 - 62 Alabama (Final)

Well, that wasn't too hard. Alabama raced out to an early lead and cruised the rest of the way. Mark Ingram had nine carries for 151 yards, which sounds like something you'd read in a book about Red Grange.

So Alabama defends its title for fourth time in a row. Their record in UCFC games is now 28-12. Duke's record in UCFC games falls to 9-7.

The next UCFC game will be the biggest of the year so far. Next Saturday, Alabama travels to Fayetteville, Arkansas to take on the undefeated Arkansas Razorbacks. The Razorbacks, who were ranked number 12 in the country at the beginning of the day, pulled out a thrilling 31-24 victory at the University of Georgia today -- and could be in the top 10 when next week's polls are issued.

Duke 3 - 28 Alabama (end of 1st quarter)

I have been watching Alabama since 1971, and I think that the 2009-2010 Crimson Tide may be the best I have ever seen. This has been another pulverizing performance. So far Mark Ingram -- who merely won the Heisman trophy last year -- has 119 yards and 2 touchdowns on only 5 carries.

Duke

Duke has only made 15 appearances in UCFC games, and the Blue Devils have a record of 9-6. Seven of Duke's victories came during a single run as champion in 1944 and 1945. Duke didn't capture the title again until 1974, when they played a pretty mediocre Purdue team that had just won the UCFC title in a rivalry upset over 1973 national champion Notre Dame. Duke had a pretty good team that year (it finished 6-5), and the Blue Devils knocked off Purdue in Durham by the score of 16-14. Duke kept the title one more week with a 33-14 win over Army. But the next week they traveled to Clemson, and they lost the title by the score of 17-14.

They've never gotten it back. In fact, Duke has only played in one UCFC game since 1974 -- they were blown out by Florida State 51-23 on October 2, 1999. That Florida State team went on to win the national title.

Alabama 24 - 3 Penn State (Final)

A surprisingly easy win for the Tide as Alabama successfully defends its UCFC title for the third game in a row.

Alabama runs its all-time UCFC record to 26-12.

Penn State's record in UCFC games falls to 12-21-1.

Alabama is now 2-1 in UCFC games against Penn State.

The next UCFC game will be played on Saturday, September 18, in Durham, North Carolina, as Alabama goes to visit the Duke Blue Devils.

Alabama 24 - 3 Penn St (9:47 left in 4th quarter)

Penn State finally gets on the board with a field goal. So far, this has been a very impressive performance by the Tide.

Alabama 17 - 0 Penn State (5:44 left in 3d quarter)

ESPN just showed highlights of Alabama's goal line stand in the 1979 Sugar Bowl between these two teams. In almost 40 years of watching college football, I would say that's the greatest defensive sequence I have ever seen.

Alabama 17 - 0 Penn State (3:54 left in 2d quarter)

Penn State must really regret their two turnovers deep in Alabama territory. It is incredible that Alabama's office is working so well -- and last year's Heisman trophy winner is not even playing.

The chances for Kent State (Penn State's next opponent) to play for the UCFC are not looking good right now.

Alabama 14 - 0 Penn State (10:11 left in 2d quarter)

A bizarre play. Penn State was driving and about to score when it fumbled the ball deep in Alabama territory. An Alabama defender picked up the fumble and almost ran it all the way back for a touchdown, but then he, too, fumbled the ball. Penn State ultimately regained possession on its own 2. So they're trying to work their way downfield again.

Alabama 14 - 0 Penn State (14:55 left in 2d quarter)

Alabama's offense looks very sharp so far. This time, they took over the ball after an interception on their own 4 yard line, and simply marched 96 yards for another touchdown.

Alabama 7 - 0 Penn State (8:35 left in 1st quarter)

Alabama gets off to a fast start with a surprisingly easy touchdown drive.

Alabama 0 - 0 Penn State (10 minutes left in 1st Quarter)

Another UCFC game is underway!

I'm really old

As someone who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, I think of this week's Penn State-Alabama game as the renewal of a rivalry that is played fairly often. If you had asked me when was the last time Penn State played Alabama, I would have guessed that it was about five years ago.

Actually, they haven't played since 1990. No one under the age of 23 can remember seeing them ever play.

I'm really old.

Penn State

The Nittany Lions have not had much success in the UCFC. In fact, their all-time record in UCFC games is only 12-20-1.

For much of college football history, Penn State was a relatively minor player in Eastern football. That changed after World War II, as Penn State was one of the few major universities in the East still committed to football. But by then, the UCFC had largely left the East. Despite the enormous success of Joe Paterno, for example, Penn State did not participate in a single UCFC game between 1966 and 1986.

For example, Penn State famously lost the 1978 national title Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. But that was not a UCFC game, as the title was held by USC.

Penn State won the 1982 national championship by beating Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. But due to a series of upsets, the UCFC at the time was held by Washington State, so that Penn State team also did not get to compete for the title.

In 1986, Penn State did win the UCFC -- ironically by beating Alabama 23-3. Penn State then held the title all the way to the end of the season, as they beat Miami of Florida in the Fiesta Bowl to capture the 1986 national championship. That game -- one the biggest games of the 1980s -- was by far the most important UCFC matchup in which Penn State has participated.

The next year, Penn State lost the UCFC title back to Alabama in the first game of the 1987 season by a score of 24-13. Penn State won the title back toward the end of the 1987 season by beating Notre Dame, but immediately lost it again to Clemson.

Since the 1987 season, Penn State has only played for the UCFC twice: in September 2001, they were drilled by Miami of Florida, 33-7, and in September 2006 Ohio State pounded them 28-6.

Alabama 48 - 3 San Jose St (Final)

That's how a UCFC champion takes care of business in week 1. No drama, no hope for the other team, no prospect for an upset -- just total domination.

Alabama runs its all-time record in UCFC games to 25-12.
San Jose State drops to 1-4. Before yesterday, the Spartans had not played for the UCFC title since 1993. It will be interesting to see how long it takes before they get another chance.

On September 11, Alabama will defend its title in Tuscaloosa against a more formidable opponent: Penn State.

Alabama 28 - 3 San Jose State (11:15 left in 2d quarter)

So far, it appears that Alabama will hold on to the UCFC for another week.