GAINESVILLE -- The first person UF coach Urban Meyer found in the Gators' celebratory postgame locker room Saturday was junior linebacker Brandon Hicks. Meyer grabbed Hicks by the arm and pulled him close.

``Here we go,'' Meyer told him. ``You've been here before.''

Hicks is an example of why the top-ranked Gators (11-0) have one of the best defenses in the country. When strong-side linebacker A.J. Jones limped off Florida Field on Saturday during UF's 62-3 victory against FIU, Hicks was the player who received the battlefield promotion. Hicks, now a starter, certainly has been there before.

The Jacksonville native played in 14 games in 2008 and started the final five when Jones went down with his first knee injury. As a starter, Hicks (6-3, 226 pounds) quickly became one of UF's best defenders, and he started in the BCS title game. It was Hicks who sacked Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford for a 14-yard loss on the Sooners' first offensive series in the Gators' 24-14 victory at Land Shark Stadium. Hicks was a projected starter this spring but began the season sidelined with an ankle injury.

According to Meyer, Jones injured the medial-collateral ligament in one of his knees Saturday. The injury came during the first half, and Jones appeared to be favoring his right knee. He was not seen on the sideline during the second half. Meyer said Jones is doubtful for Saturday's home game against Florida State (6-5), but Meyer said the injury ``is nonsurgical.''

Jones is sixth on the team in tackles (37) and has been valuable in pass coverage this season, with three interceptions.

INJURIES ON THE O-LINE

Jones wasn't the only UF starter injured Saturday. Two starting offensive linemen also left the game with injuries.

Offensive guard Carl Johnson sprained an ankle, according to Meyer, and was on crutches after the injury. Meyer said Johnson was probable for the FSU game. Meyer also said UF starting center Maurkice Pouncey, who sustained a ``bone bruise'' in his lower left leg during the first half, also is probable. Maurkice Pouncey's twin brother, Mike, moved from guard to center after that injury.

The Gators did not celebrate their victory against FIU in their traditional manner. Instead of singling out players who performed well, Meyer told his team about the importance of the game against Florida State. Meyer never has lost to the Seminoles, and neither have any of the players on UF's roster. Florida is 5-0 against its primary nonconference rival since 2004.

``It's rivalry week,'' Meyer told his players.

PLENTY AT STAKE AGAIN

Florida State has had a mostly forgettable season, but the Seminoles can salvage some dignity with an upset Saturday. Florida has won 21 consecutive games dating back its 31-30 loss to Mississippi last season. The Gators never have finished a season undefeated and have been unbeaten this deep in the season only three times before.

``The coaches probably game-planned ahead for [FSU] because our opponent this week wasn't really that good,'' Mike Pouncey said. ``We'll be ready to play them on Saturday.''

In 1928, Florida was 8-0 under coach Charles Bachman before losing to Tennessee 13-12 on Dec. 8. In 1995, Florida finished the regular season 12-0 but lost 62-24 to Nebraska for the national title Jan. 2, 1996, in the Fiesta Bowl. The next season, coach Steve Spurrier's Gators were 10-0 heading into the season finale against FSU, but the Seminoles defeated UF, which was led by Heisman Trophy quarterback Danny Wuerffel, 24-21 on Dec. 2 in Tallahassee.

On that day in 1996, current UF quarterback Tim Tebow was 9 years old and at his family's home in Jacksonville. The way Tebow remembers it, he watched the Gators lose, and, believing Florida had no shot at playing for the national championship, he went outside and cried while mowing the lawn and raking leaves. But the Gators went on to win the national title, routing FSU 52-20 in a rematch at the Sugar Bowl.

``That's just one example of how special this game is,'' Tebow said about facing the Seminoles one last time. ``Winning this game helps put a smile on your face, that's for sure.''