GAINESVILLE -- University of Florida senior receiver David Nelson looked to the player next to him and reminded him about the importance of the moment.

Nelson was standing beside quarterback Tim Tebow before Saturday's home game against FIU. The two friends were in the tunnel that leads from the Gators' locker room to Florida Field. Above them, a sign read ``Only Gators Get Out Alive.''

``You realize this is the last time we run out of the tunnel with the team, right?'' Nelson asked the fellow senior.

Next week, when UF plays host to Florida State, Tebow and the rest of Florida's seniors will be announced individually before the game. Tebow thought about it for a moment, then slapped the sign. It's almost over, but there is still so much to be played.

On Saturday, top-ranked UF took a break from the stress that has surrounded it for most of the season, defeating FIU 62-3. It was the final rest stop on the road to Atlanta's Georgia Dome, site of the Southeastern Conference championship game Dec. 5. An announced attendance of 90,473 gathered for Tebow's second-to-last home game. The Jacksonville native did not disappoint.

Tebow accounted for three touchdowns, including a 55-yard run down the FIU sideline. He completed 17 of 25 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns, and he also ran for 102 yards on seven carries. After an 18-yard touchdown pass to receiver Riley Cooper on the first drive of the third quarter, Tebow traded his helmet for a headset and watched the rest of the game.

`CRUISING ON IN'

``It was nice just cruising on in there for a touchdown,'' Tebow said of his career-long 55-yard touchdown run. ``It was fun. [FIU] did a good job of playing man coverage, but they forgot to account for me. I just turned it up and the free safety [Jonathan Cyprien] tried to get over to help and he just took a little bit of a bad angle, so I got a stiff arm on him.''

After sputtering for most of the season, the UF offense treated Saturday's game as a tune-up. The Gators (11-0) play host to the rival Seminoles (6-5) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday and the pressure will be considerable. ESPN's College GameDay will be in town for Tebow's final home game and so will all of the distractions that go along with playing FSU. The win against FIU was about reestablishing a rhythm.

``I think it was good for momentum and to get some guys catches and playing time,'' Tebow said.

``You also want to give guys an opportunity to get a little rest and get ready for a tough two weeks.''

Redshirt sophomore receiver Deonte Thompson led the Gators in receiving for the first time in his career with five receptions for 66 yards. Little-used redshirt freshman receiver Omarius Hines had four receptions for 50 yards and showed signs that he might have something to offer in the three remaining games.

UF backup quarterback Jonathan Brantley spelled Tebow with 7:48 left in the third quarter and threw three touchdown passes (20 yards to Hines; 16 yards to Justin Williams and 31 yards to Frankie Hammond Jr.). Backup running back Chris Rainey had a 27-yard touchdown reception off a shovel pass from Tebow and a 22-yard touchdown run on the next offensive series in the second quarter.

``I wouldn't mind it if [Rainey] did this against an upper-level SEC team,'' Meyer said.

For FIU, offensive rhythm consisted of a steady pace of punts, stalled drives and missed opportunities. The Sun Belt Conference team converted just one of its three red-zone opportunities, but even then the Golden Panthers had to settle for a field goal.

``We got a lot of balls batted down by their defensive line -- a combination of them doing a good job and us doing a poor job of not cutting their guys down and keeping their hands down,'' FIU coach Mario Cristobal said. ``But again, when a team like that starts mounting that amount of a lead on you, it's hard.''

FEW POSITIVES FOR FIU

FIU gained just 11 first downs and 189 total offensive yards. Redshirt sophomore running back Kendall Berry led the Golden Panthers with 26 rushing yards. Quarterback Paul McCall completed 9 of 21 attempts for 134 yards. His interception to end FIU's first offensive series was returned 41 yards for a touchdown by UF middle linebacker Brandon Spikes.

FIU's lone bright spot was receiver T.Y. Hilton, who had four receptions for 75 yards. Hilton's receiving total was the second most this season against the Gators, who boast the SEC's top-rated defense. Other than Hilton, only Arkansas' Greg Childs (135 yards) accounted for more receiving yards against the Gators.

``We kept tying to feed [Hilton] the ball as much as we can,'' Cristobal said. ``Sometimes they took away things and some things we have to clean up and shore up to play against FAU, because we did leave some opportunities early on in the field.''