JACKSONVILLE -- Florida left no doubt. Georgia just left early.

The Gators defeated the rival Bulldogs 41-17 on Saturday at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, providing their fans and critics with proof that maybe the top-ranked team in the country isn't fading away, but in fact is improving as the season progresses.

UF quarterback Tim Tebow accounted for four touchdowns in his final Florida-Georgia game, and the Gators' defense intercepted Georgia quarterbacks four times. Finally, it was a complete performance by the team ranked No. 1 in the Bowl Championship Series.

``I think this game started us in a little new direction,'' said Tebow, the Jacksonville native who rushed for two scores Saturday and threw two touchdown passes to receiver Riley Cooper. ``The games on this field have been really special. It's very rewarding to come back to my home town and play and especially win.''

Florida (8-0, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) has won 18 consecutive games dating to last season, and coach Urban Meyer is 14-1 in five seasons against UF's primary rivals: Georgia, Louisiana State, Florida State and Miami. Those are remarkable numbers but they pale in comparison with the statistical measure Tebow achieved Saturday.

Florida also clinched the SEC East and a spot in the conference championship game with Tennessee's victory over No. 21 South Carolina.

Tebow's first rushing touchdown of the game, which gave UF a commanding 24-10 lead with 1:32 left in the first half, was the 50th of the quarterback's career, a record in the SEC. Former Georgia running back Herschel Walker was the previous record holder.

``Typical Tim,'' Meyer said. ``I get to coach Tim for four more [regular-season] games. I'm almost in awe that he did that.''

Tebow added to his record at the beginning of the third quarter when he rushed for a 5-yard score, increasing UF's lead to 31-10. The touchdown was set up by an interception from UF linebacker A.J. Jones at the Georgia 19-yard line on the first play of the second half. Jones had another interception near the end of the third quarter.

Tebow completed 15 of 21 attempts for 164 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He rushed for a team-high 85 yards on 18 carries.

Tebow accounted for nine touchdowns in his final two games against the Bulldogs (4-4, 3-3). He led Florida to a 49-10 win over Georgia in 2008. Entering Saturday, the Gators hadn't looked their best this season and an announced bipartisan crowd of 84,604 spectators filled Jacksonville Municipal Stadium wondering which Florida team would show up: the one that recently struggled to wins against Arkansas and Mississippi State or the one that dominated Georgia last season and won the national title.

By the beginning of the fourth quarter, UF fans had their answer and Georgia fans had had enough. UF built a quick 31-10 halftime lead and then made it a blowout with its overpowering defense. Georgia fans began filing out of the stadium when UF linebacker Ryan Stamper of Jacksonville recorded the Gators' third interception of the second half with 11:54 to play.

The Gators' defense wasn't done. Middle linebacker Brandon Spikes picked off another pass with 6:24 to play and returned it for a 5-yard touchdown. Starting Georgia quarterback Joe Cox threw three interceptions. His backup, Logan Gray, threw the late interception to Spikes. Georgia star receiver A.J. Green was held to 50 yards on three receptions, and was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter by UF safety Major Wright.

Florida's resounding win was a relief for many. It entered Saturday averaging just 25 points in the SEC, nearly lost to Arkansas two weeks ago and looked awful at times in a 10-point win against Mississippi State last week.

``We were undefeated -- we just didn't feel like we had played up to our potential yet,'' said Spikes, who sat out the Mississippi State game with a groin injury but had a game-high 10 tackles Saturday.

``We came out and did a great job [Saturday].''

From the opening drive, UF looked like a completely different team than the one that struggling against Mississippi State. Tebow played with confidence throughout the game but set the tone when he led a six-play, 80-yard drive to begin the game. Tebow was 3 for 3 on the series and gave UF the lead with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Cooper with a perfectly placed throw to the back of the end zone.

``We had a great plan in place,'' said Cooper, who led UF with four catches for 78 yards.