GAINESVILLE -- Miami was supposed to be humiliated by fifth-ranked Florida.

But the Hurricanes, underdogs by more than three touchdowns for the first time in 11 years, came to play in ways perhaps few expected but themselves -- even if they were nervous at the start, wore down late and unraveled in the final quarter.

Unlike what appeared to transpire in UM's final game in the Orange Bowl (a 48-0 loss to Virginia), the Hurricanes fought to the end of a 26-3 loss Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The UM defense, strong through much of the game, was outclassed by Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow's near-perfect 106-yard aerial attack in the final quarter, as the Gators scored 17 points. Tebow finished with 256 passing yards and 55 rushing yards.

The final blow, after two consecutive sacks of UM quarterback Robert Marve near the end: a 29-yard field goal with 25 seconds remaining to beat the point spread.

''It was a great game, but in the fourth quarter it kind of got away from us,'' UM coach Randy Shannon said. 'We played hard and we talked about it after the game. The guys kept fighting. Offensively we crossed the 50-yard line but we didn't capitalize. And defensively, when we got somebody backed up, I told the guys, `You can't let them get free.' ''

In his first college game, redshirt freshman Marve delivered a poised performance despite a UF-record 90,833 Gator-chomping fans shaking Florida Field with their deafening roar. Marve completed 10 of 18 passes for 69 yards, but used his legs early to get first downs and elude Florida's defense. He lost 22 yards on three sacks, giving him 6 net yards.

''He's an athletic guy,'' UF coach Urban Meyer said of Marve. ``He got out on the edges -- tough as nails.''

Marve said he was pleased with his performance. ''I felt pretty in rhythm all game,'' he said.

``It was kind of unfortunate that the ball didn't fall our way on a couple of third downs. My whole mentality was to keep the ball safe and I felt I did a good job.''

Marve's first ''clutch'' moment as a Hurricane came on fourth-and-5 from the UF 33 during UM's third drive. Marve took the snap in shotgun formation and rushed over the right end for 8 yards, pausing after several yards to eye another hole and cut for an extra few yards. After a UM false start, the quarter ended.

The Hurricanes couldn't do much after that, but Matt Bosher saved them with a 50-yard field goal to put UM on the scoreboard with 12:51 left in the half.

Jacory Harris, who played briefly in the first half, completed two of four passes for 10 yards.

The Hurricanes' defense held UF to nine points and 123 yards in the first half -- 61 of them through the air by Tebow.

UM clearly was wide-eyed and flummoxed early in Saturday's game.

Miami Herald sportswriter Manny Navarro contributed to this report.

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