Gators legend Tim Tebow mentions he almost chose another SEC powerhouse during his recruiting process

Tim Tebow was undoubtedly one of the best players to play college football in the modern era. The quarterback made big achievements during his time at Florida and left an indelible mark on the program. However, he might not have played for the Gators.

During his recruitment, Alabama and Florida were the two finalists for his commitment. For a couple of reasons, the odds favored the Crimson Tide. However, he ended up committing to the Gators. During his appearance on "College Football 25 GameDay Showcase," on July 13th, he reminded fans how close he was to playing in Tuscaloosa.

“I was really, really close to going to Alabama."

Tim Tebow would have cost Alabama Nick Saban

Nick Saban retired from coaching in January after 17 years at Alabama. The coach led the Crimson Tide to one of their most successful eras in collegiate football history, winning six national championships and certifying his claim as the greatest college football coach of all time.

However, this might not have happened had Tim Tebow played college football at Alabama. As per many analysts, had Mike Shula secured the commitment of Tebow, the quarterback’s brilliance would have helped him keep his job in Tuscaloosa, thereby stopping the possibility of Saban.

Paul Finebaum also said that to Tim Tebow during his appearance on “The Paul Finebaum Show” in September 2023:

“Not to make you larger than life, although you are, had you decided to come to the University of Alabama, Nick Saban wouldn’t be here because Mike Shula would have done much better than he did. Saban would have eventually gone somewhere else.”

Tim Tebow’s greatest regret came against Alabama

Florida fell to Alabama in the 2009 SEC championship game, which remains Tim Tebow’s greatest regret in his college football career. In a 2023 Netflix documentary titled “Untold: Swamp Kings,” he explained how the game made him feel:

“When I look back at all of the games I’ve ever played in, that’s the one I have the most regret for. We were so close to do it. But we were still trying to match the past versus press on for the future."

The Crimson Tide won the game with a 32-13 scoreline, avenging their loss to the Gators at the same stage in the previous year. Tebow completed 20 of his 35 passes in the game for 247 yards and one touchdown.