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ATLANTA (Ticker) -- For the fifth time, fifth-ranked Florida meets No. 8 Alabama for the Southeastern Conference championship in the Georgia Dome. Alabama won, 28-21, in the 1992 game en route to the national title. It was the first playoff game in Division I-A history. But Florida responded with a 28-13 victory the next season and a 24-23 triumph in 1994, knocking off an 11-0 Alabama club. The Gators won it again in 1995, clubbing Arkansas 34-3, and then beat the Crimson Tide, 45-30, the following year. Neither school has been to the game since, as Tennessee beat Auburn in 1997 and Mississippi State last year. This also is a rematch of one of the best games of the season. On October 2, Alabama stopped Florida's 30-game home winning streak with a 40-39 overtime victory. Shaun Alexander ran for the last of his four touchdowns on Alabama's first play of overtime and Chris Kemp's second try at the extra point was good, giving the Tide an amazing triumph. Both teams finished with 9-2 overall records and 7-1 marks in the conference. Florida's winning streak at "The Swamp" had been the longest in the nation and it appeared safe when Doug Johnson threw a six-yard scoring pass to Reche Caldwell on the first possession of overtime. But Jeff Chandler pushed the extra point wide right, leaving the Gators with a 39-33 lead. Alexander ran through the left side and found the end zone to tie it. Kemp was wide right on his first extra point, but the Gators were offside and he made good on his second chance. Alexander ran for 106 yards and had 94 receiving, raising Heisman Trophy hopes that were later derailed by injuries. Who will be handing and throwing the ball to Alexander -- Andrew Zow or Tyler Watts -- will be determined by Alabama coach Mike DuBose at game time. When asked who would start at quarterback, DuBose chuckled the name of his top receiver, "Freddie Milons." Then he revealed why he is being so secretive about the decision. "I don't know, it's just a lot of fun. I'm trying to sell tickets," he said before giving a serious answer. "We're going to look at it. Both quarterbacks have played well. I do not anticipate at this time announcing that decision but I will tell the quarterbacks." That is a drill -- minus the part about telling the quarterbacks -- familiar to Florida coach Steve Spurrier, who said he would decide Thursday if Doug Johnson or Jesse Palmer will start under center for the Gators. Johnson has seen more action over the course of the season, but the pair alternated on nearly every play in a 30-23 loss to Florida State on November 20. Alabama has an 18-12 lead in the all-time series between the schools, but Florida has taken seven of the last nine.
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