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Said defensive end Jarvis Moss: ``We deserve to play for the national title, and we think we are the best
defense in the country.''

Moss and fellow defensive end Derrick Harvey combined for 13 � sacks and 19 plays for losses on a
makeshift defensive line that had to overcome the loss of its best player, nose guard Marcus Thomas.
Thomas was suspended twice for failing two drug tests, and finally kicked off the team.

To fill the void, Meyer moved Ray McDonald from end to tackle, and has used Steven Harris and Joe Cohen
inside. Harris had the game of his career against Arkansas in the SEC title game. Darren McFadden, who
had rushed for 562 yards in his previous three games, was held to 73 yards.

''That front four has played together for four years, and every year they have gotten better,'' said Illinois coach
Ron Zook, the former UF coach who recruited most of this team. ``They have grown up a lot. They believe
they're the best defense [in the nation], and that's half the battle.

``They've got great athletes who can run. They can match up with Ohio State across the board, and they
have the speed on defense to catch up with them. They've got the guys up front who can run. They are really
quick, and they will be able to put pressure on [Smith], and Florida's secondary has the kind of speed to
match up with Ohio State's receivers.''

Co-defensive coordinator Charlie Strong compared this year's front to UF's best teams in the mid-1990s.

''We don't know where this group will rank,'' Strong said this week. ``We lost Marcus, but they stayed
together and we've come this far. We've still got one more game left.''

Middle linebacker Brandon Siler said the front four already has made its point.

''I think they have to be among the best, and this team has to be compared with the best defenses [at
Florida],'' Siler said. ``They have stood tall all year.''

McDonald also feels this unit has a place in Gators history.

''I think we do; we made it to the big show,'' McDonald said. ``I think we should be considered one of the great
front fours in Florida history.''

Now all they have to do is stop Smith and the Buckeyes.

''We know he's a great quarterback and we know it's on us to stop him,'' McDonald said. ``We kind of like it
being on us.''

''Florida has a chance to win this game,'' ESPN analyst Lee Corso
said. ``And I'll tell you why -- SEC speed.''

That speed starts up front with the Gators, who might just have the
fastest front four Smith and the Buckeyes will see this season.

''I think their front four is better than LSU's. They are bigger and
they run like deer,'' said Arkansas coach Houston Nutt, whose
team rushed for 298 yards against LSU's then-No. 1-ranked
defense and gained 132 a week later vs. the Gators.

''It's no secret,'' said UF coach Urban Meyer, his team a seven-
point underdog tonight. ``We're 12-1 because of our defense.''

Statistically, the Gators do not have the No. 1 defense in the nation
-- they are 10th overall and sixth against the run -- but no back has
rushed for 100 yards against them and no team has driven down
the field to beat them.

In the 27-17 loss at Auburn, the Tigers' offense never reached the
end zone. Auburn got four field goals and 15 points (a safety, a
blocked punt for a touchdown and a fumble recovery for a
touchdown) while UF's defense was on the bench.

Gator Football - 1/8/07

UF's defense at the forefront

Gators coach Urban Meyer gives his defense - anchored by a
speedy front four - the credit for making tonight's title game, but
will it be enough to stop a potent Ohio State offense?

Can Ohio State be stopped?

''They have so many weapons on offense,'' Iowa coach Kirk
Ferentz said. ``They have such talented receivers, good running
backs, and their quarterback can beat you three ways -- with his
arm, his legs and with his leadership.

``They come at you so many ways. They force you to make a lot
of decisions on defense.''

The Florida Gators know what they must do to win tonight's Bowl
Championship Series national title game: Slow down the most
prolific offense in the nation, specifically Heisman Trophy-winning
quarterback Troy Smith.