Tim Tebow gave a performance Friday night that epitomized his larger-than-life persona in a college football career filled with superlatives.

Tebow set a Sugar Bowl record by completing his first 12 passes and delivered perhaps the most dominant performance of his career, guiding the No. 5 Gators to a 51-24 victory against overmatched No. 4 Cincinnati—just after a week of drama that shook the foundation of the Florida program.

Smashing his career best by more than 100 yards, Tebow finished 31-of-35 passing for 482 yards. He threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, leaving in the fourth quarter to one final deafening ovation.

Florida offensive coordinator Steve Addazio said, “Tim Tebow played the game of his life.”

Florida (13-1) played like Florida again after days filled with tears and uncertainty. Now that Tebow is headed to the NFL and Coach Urban Meyer is headed away from the sidelines for a medically related indefinite leave of absence, whether the Gators remain an elite program as they have for the past five seasons will be the biggest question in college football in the off-season.

(article source: The New York Times, photo source: New York Daily News)