TIM TEBOW: A WHAT IF STORY
Kyle Little - April 14, 2025
What if Tim Tebow had made a different choice? What if he had turned down Urban Meyer and the Florida Gators to play for Mike Shula and the Alabama Crimson Tide? What if Tebow had decided to chart his own path in Tuscaloosa rather than stay close to home in Gainesville?It’s a question that, nearly two decades later, still sparks a fascinating college football “what if” scenario. Had Tebow donned crimson instead of orange and blue, the ripple effect across college football would have been massive—and the sport as we know it today might look very different.
Start with Cam Newton. Florida recruited Newton in 2007, and he eventually earned the backup role behind Tebow. But what if Tebow never came to Gainesville? Newton, with a clear path to the starting job, likely stays and develops into Florida’s next star.
That means no transfer to Blinn College, no move to Auburn, and—most crucially—no magical 2010 championship run with the Tigers.Florida, instead, gets at least one more national title with Newton under center. Auburn, meanwhile, loses out on its lone BCS title. And Newton never becomes a Tiger legend.
With Newton at quarterback, Florida continues winning—perhaps even matching the success they had with Tebow. Urban Meyer, who famously struggled with burnout following Tebow’s departure, might have had reason to stay. If Florida never falls off, Meyer might never step away from the game—or at least not leave for Ohio State. That means the 2014 Buckeyes, who won a national title under Meyer, could have a different head coach—and possibly a different fate.
In 2006, Alabama finished 6–6 under Mike Shula. The Tide struggled in the red zone and lost several close games. Meanwhile, Tebow was flourishing as a true freshman at Florida.
With Tebow on Alabama’s roster instead, it’s not hard to imagine a few of those losses turning into wins. Could a 9–3 season have saved Shula’s job? Possibly. And if Shula stays, there’s no coaching vacancy in Tuscaloosa for a certain Nick Saban, who was lured away from the Miami Dolphins at the end of 2006.
If Nick Saban never arrives at Alabama, the college football landscape changes forever. There’s no Alabama dynasty—no titles in 2009, 2011, 2012, and beyond. The dominance that defined a generation of college football doesn’t happen. And it all hinges on a high school quarterback’s decision.
Tebow’s decision didn’t just affect Florida. Percy Harvin, one of the most electric playmakers of the era, chose Florida largely because of Tebow. Without that connection, Harvin reportedly would have landed at USC.
Coming off a heart-wrenching Rose Bowl loss to Texas, the Trojans could have used a spark in 2006. Harvin’s arrival might have extended Pete Carroll’s run of dominance in Los Angeles. And with Harvin in the fold, quarterback Mark Sanchez may have had an even more impressive college career—potentially improving his NFL draft stock.
Without Tebow, there’s no iconic speech after the Ole Miss loss in 2008—the one that sparked a title run and earned a place on a plaque outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. There’s no 2007 Heisman Trophy, no statue, and perhaps no defining moment in modern Gators history.Ultimately, Tebow chose Florida. He stayed close to home, won two national championships, took home the Heisman, and became a college football icon. He was a first-round NFL Draft pick and remains one of the most beloved players in the sport’s history.
But had he picked Alabama instead, everything—from coaching careers to national champions—might have looked very different. One decision. A thousand consequences.
That’s the beauty of college football: the what-ifs are just as legendary as the games themselves.
