It's gut-check week No. 1 for new Florida coach Urban Meyer after the Gators were destroyed 31-3 at Alabama.

There are some unusual streaks on the line this week when Florida hosts Mississippi State - for instance, Meyer has never lost back-to-back games in his coaching career, and the Gators have lost the last three times they've played Mississippi teams - but Meyer has more immediate problems.

For one thing, he needs to pump life into his spread option offense, which really hasn't worked against Tennessee and Alabama, two teams that have great talent.

At Alabama, Florida had 326 meaningless yards, and failed to score a touchdown for the first time since a loss to Mississippi State in 1992. The Gators also haven't scored a touchdown in six quarters, dating back to the second quarter against Kentucky on Sept. 24.

"We have not played well on offense all year," Meyer said. "We have not executed. We have not functioned as a unit on offense. It's shocking and it's disappointing. We have some problems that need to be solved."

Quarterback Chris Leak, who already has been hit more this season than his previous two seasons combined, was sacked four times by Alabama.

The running game hasn't been any better. Against Alabama until late in the game, Florida's leading rusher was linebacker Earl Everett, who gained 32 yards on a fake punt.

Colorblind When former Memphis Melrose High School star Antonio Heffner started as South Carolina's quarterback on Saturday, he became the first black starting QB during Carolina coach Steve Spurrier's 21-year college and pro head-coaching career. Spurrier started two black QBs as Duke's offensive coordinator, recruited several black passers while at Florida, and had backup quarterbacks with the Tampa Bay Bandits who were black. Spurrier's response: "We all just play the best players. I don't know any coach in America that has lasted any time that has been prejudiced. I don't know any out there." Heffner won't be starting this week against Kentucky, though, since Blake Mitchell appears to be recovered from his sprained ankle. ... Vanderbilt might have lost some of its national media glitter by losing to Middle Tennessee, but Vandy coach Bobby Johnson and his players have welcomed the attention. "We want to get exposed."

Stretching it Somebody on the Georgia staff is trying to fire up the troops as the Bulldogs head to Tennessee. On the Georgia locker room bulletin board this week, there's a picture of Vols' defensive back Jason Allen planting a Tennessee flag at midfield in Georgia's Sanford Stadium after last year's 19-14 Tennessee win. So far, the picture hasn't raised eyebrows among the Georgia players. "I didn't even know about it until they hung the picture," offensive tackle Daniel Inman said.