FAYETTEVILLE — Tim Tebow made the cover of Sports Illustrated this week, but not the way you’d expect for the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.

Florida’s junior quarterback isn’t pictured throwing or running for a touchdown or celebrating a victory.

Instead the only sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy is shown being hit by Ole Miss defensive end Greg Hardy on a cover that celebrates the Rebels’ 31-30 upset victory at Florida last week.

Florida was driving for a potential game-winning field goal, but Ole Miss stopped Tebow for no gain as he tried to run up the middle on a fourth-and-1 play from the Rebels’ 32 with 41 seconds left.

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“I was lost somewhere in the bottom of the pile.... [Tebow ] was saying, ‘I got it ! I got it ! I got it !’” Ole Miss defensive end Kentrell Lockett said. “And I was saying, ‘No you don’t ! No you don’t !’”

Tebow, who will lead Florida against Arkansas on Saturday, also appears to be losing his grip on the Heisman Trophy.

A check of Web sites that have Heisman watch lists shows Tebow is not among the top 10 candidates on CNNSI. com or the top five on CBSSports. com or ESPN. com.

“He’s played extremely hard,” Florida Coach Urban Meyer said. “I don’t want to say he’s pressing... but he can play better.

“ At certain times he’s played fantastic, but I wouldn’t put last week’s game in one of his top five.”

Tebow’s numbers are down through the first four games for the No. 12 Gators (3-1, 1-1 SEC ) compared with last season. He has averaged 72 fewer passing yards and 71. 3 fewer rushing yards per game while accounting for 8 fewer touchdowns and 572 fewer yards of total offense.

“This time last year, Tim was bordering on numbers that really never had been done before in college football,” Meyer said. “That’s the measuring stick he is at. “ He’s not hitting the statistics that he had a year ago, but I would assess his play as pretty good.” Meyer said Tebow’s stats this season reflect the

total offensive scheme, not just how he’s playing. There has been more of an emphasis on having Tebow be a pocket passer this season to decrease his chances of being hit and possibly injured.

The Gators also have been more conservative on offense because of being stronger on defense and special teams.

Florida didn’t have any turnovers its first three games before suffering three — including a fumble by Tebow — against Ole Miss.

Most teams also are getting fewer offensive snaps because of new NCAA rules that allow 40 seconds between plays instead of 25, so that means a few less opportunities for Tebow to pass and run.

“I know everyone’s thinking he doesn’t have the numbers he had last year, but Tim is still Tim,” Florida running back Emmanuel Moody said after the Gators won 30-6 at Tennessee two weeks ago.

Tebow apologized to Florida fans during an emotional news conference after the Gators lost to Mississippi on Saturday, promising fans they wouldn’t see any player or team play as hard as he and the Gators will the rest of the season.

The loss to Ole Miss, Tebow said, will remain on the minds of the Gators.

“I want it to stay in our hearts and keep hurting because this will motivate me personally and everybody else, coaches and the rest of the players, to never let something like this happen again, especially when we feel we’re better than a team and don’t play up to our ability.”

Meyer said he didn’t know Tebow was going to take so much responsibility for the loss, but he wasn’t surprised.

“When you set yourself out in front of everybody like that, that takes a lot of courage,” Meyer said. “And obviously Tim is a courageous person.”

Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said he was impressed when he read Tebow’s postgame comments.

“It just shows what kind of leader he is,” Petrino said.

Tebow noted that everything he said after the Ole Miss game is within his control.

“I thought about it before I said it,” he said. “I didn’t say we were going to win all our games, I didn’t say we were going to execute. I didn’t say we were going to score every time we have the ball,” Tebow said. “I said that I was going to play as hard as I could possibly play, and I can control that.

“ I can control the guys going as hard as they can. They already do that. We will be known as a team that plays extremely hard and has a lot of heart.”

Tebow’s numbers may be down, but he still has the Razorbacks’ full attention. He is the third player to face Arkansas the season after winning the Heisman Trophy, along with SMU running back Doak Walker in 1949 and Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart in 2005.

“Honestly, I’ve been looking forward to this all year,” Arkansas defensive end Jake Bequette said. “You look on the schedule, you see Florida and think, ‘Tim Tebow.’ He’s kind of the face of the SEC.

“ He’s a guy you respect, but you’ve also got to hate, because he’s the opposing quarterback. I’ll be out there trying to get him.”

Razorbacks defensive coordinator Willy Robinson called Tebow, 6-3 and 240, “a giant” and said he plays like a running back.

“He plays reckless and dips his shoulder and runs,” Robinson said.

Robinson said Tebow is comparable to Texas quarterback Colt McCoy — who last week rushed nine times for 84 yards in the Longhorns’ 52-10 victory over Arkansas — except Tebow is 30 pounds heavier.

Robinson also said he fully expects the Gators to try to do the same things with Tebow that Texas did with McCoy, even though Tebow has spent more time in the pocket than last year.

“If he sees that open window, [if ] we don’t have good rush lanes and we’re not rushing with vision, he’s still willing to take it,” Robinson said.

Tebow also is willing to take the pressure, Meyer said, that comes with being the Heisman Trophy winner and playing quarterback at Florida.

“Tim lives in a world — and it’s been that way for many years, including his high school career — of unrealistic expectations,” Meyer said. “He knows how to deal with it....

“ Tim’s entire career has been unrealistic expectations, and he manages it very well.”

Information for this article was contributed by the Florida Times-Union.