Editor's Note: The Arkansas Razorbacks will face one of the toughest football schedules in the nation in 2008. The sports staff of the Northwest Arkansas Times ranked Arkansas'12 upcoming games from least important to most important based on fan fervor, storylines and the effect a win or loss would have on the Razorbacks'season. This is the Hogs'fourth most important game, part 9 of a 12-part series profiling the Razorbacks'opponents.

Florida was all Tim Tebow all the time in 2007. Tebow did it all for the Gators on the ground and through the air. He became the first sophomore ever to earn college football's most prestigious honor, the Heisman Trophy.

But Tebow alone couldn't elevate the Gators back to their pedestal among college football's elite. A 9-4 finish and 41-35 loss in the Capital One Bowl was disappointing by Florida standards, especially coming off a national championship season.

The secret is out on Tebow and head coach Urban Meyer won't want to wear down his stud too early in the season, especially with one of the nation's toughest overall schedules making every week a dogfight. With Hawaii, Miami (Fla. ), and Florida State book-ending a rigorous SEC slate, the Gators will need to find other means to move the football. The Gators travel to Arkansas in Week 5 in a game wedged between home tilts against Ole Miss and LSU. Arkansas will be coming off a road trip to Texas and a home match with Alabama. Arkansas hasn't beaten Florida since the 1982 Bluebonnet Bowl. And that's the only time the Hogs have logged a win against the Gators. Florida returns 16 of 22 starters, eight on both sides of the ball. Florida is loaded at the skill positions and at linebacker and secondary. These Gators will have much more bite this go-round.

OFFENSE This offense begins and ends with Tebow. The fleetfooted, strong-armed quarterback proved durable beyond expectation in 2007 with 55 total touchdowns. Tebow completed 234 of 350 passes (66. 9 percent ) for 3, 286 yards and 32 touchdown passes to just 6 interceptions. Tebow also netted 895 rushing yards with 23 touchdowns on the ground. Eventually, though, that wear and tear will take its toll. Meyer seemed content with Tebow as the offensive conduit last season, but one wrong turn and the Gators will have to let someone else do it. Luckily for Florida, it is more than equipped to allay some of the pressure from Tebow. Percy Harvin returns as the jack-of-all-trades receiver. Harvin possesses lightning-quick acceleration (4. 22-second, 40-yard dash ) and can serve multiple purposes on offense. Southern California transfer Emmanuel Moody is the likely starter at running back. The Gators also return wide receiver Louis Murphy, who caught 37 passes for 548 yards and 5 scores in 2007. Tight end Co r nelius Ingram hauled in 34 catches for 508 yards and 7 touchdowns last season. Returning starters Maurkice Pouncey (center ), Jason Watkins (right tackle ) and Jim Tartt (left guard ) will bolster the offensive line.

DEFENSE Florida returns three members of its secondary, all three linebackers and half of its defensive line from a 2007 squad that surrendered 41 points to Michigan in a shootout loss in the Capital One Bowl.

Florida is led by middle linebacker Brandon Sikes, who battled knee tendonitis last season but still led the squad in tackles with 131, including 14. 5 tackles for a loss and one sack.

Junior linebacker Dustin Doe is also back. He finished second on the roster with 85 stops last season. Free safety Major Wright accumulated 67 tackles last season, sufficient for third on the team. Wright also logged a pick.

Both cornerbacks return for the Gators. Sophomores Jacques Rickerson and Joe Haden give the Gators experience in pass defense. Haden finished with 63 tackles and an interception. Haden also led the team with 12 pass break-ups in 2007.

Sophomore linebacker A. J. Jones, sophomore defensive tackle Justin Trattou and junior defensive end Jermaine Cunningham also return to give Florida experience. The Gators will have to replace starters at strong safety, end and tackle. Sophomore Carlos Dunlap is the front-runner for the other end position and sophomore Torrey Davis is tops on the depth chart at the remaining tackle slot.

• • • The difference-maker: If Arkansas is to defeat Florida, it must successfully cope with the intimidation factor. While these Gators are darn good, they're not Steve Spurrier-dangerous. The Hogs will need to prove their noses are just as hard. The key will be to impede Tebow and Harvin to turn that Gator chomp into a nibble. Arkansas quarterback Casey Dick will be throwing against an experienced Gator secondary. Dick won't likely outgun Tebow but he can't afford to make any mistakes. Playing at home will help Dick but he has to do the rest.

The deal-maker: This game is key for both clubs. Arkansas must take advantage of all of its home games. The tilt is especially crucial for Arkansas with consecutive road trips to Auburn and Kentucky looming. After beginning with back-to-back cupcakes, the Hogs could be fighting for their lives against Florida following consecutive fist fights with Texas and Alabama, Arkansas' SEC opener.

Florida must focus on Arkansas despite a match with hated rival LSU looming the following week.

The deal-breaker: The importance of this game for Arkansas will be based on how well the Hogs fare against Alabama in their SEC opener. Florida could easily be 2-0 in SEC play heading into the Arkansas game. A loss for Arkansas doesn't sting as bad after a win over Alabama.

The significance of the contest for Florida is dependent on what transpires in its four previous games. Florida has national championship aspirations. A loss early could smolder those hopes.