We are heading into week three of the college football season, and while there has been a lot of movement in the rankings, the top two teams have remained the same.

Florida and Texas are both undefeated — like we all expected them to be — but last weekend’s games provided both teams with a rare opportunity.

Teams like Florida and Texas expect to play in the National Championship and nothing less. But as USC has conveniently evidenced once again, it can be difficult to keep these elite teams motivated for your run-of-the-mill conference game. Well, the motivation factor is what made last week’s games so unique for Florida and Texas.

Both programs had quite a bit of inspiration this past Saturday.

Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin’s vision of singing “Old Rocky Top” after a victory over the Gators added some fuel to the Florida fire, and Texas got a chance to avenge last year’s heartbreaking loss to Texas Tech ?– a loss that cost them a shot at the National Championship.

We thought these two emotionally fired-up teams would dominate. Well, think again.

Florida and Texas were supposed to win in blowout fashion but instead, both teams looked beatable. Very beatable.

At the start of the 2009 season, I think just about everyone who follows college football penciled in the Florida Gators as their national champion. Returning all 11 starters on defense and a Heisman-caliber quarterback will create those kinds of expectations.

But Tennessee showed the college football world that Florida is far from perfect.

The Volunteers came into the swamp and went toe-to-toe with the defending national champions. Tim Tebow threw for a mere 115 yards with an interception as Kiffin’s defense made the all-world quarterback look, well, average. The Gators passing attack just isn’t the same without Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy stretching defenses on the perimeter.

Sure, the Florida defense looked pretty tough, but Tennessee doesn’t exactly have an offense to write home about. The Volunteers are relying on a true freshman running back and a quarterback who barely held onto the starting job coming into the season.

Florida was able to secure a victory, but keep in mind Tennessee is a middle of the pack SEC team at best. Last week’s game was supposed to be cakewalk compared to the brutal SEC schedule.

Now let’s turn our attention to Texas.

The Longhorns, led by All-American quarterback Colt McCoy, were supposed to annihilate the Red Raiders. A Texas Tech team without Michael Crabtree and Graham Harrell doesn’t strike fear into teams like it did last season. Throw in a suspect defense and you’ve got yourself a pretty mediocre Big 12 team.

Surprisingly enough, it was Texas who looked mediocre last Saturday.

Once again, it was the elite quarterback who looked average. Colt McCoy passed for just over 200 yards and had two interceptions. McCoy didn’t get any help from a running game as the Longhorn backs continued to struggle.

The Texas defense allowed Tech to put up over 400 yards through the air and had it not been for 14 penalties called on the Red Raiders, this game could have had a much different ending.

In the end, it was a Jordan Shipley punt return for a touchdown that made the difference for a Texas team that struggled to put away a team that crushed their hopes last year.

So, as unimpressive as Florida and Texas looked last week, rival teams in their respective conferences are making an undefeated season for either team seem like a daunting task.

In the SEC, Alabama has looked like a legitimate threat.

The Crimson Tide has an improved defense that rivals Florida for the top unit in the conference. On the other side of the ball, Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson are both averaging around seven yards per carry and first-year quarterback Greg McElroy has had an impressive start to the new season.

Say what you want about head coach Nick Saban, but the guy knows his football.

Florida may meet the Tide in the SEC Championship, but teams on the Gators’ schedule like Georgia, LSU and Arkansas will provide a challenge.

In the Big 12, there are a number of high-powered offenses that can keep up with the Longhorns.

Don’t count out Oklahoma and Sam Bradford just yet, either. Bradford should be back in time to meet Texas in their annual Red River Rivalry, and you know the Sooners would like nothing more than to ruin the Longhorns’ potentially perfect season.

Plus, Texas has to go on the road to play both Missouri and Oklahoma State. Those are two offenses that have the ability to score with anyone.

If Texas and Florida’s performances last week have told us anything, it is that a trip to the National Championship for either team is far from guaranteed.

Last week, Florida and Texas had every intention to run up the score and display their dominance but they simply could not. Tennessee and Texas Tech, despite having to travel to two of the country’s most hostile environments as tremendous underdogs, hung right with the nation’s top teams.

Do Florida and Texas have enough talent to run the table and meet in the championship? You bet. But after watching last week’s games, the road to that championship game looks more challenging than I, or anyone, initially thought.

Max Henson is a junior majoring in journalism. Think the Gators and Longhorns look strong enough to meet in the National Championship? Send him your thoughts at [email protected].