College basketball rankings: Florida Gators drop into bottom portion of AP Top 25 after third loss

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Image Credit: UAA

The reigning national champion Florida Gators began the 2025-26 college basketball season with the greatest expectations surrounding the program in two decades. That was solidified with a No. 3 ranking in the preseason polls — UF’s highest placement entering a season in 19 years — which likely meant the only direction Florida would head as the campaign progressed was slightly downward.

That is exactly what has happened as the Gators last week fell to 5-3 on the season, after a gut-wrenching 67-66 defeat at then-No. 4 Duke. Florida’s offensive struggles — a poor-shooting backcourt and starting five that commits far too many turnovers — are primarily to blame as head coach Todd Golden looks ahead to another top-tier matchup this week in Madison Square Garden.

UF dropped three more spots on Monday, falling to No. 18 in the AP Top 25, its lowest ranking of the young season, though it is the highest-ranked three-loss team.

Florida will have an opportunity to flip its momentum markedly on Tuesday when it faces No. 5 UConn. The Gators also checked on No. 18 in the Coaches Poll, moving down four slots.

Arizona, which was unranked when it beat Florida in the season opener, is now the No. 1 team in the nation with Duke slotting No. 3.

Expectations remain high for the Gators with plenty of tests ahead. Florida has or will play eight ranked teams in this week’s top 25.

AP Top 25, Dec. 8

1. Arizona (33) | L 87-93 (Nov. 3)
2. Michigan (19)
3. Duke (7) | L 66-67 (Dec. 2)
4. Iowa State (1)
5. UConn
6. Purdue
7. Houston
8. Gonzaga
9. Michigan State
10. BYU
11. Louisville
12. Alabama
13. Illinois
14. North Carolina
15. Vanderbilt
16. Texas Tech
17. Arkansas
18. Florida
19. Kansas
20. Tennessee
21. Auburn
22. St. John’s
23. Nebraska
24. Virginia
25. UCLA