College basketball rankings: Florida Gators nearly out of AP Top 25 after fourth nonconference loss

Basketball

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Image Credit: Bryce Mitchell, 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 continued happening as the Gators fell to 6-4 on the season last week, losing 77-73 to a top-five UConn team in Madison Square Garden. 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 to try and solidify his squad with competition easing up and SEC play ahead.

UF dropped five more spots on Monday, falling to No. 23 in the AP Top 25, its lowest ranking of the young season, though it is the only four-loss team still listed in the poll. It only dropped three spots to No. 21 in the Coaches Poll.

Arizona, which was unranked when it beat Florida in the season opener, remains the No. 1 team in the nation with Duke and UConn both in the top five, meaning three of UF’s four losses have come to the best teams in the nation.

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

AP Top 25, Dec. 15

1. Arizona (42) | L 87-93 (Nov. 3)
2. Michigan (15)
3. Duke (3) | L 66-67 (Dec. 2)
4. Iowa State (1)
5. UConn | L 73-77 (Dec. 9)
6. Purdue
7. Gonzaga
8. Houston
9. Michigan State
10. BYU
11. Louisville
12. North Carolina
13. Vanderbilt
14. Arkansas
15. Nebraska
16. Alabama
17. Kansas
18. Illinois
19. Texas Tech
20. Tennessee
21. Auburn
22. St. John’s
23. Florida
24. Virginia
25. Georgia