College basketball rankings: Florida Gators drop seven spots in AP Top 25 but remain among leaders

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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.

The Gators checked in No. 10 when the first regular-season AP Top 25 was released Monday, no longer receiving any first-place votes following their 93-87 loss to Arizona in the season opener. UF similarly dropped seven spots to No. 10 in the Coaches Poll.

Houston and Purdue switched spots in the top two, the former being the team that Florida defeated to win the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

The Gators’ starting five changing dramatically — with three new starters in the backcourt — means head coach Todd Golden still has plenty of work ahead figuring out how Florida will play as a cohesive unit this season.

Expectations are high, and plenty of tests remain ahead, given UF has a serious nonconference slate and an extremely difficult road in SEC play. Florida will play seven ranked teams in this week’s top 25 with UConn, Duke, Kentucky (twice), Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia all ahead.

AP Top 25, Nov. 10

1. Houston (18)
2. Purdue (36)
3. UConn (3)
4. Duke (2)
5. Arizona | L 87-93 (Nov. 3)
6. Michigan (1)
7. BYU
8. Alabama (1)
9. Kentucky
10. Florida (8)
11. Texas Tech
12. Louisville
13. St. John’s
14. Illinois
15. UCLA
16. Iowa State
17. Michigan State
18. North Carolina
19. Gonzaga
20. Tennessee
21. Arkansas
22. Auburn
23. Creighton
24. Wisconsin
25. Kansas