College basketball rankings: Florida Gators leap back into upper echelon of AP Top 25 poll

Basketball

0

Image Credit: Victoria Riccobono, 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 meant the only direction Florida would head as the campaign progressed was slightly downward.

That decline took the Gators all the way out of the rankings, though they quickly bounced back into the top 25 and have now returned to their rightful spot inside the upper echelon.

At 12-2 in SEC play, UF is ahead of its pace from last season, and it’s beating opponents more definitively, too. Plus, three of its six losses are to teams ranked No. 1, No. 2 and No. 6 — all occurring away from home in November and December.

Florida moved up five spots Monday, rising to No. 7 in the AP Top 25. It similarly rose four spots to No. 7 in the Coaches Poll.

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

AP Top 25, Feb. 23

1. Duke (56) | L 66-67 (Dec. 2)
2. Arizona (5) | L 87-93 (Nov. 3)
3. Michigan
4. Iowa State
5. Houston
6. UConn | L 73-77 (Dec. 9)
7. Florida
8. Purde
9. Gonzaga
10. Illinois
11. Virginia
12. Nebraska
13. Michigan State
14. Kansas
15. St. John’s
16. Texas Tech
17. Alabama | W 100-77 (Feb. 1)
18. North Carolina
19. BYU
20. Arkansas | Feb. 28
21. Miami (OH)
22. Tennessee | W 91-67 (Jan. 10)
23. Saint Louis
24. Louisville
25. Vanderbilt | W 98-94 (Jan. 17)