College basketball rankings: Florida Gators open at No. 1 in Preseason AP Top 25 for first time in 20 years

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Image Credit: UAA

The 2024-25 national champion Florida Gators begin the 2026-27 college basketball season with expectations surrounding the program that are the most significant in two decades. That was solidified Monday when the Preseason AP Top 25 was announced with Florida matching its highest preseason ranking in the poll’s history.

The Gators checked in No. 1 in the Preseason AP Top 25 for the second time in program history and the first time in 20 years (2006-07), receiving 47 of 59 first-place votes. Florida began last season ranked No. 3 coming off the program’s third national championship.

UF is also opening the campaign at No. 1 in the Preseason Coaches Poll for the first time in 20 years, receiving 20 of 30 first-place votes.

UF is returning four players from its 2025-26 starting five while welcoming back senior guard Denzel Aberdeen, who spent last season at Kentucky after serving as a reserve on the title-winning team.

Florida will open the campaign on Monday, Nov. 2, when it faces No. 14 Miami (FL) in Tampa.

The Gators will play as few as nine or as many as 11 games against Preseason AP Top 25 teams, including a scheduled showdown with No. 2 Duke set for the 2026 SEC-ACC Challenge at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on Tuesday, Dec. 1.

Florida will also play No. 7 Texas (twice), No. 8 Tennessee, No. 12 Arkansas, No. 20 Alabama, No. 23 Kentucky and No. 24 Vanderbilt with potential games against No. 10 Houston and No. 17 Kansas as part of the 2026 Players Era event in Las Vegas.

The Gators were previously projected by media covering the SEC to win the league in 2027. Junior forward Alex Condon was selected to the Preseason All-SEC first team and named Preseason SEC Player of the Year.

Preseason AP Top 25

1. Florida (47)
2. Duke (10)
3. Illinois (2)
4. UConn
5. Arizona
6. Michigan State
7. Texas
8. Tennessee
9. Virginia
10. Houston
11. Louisville
12. Arkansas
13. St. John’s
14. Miami (FL)
15. Gonzaga
16. Michigan
17. Kansas
18. Iowa State
19. Texas Tech
20. Alabama
21. USC
22. UCLA
23. Kentucky
24. Vanderbilt
25. BYU

Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Florida (20)
2. Duke (8)
3. Illinois (2)
4. Arizona
5. UConn
6. Michigan State
7. Texas
8. Houston
9. Tennessee
10. Virginia
11. Louisville
12. Gonzaga
13. Arkansas
14. St. John’s
14. Iowa State
16. Texas Tech
17. Miami (FL)
18. Kansas
19. Alabama
20. Michigan
21. Vanderbilt
22. USC
23. Kentucky
24. Purdue
25. BYU