Florida basketball ranked in the top 3 in The Athletic’s preseason Top 25

Florida basketball trails only Duke and Illinois in The Athletic’s 2026-27 men’s college basketball preseason Top 25. The Gators came in at No. 3 after winning the SEC regular season title, returning a host of starters and putting pieces together for the upcoming campaign.

College basketball analyst CJ Moore strengthens the buzz among the Gators’ championship potential with his top five ranking. ESPN’s preseason ratings ranked the same three programs as the top favorites, while the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 Florida led the pack.

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Florida returns four starters from last year, including national player of the year candidate Thomas Haugh, defensive player of the year in Rueben Chinyelu and reigning Naismith. Alex Condon, who was a key contributor to the Gators’ 2025 national championship run, completes arguably the best front court in the country.

This dominant inside presence created a constant matchup problem for most teams and helped propel the Gators to a 27-8 record. The group’s cumulative production overwhelmed opponents on both sides of the floor, with Florida leading the NCAA in total rebounding and No. 15 blocks per game.

The Gators are one of five SEC programs in the Athletics’ top 25 ranking, joining Texas, Arkansas, Alabama and Vanderbilt. With the expectation of the championship flag being made in Gainesville, the Golden Challenge is Florida’s potential for another Final Four run.

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PHOTOS: Florida men’s basketball at the 2026 SEC Basketball Tipoff

Oct 14, 2026; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden speaks during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook. Amet Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images

(Butch Dill, IMAGE Images via Reuters Connect)

The Athletics 2026-27 preseason men’s basketball top 25

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This article originally appeared on Wire Gators: Florida basketball ranked in the top 3 in The Athletic’s preseason Top 25

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