Florida enters the 2026–27 season as the nation's No. 1 team with one of college basketball's most experienced rosters and legitimate national championship expectations.
Following a 27–8 campaign that included a 16–2 SEC record and a regular-season conference championship, Todd Golden has the personnel to make another deep NCAA Tournament run.
But last season also delivered a major disappointment.
Despite earning a No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed, Florida suffered a second-round loss to Iowa.
The Gators enter this season determined to avoid another early March exit.
Haugh Leads an Experienced Roster
Senior forward Thomas Haugh returns as Florida's offensive centerpiece.
Haugh averaged 17.1 points last season and earned consensus All-American recognition.
His versatility, scoring ability and experience make him our selection as Florida's best player.
Alex Condon provides additional interior scoring after averaging 15.1 points last season.
Rueben Chinyelu gives Florida one of the nation's strongest rebounders and defensive anchors.
Boogie Fland returns to direct the backcourt, while Urban Klavzar provides perimeter shooting.
The Gators also welcome Denzel Aberdeen back to the program.
Unlike many teams in our preseason Top 25, Florida has substantial roster continuity.
Florida Opens With a Ranked Victory
The Gators opened the season with a 77–67 victory over No. 14 Miami on November 2.
Haugh recorded a double-double, while Chinyelu dominated the glass with 14 rebounds and three blocked shots.
Florida's defense proved particularly effective late in the contest, preventing Miami from completing its comeback.
The performance was encouraging, especially against a nationally ranked opponent.
But tougher challenges remain.
Nine Games Against AP Top 25 Opponents
| Opponent | AP Rank | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Duke | #2 | 1 |
| Texas | #7 | 2 |
| Tennessee | #8 | 1 |
| Arkansas | #12 | 1 |
| Miami | #14 | 1 |
| Alabama | #20 | 1 |
| Kentucky | #23 | 1 |
| Vanderbilt | #24 | 1 |
| Total | 9 |
Average Preseason Ranked Opponent: No. 13.0
The opening victory over Miami is included in the calculation.
Additional ranked competition is possible during the Players Era tournament.
Florida's December 1 meeting with Duke will be one of college basketball's most important early-season games.
Can Florida Win the SEC?
Absolutely. Florida is our preseason favorite.
The Gators won the SEC regular-season championship by three games last season and return most of their offensive production.
Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee and Alabama will provide significant challenges.
But Florida has something many of those programs lack: established chemistry and proven returning contributors.
The Gators are positioned to defend their SEC championship.
S³ Season Projection
| Category | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Proposed Record | 29–3 |
| SEC Record | 16–2 |
| Best Player | Thomas Haugh |
| Biggest X-Factor | Rueben Chinyelu |
| Ranked Games | 9 |
| Average Ranked Opponent | #13.0 |
| SEC Championship | Favorite |
| Expected NCAA Finish | National Championship Game |
| Tournament Ceiling | National Champion |
| Possible Downside | Final Four |
| Further Downside | Elite Eight |
S³ Final Word
Florida enters the season with the strongest overall case for winning the national championship.
The Gators have experience, scoring depth, interior defense and a proven head coach.
Haugh provides the offensive leadership, Condon adds another dependable scoring threat, and Chinyelu gives Florida the rebounding and defensive presence necessary to compete against elite opponents.
The biggest challenge is maintaining championship-level execution throughout the season and avoiding another disappointing NCAA Tournament exit.
S³ projects Florida to finish 29–3, win the SEC regular-season championship and advance to the national championship game.
The Gators have the personnel to win it all.
S³ Prediction: 29–3 | National Championship Game | National Championship Ceiling.
Rank the team, not the reputation.
