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 XXX first-place votes. Florida began last season ranked No. 3 coming off the program’s third national championship.

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 Miami (FL) in Tampa.

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

Stay tuned.