The 2026-27 college basketball season tips off Sunday, November 1, and before a ball is even tossed, the title picture already has a clear front end.
Duke and Florida sit atop the National Championship odds, separated from the rest of the field and standing well ahead of the next closest contenders, UConn at +1200 and Illinois at +1400.
That’s a noticeable gap, and it’s no surprise given what both programs bring into the new season. Duke reached the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed last year before falling to UConn, 73-72, in the Elite 8. Florida also entered as a No. 1 seed, but its run ended earlier than expected with a 73-72 loss to Iowa in the Round of 32.
The Blue Devils will lean on a pair of prized freshmen, Bryson Howard and Cameron Williams, while also getting another season from Cayden Boozer. Cameron Boozer, meanwhile, is now in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Florida’s roster comes with plenty of familiar pieces as well. Denzel Aberdeen, Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelo, and Alex Condon are all back in the fold.
Aberdeen was part of Florida’s championship team two years ago, then transferred to Kentucky last season and averaged 13.5 points per game. Now he’s back with the Gators for another shot in 2026.
There’s also an early measuring-stick game on the calendar: Duke and Florida are set to meet on December 1 in what could look a lot like a National Championship Game preview.
Opening day itself will start with Notre Dame and Villanova meeting in Italy, followed by the first game of the Opening Day Marathon tournament at midnight EST between Liberty and High Point.
In Other News...
Florida Just Made Its Biggest Offensive Decision Before Georgia
Aaron Philo is back in the spotlight at the right time for Florida, and the Gators have made their call for the Georgia game. After Philo was sidelined by injury and Tramell Jones Jr. stepped in to lead a recent upset win, the quarterback situation had become one of the biggest questions hanging over the week. Now the job goes back to Philo, who helped fuel Floridas strong start to the season before the setback.
The timing matters because Georgia brings the kind of defense that can expose even small flaws in an offense. Florida is banking on Philos return to steady the group against the top-ranked unit on the schedule, while Jones surge has only added intrigue to the decision. For a rivalry game with plenty at stake, the Gators are choosing the quarterback they believe gives them the best chance to match Georgias pressure and keep the offense moving. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Heads Into Georgia With One Huge Question Still Unanswered
Floridas trip to Georgia comes with the usual rivalry pressure, but there is a bigger football question hanging over the Gators as they try to sort out a season that has gone from impressive to baffling and back again. Joel Klatt pointed to that week-to-week inconsistency, noting that Florida has paired significant wins with puzzling losses while still showing enough talent to make this one feel live.
The matchup also puts the spotlight on how Florida wants to play it, because the ability to run the ball and lean on a strong defensive line could go a long way toward keeping the game on script. Even so, the quarterback picture remains unsettled, with no starter announced and Tramell Jones and Aaron Philo both listed as questionable, leaving one of the teams most important decisions open as kickoff approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Florida May Be Getting A Massive Boost Right Before Georgia
Floridas passing game has been searching for consistency while the receiver room works through injuries to Eric Singleton Jr. and Vernell Brown III, a hit that has shown up in the offenses overall effectiveness over the last few games. The two bring different traits to the field, and when both are available, the group gives the Gators more options in how they can attack downfield and on the perimeter.
As Georgia looms, there is at least some reason for optimism that the receiving corps could be getting closer to full strength at just the right time. If that trend holds, it could open up more of the game plan Florida has been unable to fully lean on lately, with the real question being how quickly those pieces can be worked back into rhythm before the rivalry game arrives. [Read more 🡒]