After a rocky start to SEC play, Florida basketball has officially flipped the script.
Just two weeks ago, the Gators were on the outside looking in, having dropped their conference opener to Missouri and slipping out of the AP Top 25 entirely. Fast forward to now, and Todd Golden’s squad is riding a four-game win streak that’s not just turned heads - it’s turned rankings. Florida is back in the national conversation, climbing three spots this week to No. 16 in the latest AP Poll, matching their placement in the Coaches Poll.
What’s fueled the rise? A stretch of wins that includes three victories over ranked opponents - the kind of résumé-building run that can shift a season’s trajectory.
Most recently, they went on the road and outlasted Vanderbilt in a 98-94 shootout, a game that showcased both their offensive firepower and their growing resilience. That win not only extended their streak but also added another quality win to their tournament résumé.
It’s a significant turnaround for a team that opened the season with sky-high expectations. Florida began the 2025-26 campaign ranked No. 3 in the AP Poll, but a season-opening loss to then-unranked (now No.
- Arizona sent them tumbling early. The Gators struggled to find their footing in the weeks that followed, but this recent surge has them back in the thick of the SEC race and firmly in the national spotlight.
As things stand after Week 11, the SEC is once again flexing its muscle in the national rankings. Five teams from the conference are holding down spots in the AP Top 25, with Vanderbilt clinging to the top SEC position at No. 15 - just one spot ahead of Florida. Alabama slots in right behind the Gators at No. 17, while Arkansas (No. 20) and Georgia (No. 21) round out the group.
And don’t sleep on the teams just outside the cut. Kentucky (27 votes), Tennessee (20 votes), and Texas A&M (2 votes) are all still getting attention from the voters, keeping the SEC’s presence strong even beyond the ranked five.
Here’s how the AP Top 25 stacks up after Week 11:
- Arizona
- UConn
- Michigan
- Purdue
- Duke
- Houston
- Nebraska
- Gonzaga
- Iowa State
- Michigan State
- Illinois
- Texas Tech
- BYU
- Virginia
- Vanderbilt
- Florida
- Alabama
- Clemson
- Kansas
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- North Carolina
- Louisville
- St.
Louis
25.
Miami (OH)
Others receiving votes: Wisconsin (64), St. John's (64), Iowa (30), Kentucky (27), Tennessee (20), Utah State (15), UCF (14), Miami (10), George Mason (10), Saint Mary's (5), SMU (3), Villanova (3), Texas A&M (2), NC State (1).
For Florida, the climb back into the Top 25 is more than just a number - it’s a statement. The Gators are finding their rhythm, stacking quality wins, and proving they belong in the upper tier of college basketball. With the SEC schedule heating up and plenty of opportunities still ahead, this team is trending in the right direction at just the right time.