The Florida Gators are back on top of the college basketball world before the season even begins.
Florida grabbed the No. 1 spot in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, landing the preseason crown for the first time since 2006. The poll puts the Gators ahead of Duke, Illinois, Arizona and UConn, which make up the rest of the top five.
The season officially tips off on Nov. 1, but the first rankings are already in and exhibition games are underway. For Florida, the No. 1 label adds another layer to a program that has already enjoyed plenty of success. The Gators won the title in just 2025 and followed that with an SEC championship in 2026, even as Michigan was the team that won it all this past year.
For fans getting their gear ready before opening night, affordable college basketball merchandise is already available on Amazon across the preseason top 10.
The top 10 in the preseason rankings are Florida, Duke, Illinois, Arizona, UConn, Michigan State, Texas, Houston, Tennessee and Virginia.
Among the featured gear are Arizona Wildcats Basketball Rebound T Shirts for Men and Women Officially Licensed Tees, the NCAA Tennessee Vols Y’all T Shirts and the Blue 84 NCAA mens Arching Team Color Crewneck Sweatshirt for Virginia.
The Arizona T-shirt is billed as an officially licensed option with team graphics and a lightweight, classic fit for game days, March Madness and everyday wear. The Tennessee shirt is a 100% cotton unisex design with multiple university options and a Southern-style “Y’all” theme. The Virginia crewneck is a cotton-blend sweatshirt with classic team graphics aimed at game days, March Madness and everyday wear.
Amazon is also pushing Prime memberships as another way to save, pointing to free same-day, one-day and two-day delivery options, along with a free 30-day trial for new users.
In Other News...
Jon Sumralls Late-Game Mindset Said Everything About Florida Vs Texas
Late in the fourth quarter against Texas, Jon Sumrall made it clear he was thinking the same way plenty of aggressive coaches do in a tight game: he wanted the first down, not the safer kick. The Florida coachs mindset fit the moment, with the Gators trying to finish off a victory and trusting the offense to make one more play instead of settling for points and handing the outcome back to the Longhorns.
On the critical third down, Tramell Jones answered with a nine-yard run that sealed it, removing the need for any debate about a field goal or a fourth-down call. Still, the whole sequence said a lot about how Florida viewed the end of the game, and it leaves the interesting question of what Sumrall would have done if Jones had been stopped short. [Read more 🡒]
Billy Napier Is Suddenly Back In A Job Florida Fans Know Well
Marylands coaching search is officially underway after the school moved on from Mike Locksley following an eight-season run and a 2-5 start, and one familiar name is already floating into the conversation. Athletic director James Smith now has to find the next leader for a program looking for a reset, and former Florida coach Billy Napier is among the candidates being mentioned.
Napier, of course, is a name Gators fans know well from his time in Gainesville, where the spotlight and pressure came fast. He is currently at James Madison and has the Dukes off to a 7-0 start, which only adds intrigue to any job talk surrounding him. For Florida fans, it is another reminder that Napiers career remains very much in motion, even if the next step is still unclear. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Defense Finally Showed An Edge With Georgia Looming
Floridas defense had been under fire for looking too cautious under coordinator Brad White, especially when explosive plays started piling up against it. Against Texas, though, the Gators looked far more willing to take chances, leaning into pressure and forcing Arch Manning to deal with a much different look than the one opponents had seen earlier in the season.
The shift was noticeable enough to raise the bigger question now hanging over Florida: was that just a one-game adjustment, or the start of a real change in how this defense wants to operate? With Georgia coming up, the Gators have a chance to show whether the more aggressive approach can hold up against a deeper, more punishing offense. [Read more 🡒]