Expectations around Florida are already soaring before the 2026-27 season even gets rolling, and Sports Illustrated’s latest early March Madness forecast reflects that. In SI’s projection, Todd Golden’s Gators land the No. 1 seed in the South Region of the 2027 NCAA Tournament.
That setup would put Florida in line for a first-round meeting with the winner of a First Four game between No. 16 seeds Bethune-Cookman and Lehigh. The Gators have handled Bethune-Cookman well before, going 6-0 against the program, while Lehigh would be a new opponent in the team’s history.
The road beyond that opener does not look especially soft. Purdue and Baylor sit as the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds in the same section, which means either could await Florida in the second round. The Gators already saw Baylor in an exhibition this season, though that result may not say much given preseason timing.
Florida’s part of the bracket also features No. 4 St.
John’s against No. 13 High Point and No.
5 Kansas taking on the winner of Oklahoma and Florida State from the First Four. If Florida keeps moving, Kansas or St.
John’s could be waiting in the Sweet 16.
On the other side of the South Region, Gonzaga and Louisville headline the top end as the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds. Gonzaga is projected to draw No.
15 Wright State, while Louisville gets No. 14 Miami (Ohio).
The rest of that half includes No. 6 UCLA against the winner of TCU and Ole Miss, along with No.
7 Indiana and No. 10 Cincinnati.
Florida’s place in the bracket shouldn’t be a shock considering what Golden has coming back. The Gators return a strong frontcourt with Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, and the backcourt is anchored by Boogie Fland and Denzel Aberdeen. That mix of proven production and top-end talent has Florida sitting among the sport’s leading title threats before the season begins.
Still, the calendar is long and the picture can shift a lot between early November and Selection Sunday. For now, SI’s bracket is simply another sign of how high the bar is for Florida entering the 2026-27 campaign.
The Gators open Nov. 2 in Tampa, Florida, against the Miami Hurricanes.
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
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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 🡒]