Florida wasted no time backing up its preseason billing.
The Gators opened the 2026-27 season with two convincing wins, knocking off then-No. 17 Miami, 77-67, in Tampa before rolling past Jacksonville, 88-57, in their home opener. Todd Golden’s team still has a long road ahead before the NCAA Tournament picture comes into focus, but the early signs have been strong - especially from three-point range, an area that gave Florida trouble last season.
That start was enough to keep Florida in the No. 1 spot in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll after Week 1. The Gators collected 786 points and 22 first-place votes, a jump of 54 points and two first-place votes from the preseason ranking. Duke sits right behind at No. 2 with 774 points and nine first-place votes, while Illinois is third with 734 points and one first-place vote.
The top 25 also features a heavy SEC presence, with seven league teams included. Behind Florida are Texas at No.
7, Tennessee at No. 9, Alabama at No.
16, Vanderbilt at No. 19 and Arkansas at No. 20.
Kentucky fell from No. 23 to the de facto No. 26 spot with 101 points, while Texas A&M, Missouri and LSU also received votes, along with Memphis, Saint Louis, Purdue, Indiana, Baylor, North Carolina, Marquette, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Villanova and Nevada.
Florida’s next test comes Tuesday night in Tallahassee, where it will face FSU in its only true road game before SEC play begins. The Gators then return home Friday to host Merrimack.
In Other News...
Florida Now Faces A Painful Reminder Of Its Staff Turnover
Floridas defensive back room has already felt the ripple effects of another staff change, and Jordan Castell and Aaron Gates are the latest reminder of how quickly those decisions can reshape a roster. Both players were once part of the Gators plans before transferring to Kentucky, where they have settled in and turned in career-best production this season.
Jon Sumrall said he made an effort to keep both defenders in Gainesville, but he simply did not have enough time to sway their choices. For Florida, the sting is obvious: two familiar names now helping a conference rival while the Gators are left to wonder how different things might have looked with a steadier hand on the staff. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Heads To Kentucky With A Quarterback Problem Still Unsettled
Florida is heading into a tricky Week 11 road trip to Kentucky with its quarterback situation still unresolved, and Jon Sumrall is not ready to hand the job to either Aaron Philo or Tramell Jones Jr. after another uneven stretch. Jones got the start against Oklahoma last time out, but the performance did little to settle the discussion as the Gators continue searching for steadier play under center.
The timing is hardly ideal with Kentucky still in the mix for a College Football Playoff spot and the Gators facing a difficult environment on the road. For Florida, the question is no longer just who gets the first snap, but whether either quarterback can provide enough consistency to give the offense a chance against one of the tougher assignments left on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Heads To Kentucky With One Big Offensive Question
Florida heads into Week 11 with a familiar SEC test and a lot to sort out on offense. The Gators are 5-4 and have hit a rough patch on that side of the ball, while Kentucky brings a 7-2 record and a No. 13 ranking into a matchup that has tilted the Wildcats way lately despite Floridas historical edge in the series.
Kentucky has won four of the last five meetings, which only adds to the pressure on a Florida offense looking for answers on the road. The Wildcats are coming off a loss to Tennessee, and the betting market has moved only slightly ahead of kickoff, but the bigger question for Florida is whether it can find enough rhythm to keep this one from turning into another frustrating afternoon. [Read more 🡒]