Gators Top AP Poll Again
Todd Golden's squad earned 47 first-place votes to start the 2026-27 season as the nation's favorite.
By Rahul Garnier ·
Gainesville is back at the top of the college basketball hierarchy.
The Florida Gators entered the 2026-27 season as the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 poll. They received 47 of the 59 available first-place votes. This marks the first time the program has started the season at No. 1 since the 2006-07 team won consecutive national championships. Head coach Todd Golden leads a roster that returned key performers from last year's deep postseason run.
The lineup relies on a frontcourt that dominated the previous season. Center Rueben Chinyelu returns as the 2026 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. He led the nation in rebounding last year with 11.2 per game. Senior Alex Condon adds size and playmaking, having averaged 15.1 points and 7.5 rebounds. Forward Thomas Haugh, a Third Team All-American, anchors the offense after scoring 17.1 points per contest in his breakout year.
Junior guard Boogie Fland directs the backcourt. He averaged 11.6 points and 3.5 assists in his first year with Florida. Veteran guards Denzel Aberdeen and Urban Klavzar provide depth for the demanding SEC schedule. The group opened its campaign in Tampa against No. 14 Miami.
The preseason ranking places immediate pressure on the squad to deliver results. The Gators face a marquee matchup early in the season. Their depth and returning talent set a high bar for performance from the opening tip.
Source: WHBO
