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Nov 29, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu (9) and guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) react after a play against the Wichita State Shockers in the second half at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Thanksgiving week featured a ton of college basketball, and some surprise finishes led to changes in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. Florida ended the month of November undefeated (8-0) and the Gators are now ranked No. 13 in the country following a convincing win at the ESPN Events Invitational (Wake Forest, Wichita State).
The Orange and Blue began the season at No. 21 in the preseason rankings, moved up to No. 19 in the Week 1 and Week 2 updates and jumped to No. 16 a week ago. Florida now trails Alabama by 14 poll points and has a sizable 51-point lead over Cincinnati.
The top five went through some dramatic changes this week. Kansas remains at No. 1 but is no longer the runaway favorite for the title of the best team in the country. Auburn earned 12 of 31 first-place votes and moved up to No. 2 as UConn plummeted out of the top 25 with a three-loss tournament.
Tennessee moved into the top three, an undefeated Marquette team is up to No. 4 and Iowa State remains at No. 5 this week.
SEC schools in the Coaches Poll top 25
Even with the Arkansas Razorbacks falling out of the top 25, the Southeastern Conference boasts eight programs — including Florida — in the top 25. Auburn (No. 2) remains the highest-ranked team in the SEC, followed Tennessee (No. 3), the Kentucky Wildcats (No. 6), Alabama (No. 12), Florida (No. 13), the Ole Miss Rebels (No. 20) and Texas A&M Aggies (No. 24).
The Texas Longhorns earned 54, making them the de facto No. 28 team in the country, and the Mississippi State Bulldogs are right behind them in a tie for No. 29 with 39 poll points this week. Arkansas is unofficially No. 31 with 28 points, and the Georgia Bulldogs are No. 46 with three points.
