Florida Gators won’t travel far to start March Madness. Where, when they play

Fans of the Florida Gators won’t have to travel far for March Madness this year.

The No. 1 seed in the South Region will play its first-round game in Tampa, giving local supporters a chance to see the team that finished the season on a hot 11-game winning streak.

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Who do the Florida Gators play in March Madness?

In the first round, Florida will face the winner of (16) Lehigh vs. (16) Prairie View A&M, giving the Gators a matchup against one of the lowest-seeded teams in the tournament.

More: March Madness expert picks: Bracket predictions for 2026 NCAA Tournament

When do the Florida Gators play in March Madness?

The game is scheduled for Friday, March 20, at 8:25 p.m. ET in Tampa, Florida, putting the team close to home and giving fans a chance to pack the stands.

What seed is the Florida Gators?

Florida earned a No. 1 seed with a 26-7 record and is considered a legitimate national championship contender (+750). Coach Todd Golden’s team had to adjust after losing the entire starting backcourt from last year’s national championship team, which meant the roster needed time to gel early in the season. By season’s end, the Gators had found their rhythm and were firing on all cylinders.

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Key players include Thomas Haugh, a former reserve on last year’s title team who is now averaging 17.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game and is projected as a lottery pick; Rueben Chinyelu, who is averaging 11.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game and is in the conversation for national defensive player of the year honors; and scorers Alex Condon (14.8 PPG), Xaivian Lee (11.6 PPG, 4.2 APG), and Boogie Fland (11.6 PPG, 1.9 SPG). Over their winning streak, the Gators shot 59% from 2 and 38% from 3, ranking second in the nation behind Duke, according to BartTorvik.

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Who will the Florida Gators play in round 2?

If Florida advances, it will play the winner of (8) Clemson (24-10) vs. (9) Iowa…

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Publish date : 2026-03-17 14:39:00

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