Florida maintains top spot in AP Top 25 poll after opening week

Florida basketball opened up the 2026-27 campaign on a high note, scoring wins over Miami and Jacksonville to begin the season with a tidy 2-0 record. The Gators defeated then-14th-ranked Hurricanes in Tampa to start things off before routing the Dolphins, 88-57, in their home opener inside the O’Connell Center.

After the first week of play, Florida remains the top-ranked team in the AP Top 25 with 1,490 points and 53 first-place votes, representing a 29-point and six-vote improvement over the preseason poll. It also gives the Gators a 68-point edge over second-ranked Duke, which received the final seven first-place votes.

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The AP Poll also includes seven members of the SEC — the same number as last week — headlined by No. 1 Florida, followed by Texas (No. 7), Tennessee (No. 11), Alabama (No. 18), Arkansas (No. 19), Vanderbilt (No. 22) and Kentucky (No. 24). Texas A&M and its five points were the only other conference school to appear on the ballot.

Florida travels to Tallahassee this week for its only true road game before the SEC schedule, facing FSU on Tuesday night, then returns home on Friday to host Merrimack in the O’Dome.

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PHOTOS: Highlights from Florida’s home opener vs Jacksonville

Florida Boogie Fland (0) shoots against Jacksonville during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O’Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

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PHOTOS: Highlights from Florida’s home opener vs Jacksonville

Florida Boogie Fland (0) shoots against Jacksonville during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O’Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, November 5, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

(Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

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PHOTOS: Highlights from Florida’s home opener vs Jacksonville

Florida Urban Klavzar (7) drives on Jacksonville Evan…


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Publish date : 2026-11-09 19:02:00

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