On Monday, Florida defeated Houston to win the 2025 NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The Gators came from 12 points down to win the championship game 65-53 against the Cougars. It was the Gators’ third men’s basketball national championship and their first since 2007.
Monday’s win means the University of Florida is now the only school to have won three NCAA Division I titles in men’s basketball (2006, 2007, 2025) and football (1996, 2006, 2008). This is an impressive level of success, especially considering it all happened in the modern era and under two different head coaches in each sport.
Florida Gators Basketball Wins National Championship
Billy Donovan led the Gators to back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007. Donovan will be inducted into the 2025 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2006, Florida finished with a 33-6 record, and its roster included future NBA players like Joakim Noah and Taurean Green.
Florida defeated UCLA 73-57 in the championship game, winning its first national title in basketball. In 2007, the Gators finished with a 35-5 record and returned to the championship game. Led by future NBA player Al Horford, Florida beat Ohio State 84-75 to secure back-to-back titles.
The Gators have been relatively successful, especially since 2000, appearing in 19 NCAA tournaments, 11 Sweet 16s, 10 Elite Eights, six Final Fours, and three championship games.
Todd Golden was appointed head coach in 2022 and has now led the Gators to their third title in his third season in charge. He has started building his own legacy and would hope he could surpass Billy Donovan.
The Gators’ Football Titles
The Florida Gators won their first national championship in football in 1996 under coach Steve Spurrier. 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Quarterback Danny Wuerffel led the Gators to victory, defeating Florida State 56-20 in the championship game.
Unlike the basketball team, the football team would not win their second championship until ten years later, when coach Urban Meyer led the Gators to victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes to win their second national championship.
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Meyer took the Gators to another championship game in 2008, where they defeated Oklahoma 24-14. Tim Tebow, who won the 2007 Heisman Trophy, was the team’s quarterback that year. Tebow coaches Spurrier and Meyer are all in the College Football Hall of Fame.
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