Florida Gators’ recent surge has national analysts believing they can achieve rare feat only one other team has done in history

The Florida Gators basketball team has a chance to become the second team ever to go back-to-back twice, and national analysts are starting to believe.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Jan 17, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden and center Rueben Chinyelu (9) celebrate the win with their team against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Memorial Gymnasium.
Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

The 2024-2025 Florida Gators basketball team was one of the better stories in the history of the program.

Head coach Todd Golden did a great job of recruiting in the transfer portal to build up a championship-level team. Guards Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and Will Richard were the catalyst to winning the Gators’ third national championship, and their first since 2007. This season, things didn’t get off to a great start, starting off 5-4, mainly due to their guard play. Xavian Lee and Boogie Fland took a bit to get situated, but their recent surge is showcasing something more.

National analysts believe the Gators are national championship contenders

After beating the Oklahoma Sooners and Vanderbilt Commodores this week, the Gators are continuing to build a resume that shows they are a championship contender. CBS Sports’ Clark Kellogg agrees.

“Yeah, I think they are a championship contender, because that front line has been championship caliber from the day the season started,” said Kellogg. “[Rueben] Chinyelu is one of the most improved bigs in the country. He’s making moves, he’s making shots. He’s still a presence defensively. So it’s a matter to your point, can those guards raise their level? And I think they will. This is clearly a Final Four caliber team.”

The end of Kellogg’s statement about the guard play for the Gators is a point well taken. Fland and Lee took time to get acclimated with the Gators’ core of Chinyelu, Alex Condon, and Thomas Haugh, but it’s starting to come together. The Gators will need it to continue, as Jon Rothstein highlights that it takes good guard play to win a title.

With the right draw, I could see Florida being a Final Four contender. We’re trying to be measured right now,” said Rothstein. “Now, with the right draw, I could see Florida being a Final Four team, but this is still talking about winning six games in the NCAA tournament. And the NCAA Tournament is about guard play. Boogie Fland and Xavian Lee have been better, but I’m not certain just yet if this team could win six in a row. Keep an eye on Urban Klavzar as a wild card He is a birthing X-factor to monitor.”

If the Gators do make a run at the national championship, it would be the 10th instance of a team winning consecutive titles. They would also be the second program ever to achieve the feat two different times, with the legendary John Wooden UCLA Bruins being the only other.

  • UConn Huskies: 2023 and 2024
  • Florida Gators: 2006 and 2007
  • Duke Blue Devils: 1991 and 1992
  • UCLA Bruins: 1967-1973
  • UCLA Bruins: 1964-1965
  • Cincinnati Bearcats: 1961-1962
  • San Francisco: 1955-1956
  • Kentucky Wildcats: 1948-1949
  • Oklahoma State Cowboys: 1945-1946

Nothing is certain for the Gators right now, but things are looking up for Golden’s squad, and that should be exciting for the fanbase.

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