The Florida Gators are entering the 2026-27 college basketball season with a familiar target on their backs.
Florida was named the No. 1 team in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll Monday, marking the first time since 2006 that the program has opened a season atop the national rankings.
The Gators received 47 of 59 first-place votes, putting them ahead of several programs hoping to challenge for the national championship.
Duke enters the season ranked No. 2 after receiving 10 first-place votes, while Illinois claimed the remaining two votes to secure the No. 3 ranking.
UConn and Arizona round out the top five.
For Florida head coach Todd Golden, the recognition reflects how far the program has come since capturing the 2025 national championship.
The Gators followed that title with another successful regular season, winning 27 games and securing the SEC championship in 2025-26. However, their postseason ended earlier than expected when Iowa eliminated Florida in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Now, the Gators return with an experienced roster determined to make another deep tournament run.
Florida brings back several important contributors, including Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu and Boogie Fland.
The program also welcomes back Denzel Aberdeen, who spent last season at Kentucky before returning to Gainesville. That continuity could provide a significant advantage in a college basketball landscape where roster turnover has become increasingly common.
Still, Florida will face plenty of competition.
Duke returns several key players from a team that earned a No. 1 seed in last season's NCAA Tournament, while Illinois is looking to build on its first Final Four appearance since 2005.
Michigan State checks in at No. 6, followed by Texas, Tennessee, Virginia and Houston to complete the top 10.
Defending national champion Michigan enters the season at No. 16, while traditional powers Kansas and Kentucky begin at No. 17 and No. 23, respectively.
Florida's preseason ranking also carries historical significance.
The last time the Gators opened a season at No. 1, they went on to win the 2007 national championship, completing back-to-back titles under former head coach Billy Donovan.
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Nearly two decades later, Golden has an opportunity to lead Florida into another championship era.
The preseason poll does not guarantee postseason success, but it establishes expectations for a program that has already proven it can reach the top of college basketball.
Florida begins the new season with the nation's highest ranking and an opportunity to turn that early recognition into another championship run.