Florida finishes No. 1 in poll after defeating Houston

Field Level Media|published: Tue 8th April, 14:58 2025

NCAA Basketball: Final Four National Championship-Houston vs Florida

Apr 7, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) reacts after cutting down a piece of the net after winning the national championship game of the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Florida ranked No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll released Tuesday, one day after the Gators rallied past Houston to win the NCAA Tournament.

The Gators (36-4) received all 61 votes following their 65-63 win Monday night in San Antonio to clinch the school's third national title and first since back-to-back crowns in 2006-07.

The last time Florida sat atop the poll was during the last four weeks of the 2013-14 season.

Houston (35-5) ended the season at No. 2 after squandering a 12-point lead in the second half against the Gators. Duke (35-4) and Auburn (32-6) -- the other Final Four participants -- and Tennessee (30-8) rounded out the top five.

Alabama (28-9) checked in at No. 6, followed by Michigan State (30-7), Texas Tech (28-9), Maryland (27-9) and Michigan (27-10).

Eight teams from the Southeastern Conference finished in the Top 25. The Big Ten and Big 12 each had five and the Atlantic Coast Conference had three.

The rest of the Top 25:

11. St. John's (31-5)

12. Kentucky (24-12)

13. BYU (26-10)

14. Purdue (24-12)

15. Arizona (24-13)

16. Wisconsin (27-10)

17. Iowa State (25-10)

18. Ole Miss (24-12)

19. Texas A&M (23-11)

20. Arkansas (22-14)

21. Louisville (27-8)