Florida’s non-conference schedule in 2025-26 will be much more difficult to navigate than last season’s slate, which led to a 13-0 start.
The Gators outscored non-conference opponents by 311 points over those 13 games, winning just one by single digits — a 6-point, neutral-site victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels in Charlotte, North Carolina. Matchups against Wake Forest and Wichita State in the ESPN Events Invitational fell somewhat flat, with Florida dominating both games.
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The low strength of schedule helped Florida’s overall record, but it also put the Gators’ No. 1-seed candidacy in the NCAA Tournament in question. Todd Golden is ramping things up this year to make sure there is no doubt.
The Athletic ranked the top 35 non-conference games in the 2025-26 college basketball season, and Florida has three matchups inside the top 10.
No. 1 non-conference matchup: Florida at Duke (Dec. 2)
Both teams reached the Final Four last season, and many wanted to see the matchup take place in the national championship. Florida held up its end of the bargain, but Cooper Flagg and the Blue Devils couldn’t take down Houston.
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Florida’s trio of NBA-caliber guards is gone, as is Flagg. Both rosters are loaded with talent, especially in the frontcourt. Watching Alex Condon and Cameron Boozer square off in the post is must-see television. The Gators will have to overcome the raucous crowd at Cameron Indoor Stadium to leave Durham with a win.
KenPom gives an 87.8 FanMatch score, which is lower than several lower-ranked games.
No. 3 non-conference matchup: Florida vs. UConn (Dec. 9)
One week after Florida and Duke face off, the Gators host the UConn Huskies, who are looking for revenge. Dan Hurley’s squad had dreams of pulling off a three-peat last year, but Florida put an end to the run with a 77-75 win in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
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Anything short of another thriller will be a disappointment. KenPom gives this one an 88.2 FanMatch grade.
No. 7 non-conference matchup: Florida vs. Arizona (Nov. 3)
If December seems too far away, don’t fret. Todd Golden made sure to challenge his team from the very start of the season. Opening night in Gainesville features one of the best matchups of the year.
These two teams have some of the deepest frontcourts in the nation. We know how good Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, Micah Handlogten and Rueben Chinyelu are, but The Athletic’s Jim Root describes Arizona’s frontcourt rotation as a “bullying group of bigs.”
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What better way to start the season than with a brutal, heavyweight matchup? KenPom gives this one an 83.4 FanMatch score.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida Gators basketball non-conference schedule, matchup rankings
