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Florida Chases Rare Repeat NCAA Championship
The defending national champions are rolling heading into March Madness.
Published on Mar. 4, 2026
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The Florida Gators are looking to become just the second team in the modern NCAA Tournament era to repeat as national champions. After winning the title in 2025, the Gators have dominated the SEC this season and are poised to make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Repeating as champion is an extremely rare feat, with only Florida accomplishing it in 2006 and 2007 since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985.
Why it matters
Winning the NCAA Tournament once is incredibly difficult, but doing it two years in a row is one of the hardest accomplishments in sports. The unpredictable nature of the tournament means that even the best teams often fall short in their quest to repeat. Florida's current run has them in position to make history and cement their status as a modern college basketball dynasty.
The details
The Gators are currently riding a 10-game winning streak and have already locked up the SEC regular season title. They are blowing out opponents, most recently routing Mississippi State 108-74. Florida's balanced roster is led by Alex Condon, Xaivian Lee, and Rueben Chinyelu, who have all played key roles in the team's dominant season. The Gators' explosive offense and strong rebounding have made them a formidable opponent.
- Florida won the 2025 NCAA championship.
- The Gators have won 10 straight games heading into March Madness 2026.
The players
Alex Condon
One of the most reliable scorers in the SEC for the Gators.
Xaivian Lee
Runs the Florida offense and consistently creates good shots for teammates.
Rueben Chinyelu
Has been dominant on the boards and recently tied the Florida record with 18 double doubles in a season.
What’s next
If Florida manages to survive another March and cut down the nets one more time, the Gators will not just win another championship, they will accomplish something college basketball almost never sees.
The takeaway
Florida's quest to repeat as NCAA champions is a rare and remarkable feat, with only one other team accomplishing it in the modern tournament era. The Gators' dominant season has them poised to make history and cement their status as a modern college basketball dynasty.
