Florida Gators Earn No. 1 Seed in 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, Set to Host in Tampa

The Florida Gators men’s basketball team has secured a No. 1 seed in the South Region of the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, marking the first time in school history the team has achieved a No. 1 seed in consecutive seasons.

First and Second Round Games in Tampa

The Gators (26-7) will start their tournament journey in Tampa, Florida, at the Benchmark International Arena. They will face the winner of Wednesday’s First Four matchup between No. 16 Lehigh and No. 16 Prairie View A&M on Friday, March 20th.

Potential Opponents

If Florida advances, they would face the winner of the matchup between No. 8 seed Clemson and No. 9 seed Iowa on Sunday, also in Tampa.

South Region Overview

Houston (28-6) earned the No. 2 seed in the South Region. The regional final will be held at the Toyota Center in Houston, March 26 and 28. A potential Sweet 16 matchup could see the Gators facing No. 5 seed Vanderbilt (26-8), who defeated Florida in the SEC Tournament semifinals. Other teams in the South Region include No. 3 seed Illinois (24-8), No. 4 seed Nebraska (26-6), No. 6 seed North Carolina (24-8) and No. 7 seed Saint Mary’s (27-5).

First Four Matchup Previews

Lehigh (18-16): Led by junior guard Nasir Whitlock, who averages 21.0 points per game. Lehigh shoots 36.5% from three-point range.

Prairie View A&M (18-17): Features two players averaging over 18 points per game: senior guards Dontae Horne (20.2) and Tai’Reon Joseph (18.2). Prairie View A&M is one of the fastest teams in the nation, ranking No. 8 in adjusted tempo.

Looking Ahead

The Gators will aim to replicate their success from the 2025 tournament, where they won the national championship. The tournament championship game will be played on Monday, April 6, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.