Florida’s sprawling non-conference schedule features 8 Sunshine State dates

Published On: July 3, 2025

GAINESVILLE Florida’s basketball team will play in high-profile venues, travel to both coasts, and play the Sunshine State eight times, including six home games at the O Connell Center, as part of their non-conference schedule.

The remaining games that the reigning national champion Gators will play outside of the SEC were announced by the school.

Numerous dates have already been set, including as the season opener versus Arizona in Las Vegas on November 3 and the visit to Duke on December 6.

Six home games were added to UF’s schedule, with Florida State’s visit on November 11 serving as the centerpiece. The home opener against North Florida on November 6 and the game against Merrimack on November 21 are the Gators’ two non-conference games. After then, Florida will be away from home for over four weeks before Saint Francis visits the O Connell Center on December 17.

On December 21, Colgate will go to Gainesville, and on December 29, UF will host Dartmouth.

In the yearly Orange Bowl Classic, Todd Golden’s team will also play George Washington in Sunrise on December 13 and Miami in Jacksonville on November 16. Both games have received extensive media coverage, despite UF’s failure to publicize them.

The Gators will play in Florida 17 times overall, including nine SEC games in Gainesville. Dates, times, and television assignments have not been disclosed, but opponents have.

UF, which is regarded as one of the best teams in the country, may start the NCAA Tournament near home. Amalie Arena in Tampa will be one of eight locations to hold the Big Dance in the first and second rounds on March 20 and 22.

The Golden State team is currently working out in the summer with important transfer guards Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee, as well as one of the best returning front courts in the country, which is led by 6-foot-11 junior Alex Condon and 6-foot-9 forward Thomas Haugh, who The Athletic projects will be selected No. 15 in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Condon, who returned for a third collegiate season after withdrawing from the NBA draft in late May, was ranked No. 29 in the publication’s mock draft.