The Florida Gators and head coach Todd Golden are set to play for a national championship tonight. They will face off against Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars for the ultimate honor and goal for any college basketball team.

All season long, Florida has looked the part of a national championship contender. To this point in the year, the Gators have compiled a 35-4 record.

In the NCAA Tournament alone, Florida has overcome a lot of difficult situations to get to the championship game. 

Over their last two games, the Gators have survived scares from both Texas Tech and Auburn. Now, they have just one more game to win to go down in history as national champions.

Ahead of tonight’s national championship game, Golden received some unfortunate individual news.

Florida Gators head basketball coach Todd Golden.

© Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Despite putting together an impressive season and making it to the national championship, Golden did not win the 2025 Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year Award. Instead, that honor was given to Rick Pitino of St. John’s.

Golden was more than deserving of the award, but at the end of the day a national championship is the only thing that matters.

What better way for Golden to fire back at not being given that honor than by leading his team to a championship? It’s just more fuel to the fire for him.

Tonight’s game will tip off at 8:50 p.m. ET. Make sure to tune in to see if Golden and Florida can knock off Houston and finish the 2024-25 season on top of the world.