GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Gators made history Monday night with their 65-63 victory over Houston in the NCAA national championship game in San Antonio.
It was the third men’s basketball national championship for the Gators and their first since 2007.
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That makes the University of Florida the only school to have won three NCAA Division I titles in both men’s basketball (2006, 2007, 2025) and football (1996, 2006, 2008).
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was in San Antonio for the Gators’ victory, was quick to point this out on social media.
After tonight’s championship win, the list of universities that have won three national championships in both football and basketball:
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) April 8, 2025
1. The University of Florida
End of list.
Basketball wins
The Gators won two national championships in a remarkable span from 2006 to 2007.
Under the leadership of coach Billy Donovan, who will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025, the Gators achieved unprecedented success.
Their first national championship came in 2006, a season marked by a 33-6 record and a strong roster that included future NBA stars like Joakim Noah and Taurean Green.
Florida defeated UCLA 73-57 in the championship game, marking a historic moment for the program.
The following year, the Gators returned to the title game with a 35-5 record and repeated as champions. This time, Al Horford took on a more prominent role, contributing to the team’s success alongside veterans Corey Brewer and Chris Richard, and freshman Marreese Speights.
Florida’s victory over Ohio State in the 2007 final, with a score of 84-75, made them the first team in 15 years to win back-to-back championships, solidifying their legacy in college basketball.
In total, Florida has made 23 NCAA Tournament appearances, with 19 of those since 2000.
Their tournament success includes 11 Sweet 16 appearances, 10 Elite Eight appearances, six Final Four appearances, and three national title game appearances.
Todd Golden, who took over as head coach, aims to build on the foundation laid by Donovan, and began his own legacy with Monday night’s victory over Houston.
Football championships
In the 1990s, the Gators experienced unprecedented success on the gridiron under head coach Steve Spurrier, winning their first official conference title in 1991 and their first national championship in 1996.
The 1996 victory was led by quarterback Danny Wuerffel, who also won the Heisman Trophy that year, and the Gators defeated in-state rival Florida State 52-20 for the title.
A decade later, coach Urban Meyer led the Gators to their second national championship in 2006, defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes in the BCS National Championship Game.
The Gators returned to the title game in 2008, again under Meyer, and claimed their third national championship with a 24-14 win over Oklahoma led by Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.
Spurrier, Wuerffel and Tebow are all in the College Football Hall of Fame.
