GAINESVILLE — Florida’s 2026-27 SEC men’s basketball schedule will feature the Gators’ first home-and-home series with Texas and a visit from rival Kentucky, but no trip to Lexington to face the Wildcats for the first time since 1963-64.
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The SEC released home-and-away designations Thursday as the Gators’ schedule continues to take shape ahead of another national title push under fifth-year coach Todd Golden.
Dates, tip-off times and television assignments will be announced later.
Texas will serve as Florida’s rotating home-and-away opponent one season after the Gators defeated the Longhorns 84-71 on Feb. 25 in Austin on their way to the SEC regular-season title.
Georgia and South Carolina remain Florida’s permanent home-and-away opponents, a format established when Texas and Oklahoma joined the SEC in 2024.
In addition to Kentucky, the Gators will host Ole Miss, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt. The Commodores routed the Gators 91-74 in the SEC Tournament semifinals last season.
Along with Georgia, South Carolina and Texas, the Gators will travel to Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State and Tennessee.
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Florida’s nonconference schedule continues to come into focus.
The Gators open the season Nov. 2 against Miami in Tampa and host Duke on Dec. 1 in the marquee matchup of the SEC/ACC Challenge.
Florida also will face Notre Dame on Nov. 17 in Las Vegas before meeting the winner between Houston-Rutgers on Nov. 18 in the three-day Players Era 8 tournament. Auburn, Kansas, UNLV and West Virginia are on the other side of the bracket.
Golden’s team could enter the season ranked No. 1 in the polls after returning All-SEC forwards Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon, center Rueben Chinyelu and point guard Boogie Fland.
Chinyelu led all power-conference players with an average of 11.2 rebounds, while Florida returns 81.8% of its scoring from last season.
The Gators also welcome back veteran guard Denzel Aberdeen, who is awaiting an NCAA waver for a fifth season of eligibility. Aberdeen, a Dr. Phillips High product, returned to Florida after a one-year stint at Kentucky in 2025-26.
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Edgar Thompson can be reached at [email protected]