![Florida head basketball coach Todd Golden talks about the upcoming season on the first official day of basketball practice at University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Monday, September 22, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_2596,h_1460/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/213/01k7j4xxacx7ygb1qmgn.jpg "Florida head basketball coach Todd Golden talks about the upcoming season on the first official day of basketball practice at University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Monday, September 22, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]")
SEC Media Days for Florida Basketball are on Wednesday, which means we are just around the corner for happier times for Gator fans. Florida is coming off a national title and has restocked in the transfer portal with an array of key additions to pair up with a returning frontcourt.
Florida is slated to play a loaded non-conference schedule that includes December games against Duke and UConn. But before the Gators get there, they must navigate their November slate.
These are all of Florida's November games, ranked from the least exciting to the absolute can't miss.
Merrimack Warriors - 11/21
The game that is going to move the needle the least for Gator fans is the Friday tilt against Merrimack. It's not that the Warriors are that bad of a team as they did go 18-15 last season playing in the MAAC, it's that Florida is playing a mid-tier mid-major on a Friday night going into Thanksgiving week.
It's understandable if Gator fans miss this one.
North Florida Ospreys - 11/8
The first home game of the season is against UNF from just up the road in Jacksonville. Being the first home game and being against an in-state opponent on a Thursday is about the only thing that will give this game a bit more juice as UNF, as the Ospreys haven't had a winning season since the 2019-2020 campaign.
Miami Hurricanes - 11/16
This game will be played in Jacksonville, and while playing Miami should, in theory, be must-see TV for Gator fans, the Hurricanes were legit awful last season. Long-time coach Jim Larranaga left mid-year, and Miami slumped to a 7-24 mark.
They are now led by former Duke associate head coach Jai Lucas, so we'll see how quick of a turnaround they can have.
FSU Seminoles - 11/11
Speaking of schools with a new coach, the Seminoles are now led by long-time NBA assistant and FSU alum Luke Loucks heading into the new season.
FSU was still 17-15 last season, so there should be some pulse to this team, but this is also the first college job for Loucks, so we'll see how well he adjusts.
TCU Horned Frogs - 11/27
FSU is probably the more "exciting" opponent and the Seminoles had a similar profile to TCU last season, but this game is on Thanksgiving Day as part of the Rady Children's Invitational.
So let's be real, after you get tired of your relatives, you will be looking for an excuse to pull away.
Providence Friars or Wisconsin Badgers - 11/28
The day after TCU, the Gators will play either Providence or Wisconsin, depending on who wins and who loses.
The best bet is for Florida to meet up with Wisconsin, which is also a top 20 KenPom team and was ranked No. 24 in the AP preseason top 25 poll.
Arizona Wildcats - 11/3
Florida's season is going to start with a bang as the Gators will travel to Las Vegas for a nationally televised showdown with No. 13 Arizona.
This will be far and away Florida's biggest test of November, and if the Gators clear this game, there is no reason to think they won't emerge from November undefeated.