Florida Gators Prepare to Square Off vs. Auburn in the Final Four, First Final Four Appearance Since 2014
By Zane Garcia, Space Coast Daily // April 1, 2025
Florida vs Auburn - Saturday at 6:09 P.M. on CBS
ABOVE VIDEO: Florida’s full comeback vs. Texas Tech in Elite Eight thriller
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – The Florida Gators are headed to the Final Four for the first time since 2014, following victories over Maryland in the Sweet 16 and No. 3 seed Texas Tech in the Elite Eight. The Gators will face a familiar foe—top-seeded Auburn—in San Antonio.
The journey began with a thrilling 77–75 win over UConn in the Round of 32. Senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. was the story of the game, scoring 23 points, including five 3-pointers. He delivered clutch shot after clutch shot to help prevent a potential three-peat by the defending national champion Huskies.
In the Sweet 16, Florida’s supporting cast rose to the occasion. Six players scored in double figures as the Gators pulled away from Maryland in the second half. The Terrapins, fresh off a buzzer-beater win, kept things close early, but Florida’s size and depth proved overwhelming after the break.
Texas Tech entered the Elite Eight with momentum after overcoming a 16-point deficit to defeat No. 10 seed Arkansas in overtime. The Red Raiders carried that energy into Saturday night’s contest, leading by as much as 10 in the second half.
Florida trailed by nine with less than three minutes to play, putting its 28–0 record when leading at halftime in jeopardy. But, just like in the Round of 32, Clayton Jr. delivered in the clutch. A 3-pointer by Thomas Haugh and a miraculous triple by Clayton Jr. gave the Gators a 78–77 lead with just over a minute remaining. Back-to-back defensive stops sealed the win. Clayton Jr. led all scorers with 30 points.
With the win, Florida returns to the Final Four for the first time in 11 years. Awaiting them in the semifinal is Auburn, the No. 1 seed in the South Region. The two SEC rivals met earlier this season, when the Gators defeated then-No. 1 Auburn 90–81 at Neville Arena on Feb. 8.
The Tigers held the top spot in the national rankings for seven straight weeks from mid-January to early March. Though Auburn claimed the SEC regular-season title, it was Florida that won the conference tournament crown.
Now, the two teams will battle for a spot in the national championship game.
On the other side of the bracket, No. 1 seeds Duke and Houston also advanced to the Final Four. This marks only the second time in NCAA Tournament history that all four Final Four teams are No. 1 seeds—the first being in 2008, when Kansas, Memphis, North Carolina and UCLA reached the semifinals.
Florida and Auburn will tip off Saturday, April 5, at 6:09 p.m. at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
