The Florida Gators are once again the “chompions” of men’s college basketball.
The top-seeded Gators returned to the mountaintop on Monday with a thrilling, 65-63 victory over Houston in the NCAA Tournament national championship game in San Antonio’s Alamodome.
It’s the third national championship in program history for the Gators, and makes third-year coach Todd Golden the youngest coach since NC State’s Jim Valvano to win a national championship.
REQUIRED READING: Chompions: Florida basketball stuns Houston for third national title in school history
To secure its national title, the Gators had first to overcome a 12-point deficit in the second half to the Cougars, and then come up with a few defensive stops down the stretch, including eliminating the would-be game-winner on the final possession of the game, which resulted in a near-travel violation by Houston guard Emanuel Sharp.
While the Gators will celebrate the win in the Alamo City now into Tuesday morning, the party will continue in Gainesville at Flavet Field at 1:30 p.m. ET with a national championship rally, according to Swamp 247’s Zach Goodall.
Florida will hold a welcome back rally for the National Champion #Gators tomorrow at approximately 1:30 pm at Flavet Field.
Free to attend, must enter on north side due to construction.
Buy Florida championship book, T-shirts, gear
Buy Florida championship book, gear
Florida basketball’s thrilling run to the 2025 NCAA championship can be commemorated with a special collector’s book and commemorative page from The Gainesville Sun. In addition, here’s how to buy championship gear, hats and T-shirts after the Gators’ win over Houston.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: When does Florida return from Final Four? How to help Gators celebrate championship
Reporting by John Leuzzi, USA TODAY NETWORK / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
