GAINESVILLE — Florida’s championship basketball program will visit Orlando as part of a three-city tour of the state during the 2026-27 season by Todd Golden’s team.
Potentially the preseason No. 1 and among the national title favorites entering next season, the Gators will play Georgia Tech Dec. 12 in Orlando at the Kia Center during the Hall of Fame Series doubleheader, which also features Florida Atlantic facing VCU. On Dec. 18, Florida will meet Grand Canyon in Jacksonville’s VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
Florida will open the season Nov. 2 against Miami at Tampa’s Benchmark International Arena — site of the season-ending 73-72 NCAA Tournament loss to Iowa.
Coming off an 11-20 season, Georgia Tech will be in its first season under Scott Cross, who won back-to-back Sun Belt Conference titles at Troy and is 350-260 during 19 seasons as a college coach. Grand Canyon finished 20-12 in 2025-26 during its first season in the Mountain West Conference and sixth under former Vanderbilt coach Bryce Drew.
The Orlando and Jacksonville dates complete the 2026-27 schedule for the Gators.
Coming off a 27-8 finish and SEC regular-season championship, the Gators return 81.8% of their scoring from last season’s SEC championship team. Four starters are back, including seniors Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh, who form one of the nation’s top frontcourts. Starting point guard Boogie Fland also is among six of the eight primary rotation players returning, with 11 players expected back overall.
The Gators also welcomed back veteran guard Denzel Aberdeen, though the former Dr. Phillips High product is awaiting an NCAA waiver for a fifth season of eligibility after spending the 2025-26 season at Kentucky.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com