Todd Golden confirms Florida national championship team will visit White House

Florida will be visiting the White House to celebrate its 2025 national championship, head coach Todd Golden revealed. The Gators defeated Houston 65-63 in the final game of the NCAA Tournament earlier this month.

The Gators finished the season with a 36-4 overall record which included Florida winning each of its last 12 games. Under Golden’s guidance, the Gators swept its competition in both the SEC Tournament, and the NCAA Tournament.

Their last loss came on Feb. 25 on the road vs. Georgia. During that final stretch, Florida defeated the likes of Alabama twice, Tennessee, then two-time reigning national champion UConn Huskies, top overall seed Auburn and finally, Houston in the championship game. Both Final Four games were against fellow No. 1 seeds.

“It’s a heck of an accomplishment,” Golden said at his press conference following the championship win. “I’m super proud of everybody in my program, top to bottom. My staff, been together for three years, worked incredibly hard to help get our players to this point. Our players, they’ve been the difference all the way along. Been incredibly consistent all year. Have worked with a great work ethic.

“Obviously we have an incredibly talented group, one of the most talented groups individually in America. I do think what separates us and has separated us all season long is our team talent, how our guys have played together and for each other all year. Because of that, we can call each other national champions for the rest of our lives.”

The championship matchup against the Cougars could have gone either way, and it took a double-digit comeback effort for Florida to win the championship in the first place. In the end, as explosive as Florida’s offense was during the season, they beat Houston at its own game — on defense.

Cougars guard Emanuel Sharp was looking to attempt a potential game-winning 3-point basket, but the Florida defense smothered the shot attempt. Instead of taking the shot, Sharp instead was forced to bounce the ball on the ground, which would have resulted in a travel if he touched the ball again. Florida dove for the ball and the clock expired.

It appears as though Kelvin Sampson’s squad was ultimately looking to win the game in regulation. The the Gators’ defense would go on to stuff Houston on the final play, securing the team’s third national championship in program history, and first since the back to back title wins during the Billy Donovan era during 2006 and 2007. Now, they get to celebrate it in the White House.