Florida Gators confirm Jacksonville Dolphins for 2026-27 home opener

The Florida Gators men's basketball team has confirmed that it will host the Jacksonville Dolphins at the O'Dome on 5 November 2026 for its 2026-27 season home opener. This matchup represents the newest addition to the Gators' non-conference schedule, which is currently taking shape ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Florida is projected to enter the 2026-27 season as the number one team in the country in preseason polls, a status attributed to the return of key contributors from the previous season. The team is highly favoured to maintain this standing, although such projections remain subject to change based on performance and other factors not yet determined.

The Gators will commence their season slightly earlier, on 2 November, with a neutral-site game against the Miami Hurricanes. This contest will be held at the Benchmark International Arena, a venue where Florida suffered a second-round NCAA Tournament upset by the No. 9 seed Iowa in the prior year.

Historically, Florida holds a significant advantage over Jacksonville, leading the all-time series 33-5. The two programs last met on 7 November 2024, when the Gators secured an 81-60 victory over the Dolphins. The upcoming 2026-27 fixture will serve as the latest chapter in this long-standing rivalry.

Beyond the Jacksonville matchup, the Gators' non-conference schedule already features key games against Notre Dame and Duke. Additional non-conference matchups are expected to be announced in the coming weeks as the season approaches, further defining the team's path through the early part of the year.

The schedule announcement was originally reported by Gators Wire, with ongoing coverage available through their social media channels. As the season draws nearer, the full composition of the non-conference slate remains fluid, with more details expected to emerge in the near future.