The 2025 NCAA Tournament has reached the finish line for Monday night's finale in San Antonio's Alamodome when No. 1 seeds Florida and Houston meet in the NCAA championship game. The Cougars are seeking the first national title in program history, while the Gators could win their third crown this century with a win.

Three weeks ago, 24 staffers submitted their predictions for The Athletic’s consensus men’s NCAA Tournament bracket. Eleven voters picked Duke to win the national championship, followed by six for Florida and five for Houston.

But Florida would not be denied. The Gators looked cooked when Houston opened up a 42-30 second-half lead. But Florida persevered and rallied for a 65-63 win to secure the program's third national championship. The victory denied Houston and head coach Kelvin Sampson each their first.