Urban Meyer's NCAA Tournament National Title Pick Is Looking Good
03/23/2025 05:45 PM
Urban Meyer's Final Four picks are in pretty good shape with only a few games remaining in the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
Last week, before the start of March Madness, Meyer made his NCAA Tournament predictions on The Triple Option podcast with colleagues Rob Stone and Mark Ingram. Meyer only has one No. 1 seed in his Final Four, but it's one of his former schools, and he thinks they will win it all.
"I got Florida," Meyer said. "I'll say it right now. I think Florida is going to win it all."
Joining Florida in Meyer's Final Four are fellow SEC programs Alabama and Tennessee, both No. 2 seeds. Michigan State, also a two-seed, rounds out the field.
Florida and Tennessee are already through to the Sweet 16, with Alabama and Michigan State tipping off later tonight.
If we're being honest, Meyer was likely sweating out his Florida pick earlier today.
The No. 1 seed in the West Region, Florida survived a 40-minute scare from eighth-seeded UConn, the two-time defending national champions. The Gators trailed much of the second half but got it together and pulled out a 77-75 win behind the clutch play of guard Walter Clayton Jr., who scored 23 points, including 13 in the final eight minutes.
"This is a great win for our program," Florida head coach Todd Golden said postgame. "The time was now for us to take that next step. Again, Florida basketball, back where it belongs. Being in the Sweet 16 is a great step in the right direction. ... We made winning play after winning play down the stretch in the last six minutes."
This is Florida's first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2017. The Gators await the winner of Maryland-Colorado State.
Florida men's hoops hasn't claimed a national championship since winning back-to-back titles in 2006-07.
While the Gators were winning those two championships on the hardwood under Bill Donovan, Meyer was leading UF to two national titles on the gridiron, the first in 2006 and the second in 2008.
Related: Urban Meyer Releases His NCAA Tournament Final Four Picks
