March Madness 2025 Winner: Florida Edges Houston for NCAA Title
The March Madness 2025 winner is officially the Florida Gators. In a heart-stopping national championship matchup, Florida stormed back from a double-digit second-half deficit to defeat Houston 65-63 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Led by head coach Todd Golden, the Gators captured their third NCAA men’s basketball title and became the first SEC team to win since 2012. With the win, Golden also made history as the youngest head coach to win a national title since 1983.
A Historic Night in San Antonio
Held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, the final game of the 2025 NCAA Tournament didn’t disappoint. Houston held the lead at halftime, 31–28, and extended that margin to 12 points early in the second half. But Todd Golden’s Florida squad dug deep and delivered yet another gritty comeback, their third straight in the tournament.
The Gators closed the game on a lockdown defensive stretch, holding the Cougars scoreless for the final 2:05 and forcing four turnovers in Houston’s last four possessions. With seconds remaining, Alex Condon secured the win by diving on a loose ball at midcourt, stopping a final Houston attempt.
Todd Golden Makes Coaching History
With this title, Todd Golden becomes the youngest coach to win an NCAA championship since Jim Valvano with NC State in 1983. In just his second season with the Gators, Golden guided a team known for second-half resilience and postseason toughness.
Game Stats: Florida vs. Houston
| Stat | Florida | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 65 | 63 |
| Field Goal % | 39.6% | 34.8% |
| 3-Point % | 25% | 24% |
| Rebounds | 40 | 39 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 9 |
| Assists | 14 | 6 |
| Paint Points | 28 | 24 |
| Bench Points | 14 | 17 |
Standout Performers
Florida
- Will Richard: 18 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals
- Alex Condon: 12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals
- Walter Clayton Jr.: 11 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds
Houston
- L.J. Cryer: 19 points, 6 rebounds
- Mylik Wilson: 9 points, 2 rebounds
- Emanuel Sharp: 8 points, 3 rebounds
A Championship Run Defined by Comebacks
Florida’s road to the title was anything but easy. According to ESPN, the Gators are the only team in the past 20 years to overcome deficits of at least nine points in the Elite Eight, Final Four, and championship game.
That resilience defined their identity and led them to hoist the trophy for the first time since 2007—marking the first SEC men’s basketball title since Kentucky in 2012.
Where Florida Ranks in NCAA History
With this win, Florida now holds three NCAA men’s basketball titles, tying them with Villanova for the eighth-most all time.
Teams with the Most NCAA Championships:
- UCLA – 11
- Kentucky – 8
- North Carolina – 6
- Connecticut – 6
- Duke – 5
- Indiana – 5
- Kansas – 4
- Florida – 3
- Villanova – 3
More…
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2025/04/08/who-won-march-madness-2025-florida-houston-score/82986367007
- https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/won-march-madness-2025-ncaa-100551421.html
- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/44582975/kelvin-sampson-calls-houston-ending-incomprehensibleÂ
