Florida vs. Iowa: Gators Favored by Experts to Reach Sweet 16 | March Madness 2026

Iowa upset the top-ranked Florida Gators 73-72 in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Tampa, Florida. The ninth-seeded Hawkeyes secured the victory with a game-winning three-pointer, ending the defending champion Gators’ tournament run.

Florida entered the game as heavy favorites, having dominated Prairie View A&M 114-55 in the first round. Iowa had previously defeated Clemson 67-61 to advance to the second round. This marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs in NCAA Tournament play.

Despite the upset, CBS Sports experts had largely predicted a Florida victory. Gary Parrish, Matt Norlander, Chip Patterson, David Cobb, Cameron Salerno, and Isaac Trotter all unanimously selected the Gators to advance to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year and their 12th all-time appearance.

Patterson noted the growing tournament experience of Florida coach Todd Golden and credited the team for handling business against Prairie View A&M. He too highlighted Florida’s potential to secure another double-digit win, citing Iowa’s 4-9 record against Quad 1 opponents entering Selection Sunday. Patterson pointed to the combination of Ben McCollum and Bennett Stirtz as a key element for the Gators, but acknowledged the tougher test they would face against Florida’s size and athleticism.

CBS Sports had Florida favored by 11.5 points heading into the matchup. The game was broadcast on TBS, beginning at 7:10 p.m. ET. Florida’s loss marks the first time a No. 1 seed has been eliminated in the NCAA Tournament this year, according to ESPN.

USA Today reported that Florida was stunned by Iowa in the Round of 64 upset. The Gators, despite not playing their best in the SEC Tournament, appeared to have sharpened their focus for the NCAA Tournament, but ultimately could not overcome Iowa’s performance.