College GameDay visits Gainesville in back-to-back seasons for the first time in the show's history.
ESPN College GameDay Returns to Gainesville
Saturday, February 21, 2026 | Men's Basketball
ESPN College GameDay Covered by State Farm will return to Gainesville on Saturday, Feb. 28, ahead of the No. 12 Florida men's basketball team's sold-out game vs. No. 20 Arkansas, ESPN announced on Saturday. The two-hour show will air from 10 a.m. to noon.
Admission for the event is free, and no tickets are required. Gates at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center will open at 8:30 for students (Gate 3) and 8:45 for the general public (Gate 1). Parking for the show will be first-come, first-served in Garage 107 located next to the arena beginning at 7:30 AM. Limited concessions will be available.
It marks the show's seventh visit to Gainesville and the Gators' 11th time playing in the GameDay featured game. With its seventh time hosting, Florida will be among the top five most frequent sites for GameDay, along with Duke, North Carolina, Kansas and Kentucky.
Rece Davis hosts ESPN College GameDay and is joined by Jay Bilas, Andraya Carter, Seth Greenberg, Jay Williams and reporter Pete Thamel.
The Gators are 8-2 when Gameday is on site, including 5-1 at home.
Timeline for Feb 28th
Entry Procedures
Florida's ESPN College Gameday Appearances
2025-26 Florida Men's Basketball Tickets
Single-game tickets remain available for Florida's game vs. Mississippi State (March 3). Tickets can be purchased at FloridaGators.com, by calling the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683, or in person at Gate 2 on the west side of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Florida's game vs. Arkansas (Feb. 28) is sold out. Ticketmaster.com is the only verified resale partner of the Florida Gators. Fans are urged to avoid purchasing tickets from unauthorized secondary ticketing sites or individuals they do not know. Click here for tips on how to verify tickets are from a legitimate source.
Admission for the event is free, and no tickets are required. Gates at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center will open at 8:30 for students (Gate 3) and 8:45 for the general public (Gate 1). Parking for the show will be first-come, first-served in Garage 107 located next to the arena beginning at 7:30 AM. Limited concessions will be available.
It marks the show's seventh visit to Gainesville and the Gators' 11th time playing in the GameDay featured game. With its seventh time hosting, Florida will be among the top five most frequent sites for GameDay, along with Duke, North Carolina, Kansas and Kentucky.
Rece Davis hosts ESPN College GameDay and is joined by Jay Bilas, Andraya Carter, Seth Greenberg, Jay Williams and reporter Pete Thamel.
The Gators are 8-2 when Gameday is on site, including 5-1 at home.
Timeline for Feb 28th
- 8:30 a.m. – Doors open for UF students at Gate 3
- More information on student entry process for College GameDay and the Arkansas game will be communicated next week.
- 8:45 a.m. – Doors open for general public at Gate 1
- 10 a.m. – College GameDay live from the O'Connell Center (free admission)
- The arena will be cleared following the conclusion of College GameDay.
- 7:30 p.m. – Doors open to students and general public for Florida vs. Arkansas
- 8:30 p.m. – Tipoff for Florida vs. Arkansas
Entry Procedures
- Normal O'Connell Center entry procedures regarding screening and prohibited items will be in effect.
- All signs will be reviewed and any deemed inappropriate will be confiscated.
Florida's ESPN College Gameday Appearances
| Feb. 4, 2006 | Kentucky | W | 95-80 |
| Feb. 10, 2007 | at Kentucky | W | 64-61 |
| Jan. 19, 2008 | Kentucky | W/OT | 81-70 |
| Jan. 31, 2009 | at Tennessee | L | 63-79 |
| Feb. 5, 2011 | Kentucky | W | 70-68 |
| Feb. 15, 2014 | at Kentucky | W | 69-59 |
| Feb. 5, 2015 | Kentucky | L | 61-68 |
| Feb. 4, 2017 | Kentucky | W | 88-66 |
| Jan. 20, 2018 | at Kentucky | W | 66-64 |
| Mar. 1, 2025 | Texas A&M | W | 89-70 |
2025-26 Florida Men's Basketball Tickets
Single-game tickets remain available for Florida's game vs. Mississippi State (March 3). Tickets can be purchased at FloridaGators.com, by calling the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683, or in person at Gate 2 on the west side of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Florida's game vs. Arkansas (Feb. 28) is sold out. Ticketmaster.com is the only verified resale partner of the Florida Gators. Fans are urged to avoid purchasing tickets from unauthorized secondary ticketing sites or individuals they do not know. Click here for tips on how to verify tickets are from a legitimate source.
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