Florida wins NCAA championship: Gators overcome double-digit deficit, rally past Houston for third title

The Gators were down by as many as 12 points but rallied to win their first title since 2007

SAN ANTONIO -- Florida roared back from a 12-point deficit to stun Houston and claim the program's first national championship since 2007 on Monday night, 65-63. The Gators trailed 42-30 early in the second half before finding the same late surge that carried them past Auburn in the Final Four on Saturday.

Star guard Walter Clayton Jr. didn't make his first basket from the field until the 7:54 mark, but he came alive late to help spur the Gators to the college basketball mountaintop once more. His 3-pointer coming out of the final media timeout evened the score at 60-60 and showed how the Gators were finally able to crack the code on Houston's suffocating defense.

Alijah Martin put Florida ahead 64-63 with 46 seconds remaining when he stepped to the free-throw line and calmly drilled a pair. It was the Gators' first lead since the opening five minutes of the game. From there, Will Richard came up with a steal on Houston guard Emanuel Sharp with 26 seconds remaining to help seal the outcome.

The win made Florida coach Todd Golden, 39, the youngest national-title winning coach of the NCAA Tournament's modern era, capping a remarkable three-year turnaround. Golden had never won an NCAA Tournament game as a head coach prior to this season. But his program won six in a row in this Big Dance, cementing his rise to stardom and the Gators' return to glory.

CBS Sports was with you throughout the game on Monday providing live updates, highlights and analysis. Be sure to read on below for takeaways from the game. 

[Apr 7, 2025 at 11:45 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Clayton wouldn't be denied down the stretch

Florida All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr. was held scoreless for the first 25 minutes of Monday's national championship game before knocking down two free throws. Clayton finished with 11 points -- all in the second half -- and earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player for his efforts. Clayton scored 34 points in the win over Auburn to reach the title game and has cemented himself as a potential first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft this summer.

Houston did an outstanding job of guarding Clayton in the first half. The Cougars sold out on stopping Clayton with constant pressure on and off the ball. When the game was in the balance -- like it was against UConn, Texas Tech and Auburn -- Clayton stepped up. Clayton had one of the best NCAA Tournament runs ever, and it was fitting that he got going down the stretch when his team needed him most.

[Apr 7, 2025 at 11:24 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

How did Houston not get a shot off?

In Houston's stunning comeback win over Duke last weekend in the Final Four, the Cougars trailed by as many as 14 with just over eight minutes remaining in regulation. The Cougars led by as many as 12 points against Florida in the second half and squandered their lead away en route to a devastating title game loss. 

Houston was seeking its first title in program history, and not getting a shot off on the final possession against Florida will go down as a heartbreaker. Behind every comeback win by one team is a similar collapse on the other side. That's what happened to Houston on Monday. The Cougars have made a living off of being just a little bit tougher physically and mentally down the stretch when it mattered all season. But on Monday night, they folded when they absolutely needed to close. 

[Apr 7, 2025 at 11:20 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Comebacks were common during Florida's title run

FINAL: (1) Florida 65, (1) Houston 63

What. A. Finish.

Florida led for a total of 1:04 during its stunning comeback win over Houston to win its first national title since 2007. Florida took its first lead since the early minutes of the first half with 46 seconds remaining after Alijah Martin knocked down two free throws. Florida backup guard Denzel Aberdeen split a pair of free throws 30 seconds later, and the Gators got a stop on the defense end to claim the national title. 

Florida coming back to win has been a common theme during its run to a title. The Gators overcame a six-point deficit to defeat UConn in the second round, a 10-point deficit against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight and eliminated Auburn after trailing by as many as nine. The 12-point comeback against the Cougars was the third-largest in the NCAA championship game. 

[Apr 7, 2025 at 11:11 pm ET · David Cobb]

Florida wins it all

Florida roared back from a 12-point deficit to stun Houston 65-63 and claim the program's first national championship since 2007 on Monday night. The Gators trailed 42-30 early in the second half before finding the same late surge that carried them past Auburn in the Final Four on Saturday.

Star guard Walter Clayton Jr. didn't make his first basket from the field until the 7:54 mark, but he came alive late to help spur the Gators to the college basketball mountaintop once more. His 3-pointer coming out of the final media timeout evened the score at 60-60 and showed how the Gators were finally able to crack the code on Houston's suffocating defense.

Alijah Martin put Florida ahead 64-63 with 46 seconds remaining when he stepped to the free-throw line and calmly drilled a pair. It was the Gators' first lead since the opening five minutes of the game. From there, Will Richard came up with a steal on Houston guard Emanuel Sharp with 26 seconds remaining to help seal the outcome.

The win made Florida coach Todd Golden, 39, the youngest national-title winning coach of the NCAA Tournament's modern era, capping a remarkable three-year turnaround. Golden had never won an NCAA Tournament game as a head coach prior to this season. But his program won six in a row in this Big Dance, cementing his rise to stardom and the Gators' return to glory.

[Apr 7, 2025 at 10:56 pm ET · David Cobb]

Walter Clayton Jr. ATO

2:18 2H: Houston 62, Florida 60

Walter Clayton Jr. just drilled a 3-pointer out of the under-4 media timeout. That was his first 3-point make of the game, and it tied the score at 60-60. Beautiful play design by the Florida staff. Clayton now has 11 after getting his first bucket from the field with under 8 minutes left. Houston kept him quiet, but the Cougars haven't completely shut him down.

[Apr 7, 2025 at 10:39 pm ET · David Cobb]

Walter Clayton Jr. gets a bucket

7:54 2H: Houston 48, Florida 47

Walter Clayton Jr. just got his first make from the floor at the 7:54 mark. And it could be a big one, as he will go the foul line to try and finish an and-1 after the media timeout. He is just 1 for 7 from the floor. But after seeing a pair of free throws go down earlier in the half and getting a layup just now, perhaps he's coming alive.

[Apr 7, 2025 at 10:35 pm ET · David Cobb]

Tugler's fourth for Houston

8:31 2H: Houston 48, Florida 44

All Houston defensive star JoJo Tugler could do was put his hands on his head as was called for his fourth foul with 9:07 remaining. It was a clear over-the-back violation on Florida's Denzel Aberdeen. Tugler missed the final 10:18 of the first half with two fouls and is now off the floor again. Florida is in the double-bonus.

[Apr 7, 2025 at 10:26 pm ET · David Cobb]

Here comes Florida

12:06 2H: Houston 45, Florida 41

Here comes Florida. The play of forward Thomas Haugh has gotten the Gators back into this thing. He just blocked an L.J. Cryer 3-point attempt and then sprinted the floor, taking a transition pass and finishing for an and-one. That's a 7-0 run. The second half has devolved into a foul-fest. Both teams are now in the bonus, meaning every foul for the rest of the way will come with free throws. 

[Apr 7, 2025 at 10:12 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

Florida bench assessed technical

Florida guard Will Richard drew an off-ball foul, and the Gators coaches on the bench jumped from the main floor to the playing surface -- which you cannot do -- drawing a technical foul on the bench.

The result was Houston guard L.J. Cryer shooting two free throws, Houston retaining possession and Houston scoring on a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession. Huge swing. 

[Apr 7, 2025 at 10:12 pm ET · David Cobb]

Houston on the ropes

15:48 1H: Houston 42, Florida 30

Florida's turnover tally continues to mount — as does its overall frustration — as the Houston defense has put the Gators onto the ropes. Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin are now a combined 1 for 10, and Clayton has yet to attempt a shot in the second half. Meanwhile, L.J. Cryer already has seven second-half points for Houston.

[Apr 7, 2025 at 10:07 pm ET · David Cobb]

Florida fouling nightmare

17:15: Houston 40, Florida 30

Florida has been called for five fouls in the first three minutes of the second half. Will Richard picked up two in rapid succession, and the second was followed by a technical on the bench. Houston is almost in the bonus with 17:21 remaining. Quite the early development after there were just four total fouls called in the first half.

[Apr 7, 2025 at 9:55 pm ET · David Cobb]

Second half keys

Florida's star guards Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin 1 for 9 from the floor and have combined for two points. Yet, Florida is down only three points. Getting this thing to the finish line will likely require more from those two. Emanuel Sharp has been good defensively for Houston, but the sharpshooting guard is just 1 for 7. Also, JoJo Tugler returning for the second half will be big for Houston after he exited at the 10:18 mark with two fouls and did not return.

[Apr 7, 2025 at 9:43 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

Walter Clayton Jr. held scoreless in first half

Florida star Walter Clayton Jr. -- who scored 34 and 30 points in the last two NCAA Tournament games vs. Auburn and Texas Tech, respectively -- has zero points on four shots through 20 minutes of play in San Antonio.

That's right: zero.

Houston's defense has done a tremendous job blitzing him and making him pass on any ball screen actions. Every shot he has taken has been forced or contested, or both. 

Clayton's been nails in the second half for Florida through the NCAA Tournament, though. Very curious to see how and if the Gators adjust schematically. 

[Apr 7, 2025 at 9:39 pm ET · David Cobb]

Florida fortunate to be in it

HALF: Houston 31, Florida 28

The teams are a combined 6 of 28 from 3-point range. Florida is shooting 37.9% from the floor, while Houston is shooting 37.8%. All things considered, Florida is fortunate to be in the game. The Gators committed nine turnovers and got a first-half goose-egg from star guard Walter Clayton Jr.. But they have a 7-0 edge in second-chance points, which is a minor miracle since Houston has a 6-4 advantage in offensive rebounds.

[Apr 7, 2025 at 9:37 pm ET · David Cobb]

Will Richard putting Florida on his back

0:34 1H: Houston 31, Florida 28

Will Richard is putting Florida on his back. He's got 14 points on 5 of 7 shooting, including 4 of 5 from deep. All other Florida players are 0 for 8 from beyond the arc. He's covered up a lot of problems.

[Apr 7, 2025 at 9:26 pm ET · David Cobb]

Houston makes a run

4:46 1H: Houston 29, Florida 21

Houston is on an 8–0 run, courtesy of its first two made 3-pointers. First, L.J. Cryer drilled a bomb from the top of the key. Then, Mylik Wilson banked one in from the right wing. In between, Emanuel Sharp hit Wilson for a beautiful alley-oop. Walter Clayton Jr. is 0 for 4 and scoreless for Florida. The Gators are facing a 9-1 turnover margin.

[Apr 7, 2025 at 9:17 pm ET · David Cobb]

Will Richard gets going

7:42 1H: Houston 20, Florida 16

Florida guard Will Richard finally took the lid off the basket from 3-point range with a pair triples to help sustain Florida during an otherwise poor start. The Gators have committed seven turnovers. For the Cougars, it's Ja'Vier Francis who is stepping up. The veteran big man has six points off the bench and has been unbothered by the physicality of Florida's Rueben Chinyelu.

[Apr 7, 2025 at 9:11 pm ET · David Cobb]

Both teams cold

10:18 1H: Houston 14, Florida 10

The teams are a combined 0 for 12 from 3-point range. Walter Clayton Jr. is 0 for 3 from deep for Florida, and L.J. Cryer is 0 for 3 for Houston. The Gators are fortunate to only be down four, especially since they've committed five turnovers compared to zero for Houston. Of note: JoJo Tugler just picked up his second foul for the Cougars. He's their defensive ace. Will be interesting to see if Kelvin Sampson rolls the dice and plays him more this half.

[Apr 7, 2025 at 9:00 pm ET · David Cobb]

Early pace favoring Florida

1H: Houston 8, Florida 8

Houston bigs JoJo Tugler and J'Wan Roberts each picked up early fouls while trying to battle Florida's bigs in transition. The Gators have to get out and run, and they're doing a good job of it so far; the early pace favors Florida. Tugler has been great offensively for the Cougars early but went to the bench after getting shaken up following a collision with Rueben Chinyelu. 

[Apr 7, 2025 at 8:45 pm ET · David Cobb]

Starting lineups

No surprises in either starting lineup. Florida is starting Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard, Rueben Chinyelu, Alijah Martin and Alex Condon. Houston is going with L.J. Cryer, Milos Uzan, JoJo Tugler, J'Wan Roberts and Emanuel Sharp.

Will be interesting to see how long it takes Florida to get Thomas Haugh onto the floor. He's been UF's second-or-third best player throughout the NCAA Tournament.

[Apr 7, 2025 at 8:40 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Florida vs. Houston is 11th time No. 1 seeds meet with national title on the line

The matchup for the national championship game is set for Monday night in San Antonio, and it will feature No. 1 seed Florida facing off against No. 1 seed Houston. The last game of the 2024-25 college basketball season will mark the 11th matchup between No. 1 seeds for the national title.

Florida punched its ticket to the title game with a statement 79-73 win over No. 1 overall seed Auburn behind a standout performance from All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr. The Gators will be making their first title game appearance since 2007.

Houston advanced to the title game after pulling off a dramatic comeback over the Blue Devils. The Cougars trailed by as many as 14 points with just over eight minutes remaining and moved on with a 70-67 win over the Blue Devils. Houston is seeking its first national title in program history.

2025 NCAA championship game: Florida vs. Houston is 11th time No. 1 seeds meet with national title on the line

Cameron Salerno

[Apr 7, 2025 at 8:30 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Everything you need to know about Monday's national championship game

The 2025 NCAA Tournament reaches its final game to bring this historic college basketball season to a close when No. 1 seed Houston faces No. 1 seed Florida on Monday in San Antonio in the national championship game (8:50 p.m. ET on CBS, stream on March Madness Live or Paramount+). Houston is seeking the first national title in program history, while the Gators can win their first title since 2007. 

Houston and Florida have both been battle tested throughout the NCAA Tournament. Houston survived a late comeback bid from Gonzaga in the second round, defeated Purdue in the Sweet 16 after Milos Uzan converted a layup with less than a second remaining, and then completed one of the most improbable comebacks in NCAA Tournament history with a 70-67 win over Duke in Saturday's national semifinal. 

Florida vs. Houston where to watch March Madness, prediction, 2025 NCAA championship game pick, odds, line

Cameron Salerno

[Apr 7, 2025 at 8:10 pm ET · David Cobb]

How Florida and Todd Golden beat St. John's and Rick Pitino for Walter Clayton Jr.: 'Benefits of being Jewish'

SAN ANTONIO -- The West Region of the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket didn't produce the matchup between No. 1 seed Florida and No. 2 seed St. John's that many expected after the Red Storm took a second-round loss to No. 10 seed Arkansas.

But Florida's place in Monday night's national championship game against Houston can still be traced to a Todd Golden victory over Rick Pitino.

When Pitino landed the St. John's job in 2023 after two seasons coaching Walter Clayton Jr. at Iona, the Hall of Fame coach tried recruiting Clayton to follow him to the Big East. Clayton, who is from Lake Wales, Florida, had a decision to make.

How Florida and Todd Golden beat St. John's and Rick Pitino for Walter Clayton Jr.: 'Benefits of being Jewish'

David Cobb

[Apr 7, 2025 at 7:50 pm ET · David Cobb]

'Hollywood can't write that': Why Houston 'had no doubt' J'Wan Roberts was built for legendary Final Four win

SAN ANTONIO --- When Duke eliminated Houston in the Sweet 16 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, poor health made for a convenient and legitimate source of blame. The Cougars were without All-American guard Jamal Shead and menacing defensive stopper JoJo Tugler due to injury. But Houston coach Kelvin Sampson laid the fault for that 54-51 season-ending defeat elsewhere.

"The real reason was the free throw line," Sampson said.

Among the primary culprits was J'Wan Roberts, who hit just 3 of 8 shots from the stripe. In that crushing loss, a 1-of-3 stretch from the stripe for the veteran center was particularly deflating as Houston attempted to mount a charge late in the second half. The Cougars' eight free throw missed that day led to an impassioned June speech from Sampson that set the stage for the ultimate redemption on Saturday night. 

'Hollywood can't write that': Why Houston 'had no doubt' J'Wan Roberts was built for legendary Final Four win

David Cobb

[Apr 7, 2025 at 7:46 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

Walter Clayton Jr. eyeing history 

Florida star guard Walter Clayton Jr. — who has scored 64 combined points in his last two outings for the title-contending Gators — could put his stamp on the NCAA Tournament tonight as one of the greatest March Madness runs in the tourney's history.

He enters tonight as the first player since Larry Bird in 1979 to have back-to-back 30+ point outings in consecutive games of the tournament in the Elite Eight or later.

He also has scored the fifth-most among guards in the NCAA Tournament leading into the championship game with 123, trailing only Jay Williams, Juan Dixon, Russ Smith and Kemba Walter.

All four other guards — Williams, Dixon, Smith and Walker — went on to win the title.

[Apr 7, 2025 at 7:30 pm ET · Isaac Trotter]

No top-100 recruits but at least three NBA players? How development is the secret sauce behind Florida's rise

SAN ANTONIO -- Florida is one sleep away from playing for the national championship game. Forty minutes away from etching its name as one of the elite teams from the modern era of college basketball history. Two grueling halves from breaking the historical precedent of how a national title winner is supposed to be constructed. 

These Gators have zero top-100 recruits on the roster. No national champion in the internet era of recruiting rankings has ever done that. 

Walter Clayton Jr. earned dozens of high-major football offers, but he was an unranked basketball recruit who Rick Pitino plucked for his first Iona team. Alijah Martin wasn't quite as prized of a football prospect as Clayton, but the former North Pike High School quarterback was a three-star on the gridiron and unranked on the hardwood. 

No top-100 recruits but at least three NBA players? How development is the secret sauce behind Florida's rise

Isaac Trotter

[Apr 7, 2025 at 7:10 pm ET · Dennis Dodd]

As Houston's L.J. Cryer chases NCAA history, he'll always be more than a trivia note to his former coach

SAN ANTONIO -- The sting is still evident in Scott Drew's voice. It has been two years since L.J. Cryer walked into the Baylor coach's office and told Drew their basketball marriage had ended.  

OK, enough with the flowery language: It was a transfer, the cold, hard kind we're used to these days. After three seasons of developing Cryer into an emerging shooting guard, Drew got the call he didn't want to answer in 2023.  

"Most people can relate," Drew explained Sunday to CBS Sports. "It's like a boyfriend, girlfriend relationship. Whenever it breaks up, it hurts, and you feel like what could I have done better? With us -- and probably other programs -- that are not used to not losing guys, the first couple especially you're hurt and disappointed." 

How Houston doubling-down on LJ Cryer sparked the Cougars over Gonzaga and into their sixth straight Sweet 16

Dennis Dodd

[Apr 7, 2025 at 6:50 pm ET · Matt Norlander]

Houston's Kelvin Sampson vs. Florida's Todd Golden is riveting matchup, battle of ages for NCAA championship

SAN ANTONIO — It was Nov. 13, 1981 in Bismarck, North Dakota, when Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology defeated Lake Region College as part of the Mary College Invitational. The coach of the winning side that cold Friday night was barely 26 years old. His name was Kelvin Sampson. Montana Tech's 77-67 win was the first victory of what now registers by any objective examination as a Hall of Fame-worthy career. 

On Monday night — 15,851 days removed and about 1,200 miles south of Bismarck — Sampson will go for win No. 800 here in the heart of Texas. He'll try for it against Florida's Todd Golden, who was born three-and-a-half years after Sampson's first triumph back in '81.  

Among a plethora of intriguing storylines gilding this national final, the juxtaposition between Sampson and Golden's timelines and respective approaches to coaching ranks among the most compelling. 

Houston's Kelvin Sampson vs. Florida's Todd Golden is riveting matchup, battle of ages for NCAA championship

Matt Norlander