Florida back in NCAA title game for first time since 2007 after wild comeback win vs. Auburn in Final Four

The Gators rallied late to defeat the Tigers 79-73 in a battle of No. 1 seeds in the national semifinals

The first ticket to the national title game has been punched as No. 1 seed Florida defeated No. 1 overall seed Auburn 79-73 in the final Four to advance to Monday's NCAA championship game. The Gators will face No. 1 seed Duke or No. 1 seed Houston for the NCAA title.

Florida will be making its first title game appearance since 2007. The last non-Kentucky team from the SEC to win the title was that Florida team, which won the second of the Gators back-to-back titles.

Florida All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr. had a performance to remember in the win over Auburn. Clayton scored a game and career high 34 points, and his steady shot-making helped the Gators erase a nine-point deficit in the early minutes of the second half. Clayton is the first player to score at least 30 points in the Elite Eight and national semifinals during the same NCAA Tournament since Indiana State's Larry Bird in 1979.

Clayton's backcourt mate, Alijah Martin, also played a crucial role in Florida's monumental win. Martin became the first player in college basketball history to start a Final Four game with two different programs and finished with 17 points.

The loss marks the end of the road for Auburn. Auburn big man Johni Broome scored 12 of his 15 points in the first half and was held in check after halftime. Auburn was making its second Final Four appearance in program history and will fall one game short of playing for the national title.

Clayton gets right to the cup for 2️⃣#MarchMadness @GatorsMBK pic.twitter.com/8d5Q3NMkqc

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2025

Quick hitters

• Florida is advancing to the national title game for the fourth time in school history. The Gators lost to Michigan State in 2000 and won back-to-back NCAA Tournament titles by defeating UCLA in 2006 and Ohio State in 2007.
• The victory was Florida's 35th this season, just one shy of a program-record 36 set in 2013-14.
• The Gators won their 11th straight game and have won 17 of their last 18.
• Clayton's 34 points are the most by a player in a national semifinal since Duke's Danny Ferry scored 34 in 1989 vs. Seton Hall.

[Apr 5, 2025 at 9:12 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Grades for Auburn's starters vs. Florida

Johni Broome: Broome's overall legacy at Auburn shouldn't be tainted by what happened in the second half vs. Florida. Broome has been one of the best players in college basketball this season, but his play during the final 20 minutes is part of why the Tigers are going home. Florida shut down Broome in the second half. Grade: C-

Chad Baker-Mazara: One of the oldest players in college basketball showed up on the big stage. Baker-Mazara finished with a team-high 18 points and hit a clutch 3-pointer that kept the game close in the final minute. Grade: B+

Miles Kelly: The Georgia Tech transfer was one of Auburn's best 3-point shooters this season but he struggled in this game. Kelly finished 3 of 10 from the floor, and connected on 2 of 7 shots from beyond the arc. Kelly was also scoreless in the second half. Grade: C-

Denver Jones: Jones finished with 10 points but shot just 3 of 9 from the floor. Jones was in foul trouble for most of the second half after picking up three fouls after intermission. Grade: C+

Dylan Cardwell: Cardwell shot 4 of 5 from the floor and finished with nine points and eight rebounds. He scored five points in only 11 minutes of play during the second half. Cardwell had a tough assignment against Florida's standout bigs and did his job. Grade: B+

[Apr 5, 2025 at 9:02 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Grades for Florida's starters vs. Auburn

Walter Clayton Jr.: Is there even a debate about this one? Clayton is the best guard in college basketball. Clayton took over down the stretch and provided the calm and steady presence the Gators needed to advance. Clayton's NBA Draft stock should be improving, too. Grade: A+

Will Richard: Richard was quiet on offense (1 of 6 from the floor) but played a huge role on the defensive end in the second half. Richard helped shut down some of Auburn's actions and finished with five rebounds and six assists. Grade: B+

Alijah Martin: This stage wasn't Martin's first rodeo. The former FAU star became the first player in college basketball history to start a Final Four game with two different teams. Martin finished with 17 points and had a highlight dunk that shifted the energy to Florida's favor for good. Grade: A

Alex Condon: Condon struggled against a stout Auburn frontcourt. Condon was limited to one point and missed all five field goal attempts. Outside of recording a key block in the second half, this will be a performance to forget for the Florida star big man. Grade: C-

Rueben Chinyelu: Florida's frontcourt is so deep that Chinyelu plays the least amount of minutes of the Gators starters. He finished with five points and nine rebounds in 23 minutes. The former Washington State transfer did his job in the minutes he played. Grade: B+

[Apr 5, 2025 at 8:49 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Walter Calyton Jr. is the second-best player in college basketball

For most of the season, the debate for national player of the year was down to two players: Cooper Flagg and Johni Broome.

Maybe there should've been a third player in the discussion for the award because the way Clayton has played when it matters most is worthy of more recognition. Clayton became the first player to score at least 30 points in the Elite Eight and national semifinals during the same NCAA Tournament since Indiana State's Larry Bird in 1979.

CBS Sports Research

The phrase "guards win games in March" gets thrown around a lot around this time of year, and there's a reason. Clayton was incredible during Florida's win over UConn, made one of the craziest shots in NCAA Tournament history against Texas Tech, and had another standout performance on the biggest stage in college basketball against Auburn.

There is no longer a debate. Clayton has cemented himself as the best guard in college basketball. He might be the second-best player in the sport, too.

Broome was quiet in the second half against Florida. The Gators stout frontcourt shut him down. That's why Florida is moving on, and Auburn is going home.

[Apr 5, 2025 at 8:43 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Florida defeats Auburn, advances to national title game

FINAL: (1) Florida 79, (1) Auburn 73

The first ticket to the national title game has been punched. No. 1 seed Florida defeated No. 1 overall seed Auburn 79-73 in the first national semifinal game of the evening from San Antonio to advance to Monday's national championship game. The Gators will face No. 1 seed Duke or No. 1 seed Houston for all the marbles.

Florida will be making its first title game appearance since 2007. The last non-Kentucky team from the SEC to win the title was that Florida team in 2007.

Florida All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr. had a performance to remember in the win over Auburn. Clayton scored a game-high 34 points, and his steady shot-making helped the Gators erase a nine-point deficit in the early minutes of the second half. Clayton is the first player to score at least 30 points in the Elite Eight and national semifinals during the same NCAA Tournament since Indiana State's Larry Bird in 1979.

Clayton's backcourt mate, Alijah Martin, also played a crucial role in Florida's monumental win. Martin became the first player in college basketball history to start a Final Four game with two different programs and finished with 17 points.

The loss marks the end of the road for Auburn. Auburn big man Johni Broome scored 12 of his 15 points in the first half but was quiet after halftime. Broome scored only three points after intermission. Auburn was making its second Final Four appearance in program history and will fall one game short of playing for the national title.

[Apr 5, 2025 at 8:34 pm ET · David Cobb]

Johni Broome's second half struggles

It's been apparent throughout the second half that Johni Broome is not 100% healthy for Auburn. The SEC Player of the Year tweaked his right elbow in the Elite Eight — on top of several other injury scares from throughout the season — and it appears to have limited his effectiveness tonight. The fifth-year star is just 1 of 4 in the second half and 1 of 5 from the free-throw line. 

[Apr 5, 2025 at 8:15 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Alijah Martin slam!

LATE 2H: (1) Florida 69, Auburn 65

Alijah Martin became the first player in college basketball history to start in the Final Four with two different teams, and he sure is leaving his mark on this game. Martin just threw down a huge dunk in transition that got the crowd fired up. The final four minutes of regulation are going to be fun to watch.

[Apr 5, 2025 at 8:04 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Going down to the wire in San Antonio

MID 2H: (1) Florida 60, Auburn 58

This game has had everything. Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin are making tough shots to keep Florida in it. Auburn is winning the battle inside but has three players with three fouls heading into the final 7:47. Auburn reserve forward Chaney Johnson is one of the players with three fouls. He is a team-high +10 right now.

[Apr 5, 2025 at 7:51 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Walter Clayton Jr. has been the difference

EARLY 2H: (1) Auburn 57, (1) Florida 54

Florida is in this game because of the play of its All-American guard. Clayton has been fantastic tonging and is shooting an efficient 8 of 12 from the floor with four 3-pointers made. Clayton does have three turnovers and just one assist, but his calm and steady presence has been why the Gators have been able to climb out of a hole.

Clayton was clutch down the stretch against Texas Tech last weekend in the Elite Eight. Clayton may need to replicate that performance to keep his team's season alive.

[Apr 5, 2025 at 7:43 pm ET · David Cobb]

Here comes Walter Clayton Jr.

Here comes Walter Clayton Jr. for Florida with five quick points in the second half. A brief recap of what he's done already in this tournament:

When Florida rallied for a 77-75 win over two-time reigning national champion UConn in the second round, Clayton delivered with a series of clutch late 3-pointers as he produced 13 points in the final eight minutes. With the Gators' season hanging in the balance again during the Elite Eight, Clayton came through again. With under six minutes remaining, UF was just 4 of 16 from deep and trailing 74-64. But the Gators drilled five shots from beyond the arc over the final 5:24 with Clayton providing three of them. He finished with a game-high 30 points, including a 13 of 14 mark from the free-throw line.

[Apr 5, 2025 at 7:37 pm ET · David Cobb]

Auburn needs a calming presence

Auburn had two turnovers in the entire first half but already has two in the second as Florida has flipped the script on this game with a 9-0 run. Would have to imagine Bruce Pearl will turn to freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford to calm things down. Pettiford may be the best sixth man in college basketball, and he was a bit quiet in the first half.

[Apr 5, 2025 at 7:36 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Here comes Florida

EARLY 2H: (1) Auburn 49, (1) Florida 49

What a response by Florida. The Gators used a 9-0 run to tie the game at 49 behind big shots from Alijah Martin and Walter Clayton Jr. Auburn hasn't scored in over two minutes and has missed its last four shot attempts from the floor. The momentum is starting to swing in the Gators' favor.

[Apr 5, 2025 at 7:20 pm ET · David Cobb]

Second half keys

Florida needs to rethink some of its forays into the paint off the dribble. The Gators got swallowed up a few times by helping Auburn bigs and had nowhere to go with the basketball. When the transition looks aren't there, the Gators are at their best when they're whipping the ball around the arc and looking for bigs on the roll. The Gators will also need more from their bigs in the second half. Auburn will have to figure out a solution for holding down Walter Clayton Jr. The Gators' star has 14 points already, and he's known for doing his best work late in games. But all told, the first half was a masterclass offensively for Auburn with Johni Broome beginning and ending the half on a tear.

[Apr 5, 2025 at 7:09 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

What to know as Auburn leads at halftime

Halftime: (1) Auburn 46, (1) Florida 38

What a start for No. 1 overall seed Auburn in San Antonio!

Auburn leads by eight and has largely been in control of this one early. Here's some key stats to know as the Tigers and Gators head to halftime at the Alamodome.

• Points in the paint: Auburn 26, Florida 14
• Offensive rebounds: Auburn 6, Florida 5
• Second-chance points: Auburn 8, Florida 4
• Made 3s: Auburn 4 (on 15 attempts), Florida 4 (on 10 attempts)
• Leading scorers: Johni Broome (Auburn): 12 points; Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida): 14

[Apr 5, 2025 at 7:04 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Auburn up at halftime vs. Florida

HALF: (1) Auburn 46, (1) Florida 38

The first half of the first Final Four game is in the books. Auburn will take a 46-38 lead into the locker room behind a balanced offensive attack and relentless defense. The Tigers led for the final 10 minutes of the first half and are just 20 minutes away from the program's first national title game appearance. The winner of this game plays No. 1 seed Duke or No. 1 seed Houston in Monday's title game.

Auburn All-American big man Johni Broome came to play despite limited practice time this week due to an injury suffered against Michigan State in the Elite Eight. Broome scored a team-high 12 points, while Miles Kelly and Chad Baker-Mazara each added eight. Auburn shot just 4 of 15 from the 3-point line, but 13 of 18 on 2-pointers.

[Apr 5, 2025 at 6:45 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

How Auburn is winning

Auburn star Johni Broome hasn't scored a field goal since the 17:31 mark of this one but the Tigers are up 29-25 on Florida with some smooth execution inside the arc and some key defensive stops. Auburn leads 16-8 in paint points so far and has held Florida -- which scores more on second-chance points than any team in college basketball -- to just four.

Key stats

• Paint points: Auburn 16, Florida 8
• Florida second-chance points: 4
• Auburn second-chance points: 7
• Alijah Martin: game-high 10 points

[Apr 5, 2025 at 6:42 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Miles Kelly is making plays for Auburn

MID 1H: (1) Auburn 29, (1) Florida 25

Auburn guard Miles Kelly knocked down a 3-pointer moments before the under-8 media timeout. The former Georgia Tech standout has five points. Kelly spent the first three years at Georgia Tech before transferring to Auburn this past offseason. Kelly shot a career-high 38.1% from distance on 6.1 attempts per night.

[Apr 5, 2025 at 6:34 pm ET · David Cobb]

Alijah Martin came to play

The only player in this game with Final Four experience is Florida guard Alijah Martin. The ex-FAU start came to play tonight. He's got 10 points already and is driving it hard. 

Auburn's guards trend a bit small, and Martin has a physicality edge that is on display. 

[Apr 5, 2025 at 6:32 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

Haugh continues making plays

Florida sophomore center Thomas Haugh, who scored 20 points vs. Texas Tech and was one of the catalysts to his team's come-from-behind win in the Elite Eight, has picked up right where he left off last weekend.

Haugh has two points and a rebound and one killer chasedown block already in just a few minutes on the floor. The block was part of a huge momentum-swinging sequence earlier as Auburn was in transition. 

It's only fitting that Haugh, who grew up idolizing Tim Tebow, has been a star in the biggest moments of Florida's season. He's averaging 13.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game during the NCAA Tournament, both well above his regular-season marks. 

[Apr 5, 2025 at 6:30 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Broome looks close to 100%

EARLY 1H: (1) Auburn 20, (1) Florida 18

One of the biggest storylines coming into this game was the status of Broome, who got hurt late against Michigan State in the Elite Eight. Auburn's All-American big man looks close to 100% and is doing an outstanding job on the defensive end. Broome just blocked Florida big man Alex Condon on a hook shot and has six points and two rebounds in seven minutes.

[Apr 5, 2025 at 6:22 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Electric start

EARLY 1H: (1) Auburn 16, (1) Florida 14

This game has been electric through the first six minutes of action. Florida and Auburn are knocking down tough shots, making highlight plays on defense, and scoring on second-chance opportunities. Florida reserve big man Thomas Haugh just had a nasty block right before the first media timeout of the night. Auburn veteran Chad Baker-Mazara, one of the oldest players in college basketball, has a team-high eight points.

[Apr 5, 2025 at 6:16 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Broome going right at Florida's defense

EARLY 1H: (1) Auburn 8, (1) Florida 6

On the first shot attempt of the night from San Antonio, Auburn All-American Johni Broome backed down Alex Condon in the post and knocked down a fadeaway jumper. Something to keep an eye on the rest of the night is whether Florida will send double teams at Broome.

[Apr 5, 2025 at 6:10 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

Auburn dealing with multiple injuries

Not only is star Auburn big man Johni Broome dealing with an elbow injury suffered vs. Michigan State in the Elite Eight, but co-star Chad Baker-Mazara, the team's second-leading scorer, is also playing tonight through a torn ligament in the thumb on his shooting hand (left).

Baker-Mazara picked up the injury vs. Michigan State and aggravated it in practice on Thursday, per Tracy Wolfson. Wolfson added on CBS just now: "You can just tell he's really uncomfortable."

[Apr 5, 2025 at 6:07 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Starting lineups for both teams

(1) Auburn

• Denver Jones
• Miles Kelly
• Chad Baker-Mazara
• Johni Broome
• Dylan Cardwell

(1) Florida

• Walter Clayton Jr.
• Will Richard
• Alijah Martin
• Alex Condon
• Rueben Chinyelu

[Apr 5, 2025 at 6:00 pm ET · David Cobb]

How Florida, Houston assistants veered from Jai Lucas' blueprint at Duke to pull double duty in Final Four

After Florida finished off Texas Tech in a thrilling Elite Eight battle last weekend, the Gators finally got a moment to catch their collective breath. Amid the mayhem of the program's deepest postseason run since 2014, UF took Monday off before diving into preparation for Saturday's Final Four showdown against fellow No. 1 seed Auburn.

But for assistant coaches Kevin Hovde and John Andrzejek, there was no rest to be found.

Both have accepted head jobs — Hovde at Columbia, Andrzejek at Campbell — leaving them with a juggling act as the Gators' season barrels into April amid the mayhem of an open transfer portal.

How Florida, Houston assistants veered from Jai Lucas' blueprint at Duke to pull double duty in Final Four

David Cobb

[Apr 5, 2025 at 5:45 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

The last time all four No. 1 seeds made the Final Four, the madness was epic

The upshot to a chalky 2025 NCAA Tournament is the historic nature of greatness that still stands vying for a national championship. Every No. 1 seed is in the Final Four for just the second time in NCAA Tournament history and first time since 2008.

Seeding, by the way, began in 1979. 

What lies ahead has a chance to go down as the best Final Four in modern history. Action starts Saturday at 6:09 p.m. ET on CBS between Auburn and Florida followed by Duke vs. Houston in the nightcap.

The last time all four No. 1 seeds made the Final Four, the madness was epic

Kyle Boone

[Apr 5, 2025 at 5:30 pm ET · Isaac Trotter]

As the 2025 Final Four unfolds, college basketball is spending like there's no tomorrow

College basketball and money are intertwined more than ever before at the 2025 Final Four, where war chests of dollars pooled by collectives are getting furiously doled out in the transfer portal while there's still time. 

Monday, the day of the National Championship game, features a hearing in California where an Oakland judge could rule on the House vs. NCAA settlement, kickstarting a full-fledged revenue-sharing model. It could take some time for Judge Claudia Wilken to make the official call, but college basketball staffs are sprinting to sign deals with transfers before new enforcement protocols could complicate things.

Expected House v. NCAA court ruling and NIL impact on future teams being felt at 2025 Final Four (ask Auburn)

Isaac Trotter

[Apr 5, 2025 at 5:15 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

NBA Draft prospects to follow in San Antonio

The 2025 NBA Draft is less than three months away, so it's time to familiarize yourself with some upcoming prospects playing in the Final Four this weekend. A handful of players projected to go in the first round are in action this week while their respective teams look to take one step closer to cutting down the nets in San Antonio on April 7.

The headliner of the upcoming draft class, Duke superstar Cooper Flagg, will be in action on Saturday when his team faces fellow No. 1 seed Houston. Flagg projects as the surefire No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and recently earned National Player of the Year honors by CBS Sports.

Flagg isn't the only draft prospect on his team. Khaman Maluach and Kon Knueppel are expected to be lottery selections this summer. Florida All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr. has improved his draft stock significantly this season after leading Florida to the Final Four for the first time since 2017.

2025 Final Four: Duke trio, headlined by Cooper Flagg, among five NBA Draft prospects to follow in San Antonio

Cameron Salerno

[Apr 5, 2025 at 5:00 pm ET · David Cobb]

Bruce Pearl explains the impact of three Jewish coaches in Final Four 'wearing their faith on their sleeves'

SAN ANTONIO — Auburn coach Bruce Pearl laid out the significance of having three Jewish coaches at the Final Four on Friday, saying, "It speaks to the fact that we live in the greatest country in the world." 

Pearl's Tigers will take on fellow No. 1 seed Florida on Saturday (6:09 p.m. ET streaming on Paramount+ and March Madness Live) with a spot in the national championship game on the line. The game pits Pearl against fellow Jewish head coach Todd Golden of Florida. The evening's second semifinal includes Duke's Jewish head Jon Scheyer as the Blue Devils take on Houston.

Bruce Pearl explains the impact of three Jewish coaches in Final Four 'wearing their faith on their sleeves'

David Cobb

[Apr 5, 2025 at 4:45 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

How Florida and Auburn built their loaded Final Four rosters

The four teams participating in the Final Four this weekend in San Antonio are a perfect microcosm of the new era in college basketball. While a team such as Duke has built its roster with former blue-chip recruits such as Cooper Flagg, Tyrese Proctor and Khaman Maluach, other teams such as Florida have hit on the margins to create a team just two games away from winning the title.

March Madness 2025: How Duke, Florida, Auburn and Houston built their loaded Final Four rosters

Cameron Salerno

[Apr 5, 2025 at 4:30 pm ET · David Cobb]

Meet Olivier Rioux, Florida's 7-foot-9 'gentle giant' and hidden key to NCAA Tournament run

SAN ANTONIO — Florida's convoy of quality big men is one of its defining characteristics as the Gators prepare to face fellow No. 1 seed Auburn on Saturday night in the Final Four. UF boasts a deep convoy of frontcourt players that have made it one of college basketball's elite rebounding and shot-blocking teams.

But the biggest of the Gators' bigs hasn't logged a single minute this season. Redshirting 7-foot-9 center Olivier Rioux has made an impact, though. The towering 19-year-old is a difference-maker in practice.

2025 Final Four: Meet Olivier Rioux, Florida's 7-foot-9 'gentle giant' and hidden key to NCAA Tournament run

David Cobb