The Gators face six opponents ranked in the preseason top 20
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida lacrosse team starts at No. 4 in the 2026 USA Lacrosse preseason poll released Monday afternoon.
The Gators will face six opponents among the preseason poll, including defending National Champions and preseason No. 1, North Carolina.
Florida’s season starts off with three straight ranked games, starting on the road against preseason No. 18 Loyola (Feb. 7) before taking on No. 13 Michigan at home (Feb. 13) and No. 9 Clemson in Milton, Georgia (Feb. 21).
The Gators will head up to preseason No. 14 Navy a week later on Feb. 28 before hosting No. 12 Penn on March 11. A rematch of last season’s Final Four match up will take place when UF travels to No. 1 North Carolina on March 17.
The Gators are coming off the 2025 season which saw them go 20-3, including going 5-0 in their first season in the Big 12 and taking the Big 12 regular season and tournament championship. Florida made the Final Four in last year’s NCAA Tournament, the third appearance in program history.
2026 USA Lacrosse Preseason Poll
Rank
School
Vs. Florida
1
North Carolina
Away – March 17
2
Northwestern
3
Boston College
4
Florida
5
Princeton
6
Stanford
7
Virginia
8
Maryland
9
Clemson
Neutral (Milton, Ga) – Feb. 21
10
Johns Hopkins
11
Syracuse
12
Penn
Home – March 11
13
Michigan
Home – Feb. 13
14
Navy
Away – Feb. 28
15
Yale
16
Stony Brook
17
Duke
18
Loyola
Away – Feb. 7
19
Denver
20
James Madison
Also considered (alphabetical order): Army, Harvard, Penn State, South Florida, USC
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