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ESPN names biggest ‘key’ for Florida in national title game vs. Houston
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Florida will meet Houston in the national title game on Monday night in San Antonio after both the Gators and Cougars pulled off second-half comebacks in the Final Four.
On Sunday morning, ESPN published a wide-ranging preview for the 2025 national title game between Florida and Houston. In the preview, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello talked about Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. as the biggest “key” for the Gators in this matchup against an elite Houston defense.
Here’s that analysis from Borzello:
Much of it will come down to whether Clayton can keep it going against Houston’s No. 1-ranked defense. On Saturday, Florida’s offense went through stretches against Auburn when the Tigers kept the Gators in the half court and open looks were at a premium because of physicality and size. Houston will be more physical and the Cougars will look to keep Florida out of transition. The Gators might hold their own on the glass and get a few second-chance opportunities, but it’s going to be Clayton. They have needed him to go on a Kemba Walker-type run, and Clayton has carried them so far. They need one more historic showing from the All-America guard.
Clayton has been on a historic run. After saving the Gators from a potential upset loss to Texas Tech in the Elite Eight, he followed that up with another memorable performance against Auburn in the Final Four on Saturday night. He scored 34 points in UF’s 79-72 win over the Tigers.
But now Clayton will face a Houston defense that ranks No. 1 in the country in efficiency. In the Final Four on Saturday night, the Cougars held Duke to just 1.1 points per possession — well below Duke’s season-average.
Whether or not Clayton can continue his legendary March for 1 more game will have a huge impact on whether or not the Gators win their 3rd national championship.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
