Florida Gators Win NCAA Championship as 7'9" Olivier Rioux Captures Spotlight
Florida's 65-63 victory over Houston secures the national title, with redshirt freshman Rioux gaining viral fame for his ladder-free net-cutting celebrations.
- The Florida Gators claimed the 2025 NCAA national championship with a narrow 65-63 win over Houston, capping a 12-game winning streak.
- Olivier Rioux, Florida's 7-foot-9 redshirt freshman center, is the tallest player in NCAA Division I history and has yet to play a game this season.
- Rioux has become a viral sensation for cutting down nets without a ladder, a feat he repeated after the championship win and during Florida's SEC Tournament victory in March.
- Despite limited on-court contributions, Rioux's towering presence and unique celebrations have made him a cultural icon in college basketball.
- The Gators' championship run highlights both their athletic dominance and the public fascination with Rioux's extraordinary stature and persona.
Yardbarker 
New York Post 