ESPN staffMar 29, 2025, 09:09 PM ET
The March Madness field of 68 is quickly being whittled to four.
The Florida Gators punched the first Final Four ticket of the 2025 NCAA tournament with a come-from-behind win over Texas Tech on Saturday in San Francisco. Now the Duke Blue Devils and Alabama Crimson Tide, who each scored 100 or more points in the Sweet 16, will close the night out in Newark.
Follow along as our reporters on-site and editors from coast to coast track the action in both games.
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(3) Texas Tech vs.
(1) Florida
Final: Florida defeated Texas Tech 84-79
How Florida won: With Florida on the brink of elimination, Walter Clayton Jr. scored 13 of his game-high 30 points over the final 5:24 to erase a 10-point deficit to Texas Tech and send the Gators to their first Final Four since 2014. Florida had been unable to score back-to-back buckets the entire second half, but Thomas Haugh finally shot back-to-back 3s to cut the deficit to 75-72 with 2:27 to play before Clayton Jr. took the baton, also hitting back-to-back shots from beyond the arc to give Florida its first lead since early in the half and ice the game in its closing moments with a pair of free throws. -- Kyle Bonagura
Florida's key in the Final Four: Walter Clayton Jr.'s brilliance. The Final Four is all about stars. The teams that have players who shine under the brightest lights are the teams that ultimately cut down the nets and win national championships -- there is a reason that we mention Anthony Davis, Carmelo Anthony, Kemba Walker, Mateen Cleaves and Jay Williams when we discuss the greatest NCAA tournament runs. Star power reigns. And next to Cooper Flagg, Florida might have the biggest star of them all in Clayton Jr. His sheer will and talent could be the deciding factors in whether the Gators win the title. -- Myron Medcalf
