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Mike Bianchi: After a lost fall in football, Sunshine State fans find joy in March

This year, the Sunshine State has four teams dancing — Florida, Miami, UCF and USF — with Florida State surging toward the bracket, lifting fan moods statewide.
Once a football-first state, Florida’s fall sputtering led to the Gators firing Billy Napier and bowl season passing without Florida, Florida State or UCF.
Johnny Dawkins' UCF has risen through the transfer portal despite a limited NIL budget, Miami turned a 7-24 roster into a 25-win team under Jai Lucas, and USF rallied under Bryan Hodgson after former coach Amir Abdur-Rahim's death.
Basketball's rise lets multiple programs succeed at once, allowing fans across Florida to celebrate while Florida State earned praise after winning 10 of its last 13 and narrowly losing to No. 1-ranked Duke.
Now, nearly two decades later, Todd Golden, Florida coach, returns with a No. seed, joining success by Miami and FAU three seasons ago in the statewide trend.

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Mike Bianchi: After a lost fall in football, Sunshine State fans find joy in March

ORLANDO, Fla. — There have been years when March arrives in Florida and barely makes a ripple. Thankfully, not this year. This year, the Sunshine State has four teams dancing — Florida, Miami, UCF and USF — with a fifth,…

15 hours ago

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