The Houston Cougars entered the 2025 NCAA national championship game for the first time since reaching the final in the 1983-1984 season. Under the direction of their head coach, Kelvin Sampson, the Cougars achieved a historic 70-67 victory over the Duke Blue Devils.

The journey began for Kelvin Sampson in Butte, Mont., arguably as far from college basketball’s grandest stage as one could get. Forty-four years later, he has the University of Houston just 40 minutes away from its — and his — first national championship in Monday night’s title game against Florida at the Alamodome.