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Fayetteville Today
By the People, for the People
College Basketball TV Ratings: Top 10 Most-Watched Men's Games of 2025-26 Season
ESPN sees 25% viewership increase as college basketball continues ratings surge
Published on Feb. 22, 2026
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Through the 2025-26 season, college basketball has seen a surge in TV ratings across all networks. On3 is tracking the Top 10 most-watched men's games of the year, with Duke vs. Arkansas and Michigan State vs. North Carolina leading the way after capitalizing on NFL lead-ins on Thanksgiving.
Why it matters
The continued growth in college basketball viewership demonstrates the sport's enduring popularity and ability to attract large audiences, especially when paired with high-profile matchups and strong lead-ins from NFL games. This data provides valuable insights for networks, advertisers, and the college basketball industry as a whole.
The details
Duke's win over Arkansas on Nov. 27 is the most-watched men's college basketball game so far this season, with an average of 6.8 million viewers tuning in on CBS. Michigan State's victory over North Carolina on the same day is a close second with 6.5 million viewers on FOX. Other top games include Duke vs. North Carolina on ESPN (3.5 million viewers), Maryland vs. UCLA on FOX (2.9 million), and Michigan vs. Michigan State on FOX (2.8 million).
- On Nov. 27, Duke defeated Arkansas with 6.8 million viewers on CBS.
- On Nov. 27, Michigan State beat North Carolina with 6.5 million viewers on FOX.
- On Feb. 7, North Carolina defeated Duke with 3.5 million viewers on ESPN.
- On Jan. 10, UCLA beat Maryland with 2.9 million viewers on FOX.
- On Jan. 30, Michigan defeated Michigan State with 2.8 million viewers on FOX.
The players
Duke
A prominent college basketball program that has faced off against several top opponents this season.
Arkansas
A college basketball team that played in one of the most-watched games of the 2025-26 season.
Michigan State
A college basketball team that played in one of the most-watched games of the 2025-26 season.
North Carolina
A college basketball team that played in several of the most-watched games of the 2025-26 season.
ESPN
A major sports network that has seen a 25% increase in college basketball viewership as of February 2026.
What’s next
The college basketball regular season continues through March 8, with conference tournaments beginning after that and Selection Sunday on March 15.
The takeaway
The surge in college basketball TV ratings, particularly on ESPN, demonstrates the enduring popularity of the sport and its ability to attract large audiences. This data provides valuable insights for networks, advertisers, and the college basketball industry as they look to capitalize on this growth.
