Illinois-Nebraska Sets FS1 Viewership Record as FOX Enjoys Strong College Basketball Weekend

The Fighting Illini's victory over the Cornhuskers averaged 1.366 million viewers, the most-watched game ever on FS1.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 8:31pm

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FOX's college basketball coverage had a strong weekend, with the network's rivalry game between Michigan and Michigan State becoming the fourth-most watched game of the season. The Illinois-Nebraska matchup on FS1 also set a new viewership record for the network, averaging 1.366 million viewers.

Why it matters

The strong viewership numbers for FOX's college basketball coverage this season indicate growing interest in the sport, which is an important trend for the network as it looks to maximize the value of its media rights deals.

The details

Sunday's game between Illinois and Nebraska averaged 1.366 million viewers, making it the most-watched college basketball game ever on FS1. The previous high was 954,000 viewers for a Purdue-Indiana game in 2022. FOX's weekend started strong with the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry game, which averaged 2.764 million viewers to become the fourth-most watched game of the year. Michigan State's victory over North Carolina in November remains the most-watched game of the season so far, averaging 6.5 million viewers.

  • The Illinois-Nebraska game took place on Sunday, February 2, 2026.
  • The Michigan-Michigan State game was played on Friday, January 31, 2026.

The players

Keaton Wagler

An Illinois freshman who led the Fighting Illini with 28 points in the win over Nebraska.

Jake Davis

An Illinois player who scored 13 points in the victory over Nebraska.

Yaxel Lendeborg

The Michigan player who led the Wolverines with 26 points and 12 rebounds in the win over Michigan State.

Elliot Cadeau

The Michigan player who had 17 points and 6 assists in the rivalry game against Michigan State.

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What’s next

The strong viewership numbers for FOX's college basketball coverage this season could lead the network to invest more resources into its NCAA basketball programming, potentially leading to improved production values, more promotion, and potentially even expanded coverage.

The takeaway

FOX's college basketball coverage is resonating with viewers, with the network setting new viewership records and seeing significant year-over-year growth in its audience. This trend underscores the continued popularity of college basketball and the value of the media rights for the sport.