During the 2025-26 season, college basketball continued to see its TV ratings surge. On3 tracked the Top 10 most-watched men’s games of the year, and two games stood above the rest of the field.

Viewership was up across all networks with household viewership up 10% from last year, Nielsen said. FOX saw its best men’s college basketball season yet with a 38% increase while CBS had a 10% uptick from last season. ESPN also said its viewership was up 25% year-over-year, fueled by its best-ever “Big Monday” season.

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On3 tracked TV ratings for the most-watched men’s college basketball games of the year, according to obtained Nielsen Big Data + Panel data and figures from network PR. Here is the full Top 10, as well as more top men’s college basketball games from the 2025-26 season.

Duke vs. Arkansas

Date/Time: Nov. 27, 8:15 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Viewers: 6.8 million

One of two college basketball games to capitalize on Thanksgiving, Duke’s win over Arkansas was the most-watched matchup of the 2025-26 season. An average of 6.8 million people tuned in for the Blue Devils’ victory, which had a tip-off time following the record-setting NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys.

Michigan State vs. North Carolina

Date/Time: Nov. 27, 4:30 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
Viewers: 6.5 million

Earlier on Thanksgiving, before Duke-Arkansas, Michigan State’s victory over North Carolina ranked as the second-most watched men’s college basketball game with 6.5 million viewers on FOX. It followed the Green Bay Packers’ Thanksgiving win over the Detroit Lions, which averaged 47.7 million viewers – thus providing a strong lead-in.

Duke vs. Michigan

Date/Time: Feb. 21, 6:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Viewers: 4.3 million

A highly anticipated matchup between the No. 1 and No. 3-ranked teams did not disappoint while anchoring a full day of games on ESPN. Duke’s neutral-site win over Michigan averaged 4.3 million viewers in ESPN’s most-watched game of the year as the Blue Devils took down the Wolverines on a neutral court.

Duke vs. North Carolina

Date/Time: Feb. 7, 6:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Viewers: 3.5 million

In their first showdown of the year, North Carolina took down Duke in a big TV ratings win for ESPN. An average of 3.5 million viewers tuned in as Seth Trimble’s last-second shot sent the Tar Heels to the victory, which marked the network’s best game in four years.

North Carolina vs. Duke

Date/Time: March 7, 6:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Viewers: 3.4 million

The rematch between Duke and North Carolina, this time at Cameron Indoor Stadium, drew top-five TV ratings this men’s college basketball season. The Blue Devils’ win over the Tar Heels drew 3.4 million viewers, just trailing the first game of the year between the two teams.

Michigan State vs. Michigan

Date/Time: March 8, 4:30 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Viewers: 2.90 million

The season finale between Michigan State and Michigan saw the Wolverines complete the season sweep of the Spartans with a 90-80 win at Crisler Center. It was also a big TV ratings win for CBS with 2.90 million viewers tuning in to the matchup to close out the regular season.

Maryland vs. UCLA

Date/Time: Jan. 10, 8 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
Viewers: 2.86 million

At 2.9 million viewers, UCLA’s win over Maryland also followed an NFL game – the NFC Wild Card Round game between the Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers on FOX, which averaged 28 million. As a result, the Bruins’ victory became one of the most-watched men’s college basketball games of the season.

Michigan vs. Michigan State

Date/Time: Jan. 30, 8 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
Viewers: 2.8 million

The rivalry tilt between Michigan and Michigan State became FOX’s most-watched College Basketball Friday game ever, the network said. An average of 2.8 million viewers tuned in for the storyline-filled showdown, which saw the Wolverines get the win before a raucous crowd at Breslin Center in East Lansing.

Arizona vs. Houston

Date/Time: Feb. 21, 3 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC
Viewers: 2.448 million

Part of a monster day of college basketball, No. 2 Houston welcomed No. 4 Arizona in a pivotal Big 12 showdown Feb. 21. The Wildcats ultimately came out on top in front of an average of 2.4 million viewers on ABC, which also stood as the network’s top men’s game of the year.

Kentucky vs. Arkansas

Date/Time: Jan. 31, 6:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Viewers: 2.39 million

After John Calipari took down his former team last year, Kentucky repaid the favor Jan. 31. The Wildcats beat Arkansas in Fayetteville as 2.4 million people watched on average, sitting just outside the Top 5 most-watched men’s college basketball games of the year.

More select college basketball TV ratings

Includes available data from network PR and Nielsen Big Data + Panel figures obtained by On3.

Michigan vs. Illinois (Feb. 27, 8 p.m. ET, FOX) – 2.16 million
BYU vs. Kansas (Jan. 31, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) – 2.11 million
Wisconsin vs. Michigan (Jan. 10, 1 p.m. ET, CBS) – 2.02 million
Indiana vs. Kentucky (Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) – 1.96 million
Houston vs. Kansas (Feb. 23, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN) – 1.95 million
Illinois vs. Michigan State (Feb. 7, 8 p.m. ET, FOX) – 1.945 million
Ohio State vs. Michigan (Jan. 23, 8 p.m. ET, FOX) – 1.90 million
Kansas vs. Duke (Nov. 18, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN) – 1.87 million
Kentucky vs. Auburn (Feb. 21, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) – 1.85 million
Kentucky vs. Florida (March 7, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) – 1.84 million
Michigan State vs. Indiana (March 1, 4 pm ET, CBS) – 1.83 million
Arizona vs. Kansas (Feb. 9, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN) – 1.82 million
Florida vs. Kentucky (Feb. 14, 3 p.m. ET, ABC) – 1.82 million
Tennessee vs. Kentucky (Feb. 7, 8:50 p.m. ET, ESPN) – 1.79 million
Duke vs. Michigan State (Dec. 6, Noon ET, FOX) – 1.782 million
Arizona vs. Kansas (Feb. 9, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN) – 1.780 million
Florida vs. Duke (Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) – 1.75 million

The college basketball regular season is officially in the books, but the sport will look to continue its TV ratings surge through March Madness. Selection Sunday is scheduled for March 15 with the First Four then starting March 17.