Heading into the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, TV ratings continue to rise, CBS Sports and TNT Sports said. The Sweet 16 and Elite 8 also delivered for the networks.

Through the first two weekends of March Madness, viewership is up 9% and on track to be the most-watched tournament since 1993. Of course, part of that increase can be attributed to Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel measurement, which debuted last fall. But CBS and TNT Sports are still getting big TV ratings wins as part of a strong year for college basketball.

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Now, the stage is set for the Final Four this weekend in Indianapolis. Here are the most-watched Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games for the 2026 NCAA Tournament, per college basketball TV ratings data obtained by On3. TruTV figures are via Programming Insider and Awful Announcing’s Manny Soloway.

Elite 8: UConn vs. Duke

Date/Time: March 29, 5:05 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Viewers: 13.427 million

An average of 13.4 million viewers tuned to CBS as UConn rallied from 19 points down to defeat Duke and punch its ticket to the Final Four. That includes a peak of 18.9 million viewers, CBS and TNT previously announced, as Alex Karaban found Braylon Mullins for the game-winning shot with 0.4 second left. It then became the most-watched game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament so far.

Elite 8: Purdue vs. Arizona

Date/Time: March 28, 8:49 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS + truTV
Viewers: 10.143 million

Through the first half of Saturday’s primetime Sweet 16 game, Purdue had an upset on its mind as the Boilermakers took a halftime lead against Arizona. But the Wildcats flipped the script out of the break, outscoring Purdue 48-26 in the second half. As a result, Arizona is off to its first Final Four in 25 years.

Sweet 16: St. John’s vs. Duke

Date/Time: March 27, 7:10 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Viewers: 9.371 million

Caleb Foster’s return came at the perfect time for Duke in the Sweet 16 matchup against St. John’s. Foster and Patrick Ngongba made key plays down the stretch to help the Blue Devils take down the Red Storm and advance to the Elite 8.

Sweet 16: Texas vs. Purdue

Date/Time: March 26, 7:10 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Viewers: 8.352 million

One of a number of close games in the Sweet 16, Texas tied Purdue with 11.7 seconds left as the Longhorns looked to continue a run that began in the First Four. But Trey Kaufman-Renn got the game-winning putback as time expired to propel the Boilermakers into the Elite 8 with the 79-77 win.

Elite 8: Iowa vs. Illinois

Date/Time: March 28, 6:09 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS + truTV
Viewers: 8.237 million

For the first time in 20 years, Illinois is heading to the Final Four. The Fighting Illini bounced back from a 12-2 hole to start Saturday’s game against Iowa and took total control en route to the victory. Across both TBS and truTV, an average of more than 8.2 million people tuned in for the matchup.

Elite 8: Tennessee vs. Michigan

Date/Time: March 29, 2:15 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Viewers: 7.493 million

Early in Sunday’s opener, it looked like Tennessee was going to make things interesting against Michigan. But a 21-0 Wolverines run put UM in total control en route to a blowout victory over the Volunteers in Chicago to secure a spot in the Final Four.

Sweet 16: Michigan State vs. UConn

Date/Time: March 27, 9:45 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Viewers: 7.337 million

A battle between two storied programs got interesting down the stretch as Michigan State rallied to keep things close against UConn. But Tarris Reed and Alex Karaban came through and helped the Huskies keep their season alive with the victory.

Sweet 16: Arkansas vs. Arizona

Date/Time: March 26, 9:45 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Viewers: 5.525 million

In the Sweet 16, Arizona took complete control early against Arkansas and did not look back en route to the resounding 109-88 victory. Brayden Burries and Koa Peat led the charge for the Wildcats as part of a complete performance.

Sweet 16: Alabama vs. Michigan

Date/Time: March 27, 7:35 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS + truTV
Viewers: 4.833 million

After Alabama took a lead into halftime against Michigan, the Wolverines got on track with a dominant showing after the break. A Crimson Tide scoring drought opened the door for UM to capitalize and punch its ticket to the Elite 8.

Sweet 16: Iowa vs. Nebraska

Date/Time: March 26, 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS + truTV
Viewers: 3.536 million

A storied rivalry took a big stage as Iowa and Nebraska squared off in the Sweet 16. Nebraska led for more than 32 minutes in the matchup, but the Hawkeyes used a late surge to get the victory and continue an impressive run under first-year coach Ben McCollum.

Sweet 16: Illinois vs. Houston

Date/Time: March 26, 10:05 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS
Viewers: 2.518 million

As Houston played in front of a de facto home crowd in the Sweet 16, the Cougars struggled mightily against Illinois in the early going. UH made a late charge, but it wasn’t enough. The Fighting Illini defeated 2-seeded Houston to advance to the Elite 8.

Sweet 16: Tennessee vs. Iowa State

Date/Time: March 27, 10:10 p.m. ET
Channel: TBS
Viewers: 2.757 million

Billed as a physical matchup, Tennessee and Iowa State lived up to the billing in the Sweet 16. The Vols then got into the driver’s seat with a 20-8 run to start the second half and cashed in on 10 missed free throws from the Cyclones to get the 76-62 win.

With the Final Four on the horizon, college basketball will look to finish with more strong TV ratings. Games get underway Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.