March Madness is as popular as it has been in decades.
Heading into this weekend’s Final Four, the NCAA Tournament is averaging 10.3 million television viewers across the four networks, TNT, TBS, CBS and TruTV, which is a number that’s up 9 percent from last year, according to Nielsen.
It’s the most-watched tournament since 1993 so far.
Sunday’s Elite Eight thriller between UConn and Duke in particular was a major hit.
That game peaked at nearly 19 million watchers and averaged 13.4 million, which was up 15 percent from last year’s tournament.
Friday’s early primetime St. Johns-Duke and Michigan-Alabama games also attracted a ton of eyeballs, with 14.2 million people tuning in, which was up 38 percent and the most watched in that window since 1992.
Every game over the weekend saw an increase in viewership over games in the same window last season.
Braylon Mullins celebrates with Malachi Smith of the UConn Huskies after shooting the game-winning 3-point basket during the second half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2026 in Washington, DC. Getty Images Audiences for the first two rounds of the tournament were also historic, breaking viewership records with an average of 10.1 million onlookers.
The Final Four will air on TNT, TBS and TruTV on Saturday.
Illinois will take on UConn in the first game at Lucas Oil Stadium, with Michigan-Arizona following.
Aday Mara of the Michigan Wolverines dunks the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images The national championship game, which takes place on Monday, will also be on those networks.
The wild audience numbers come despite a second straight year with a severe lack of upsets and Cinderellas.
No team seeded lower than 12th advanced during the first round of the tournament, and the Sweet 16 consisted only of power-conference teams for the second straight year.
Betting favorites went 39-9 outright in the first two rounds, which was the fewest upsets in the first week of the tournament since 2018.
