CBS Sports, TNT Sports set viewership record in most-watched Men's NCAA Tournament through Saturday
After a hot start through the first round, the NCAA Tournament continues to bring in record viewership numbers.
Saturday’s second-round games averaged 10.8 million viewers across CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV, CBS Sports and TNT Sports announced. That made it the most watched first day of the Round of 32 in March Madness history as the ratings success carried over from the Round of 64.
With Saturday’s numbers in, the NCAA Tournament is averaging 9 million viewers – the most through the first three days. More than 8 million people tuned in for the first two days, which set a new record for the traditional format which began in 2011. That included the most-watched first round game since 2019 as No. 14 seed Oakland took down Kentucky.
Jack Gohlke and Golden Grizzlies then looked to continue their Cinderella run during Saturday’s second round. However, that journey came to an end after quite the battle.
Oakland went to overtime against No. 11 NC State, but the Golden Grizzlies came up short in their bid for the Sweet Sixteen in a 79-73 loss to the Wolfpack. They will take on Marquette this weekend after the Golden Eagles outlasted a hot-shooting Colorado team in the first game of Sunday’s action.
Second round started with plenty of excitement
Oakland’s loss to NC State wasn’t the only excitement from Saturday, though.
Later in the day, Tennessee and Texas also went down to the wire. The Vols led by 12 points with 12 minutes to go, but the Longhorns battled back to get within two. Ultimately, though, Rick Barnes’ group held on to defeat his former program and advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament – with the winner of Oregon vs. Creighton awaiting.
The Dana Altman Bowl turned into an instant classic. Neither Oregon nor Creighton had a double-digit lead during regulation, and the game went to overtime. As if one wasn’t enough, it eventually headed to double-overtime after a wild shot from Jermaine Couisnard fell. In the end, the Ducks seemed to run out of gas, and the Bluejays ended up with the 86-73 victory after a dominant stretch in 2OT.