Kentucky vs. Illinois was Sunday's highest-rated game in most-watched NCAA Tournament in 32 years

Koby Brea celebrates Kentucky's win over Illinois in the NCAA Tournament - Mont Dawson, Kentucky Sports Radio

Kentucky Basketball remains the needle. The ratings are out for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky vs. Illinois was the highest-rated game on Sunday, ahead of Duke vs. Baylor. Sunday’s games averaged 10.1 million viewers, up 13% from last year. Kentucky vs. Troy was the highest-rated game on Friday, averaging 3.86 million viewers on CBS.

Add in Thursday, Friday, and Saturday’s games and the tournament is averaging 9.4 million viewers, making it the most watched in 32 years. People like to complain about the transfer portal and NIL, but even with fewer upsets so far in this tournament, they’re still watching. The reports of college basketball’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.

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TNT Sports and CBS Sports are Delivering the NCAA Tournament's Best Viewership Since 1993, Averaging 9.4 Million Viewers Through the Second Round pic.twitter.com/mOfcKtg7wC
— March Madness Men’s Basketball TV (@MM_MBB_TV) March 25, 2025

The fun picks back up in just two days with the Sweet 16. We have to wait until Friday night to see the Cats play, but there are plenty of good games to keep us entertained, including Arkansas vs. Texas Tech late Thursday night.

Sweet 16 Tip Times

Thursday, March 27

Time (ET)	Game	TV	Region
7:09 p.m.	(6) BYU vs. (2) Alabama Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce	CBS	East (Newark)
7:39 p.m.	(4) Maryland vs. (1) Florida Kevin Harlan / Dan Bonner / Stan Van Gundy // Lauren Shehadi	TBS	West (San Francisco)
9:39 p.m.	(4) Arizona vs. (1) Duke Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce	CBS	East (Newark)
10:09 p.m.	(10) Arkansas vs. (3) Texas Tech Kevin Harlan / Dan Bonner / Stan Van Gundy // Lauren Shehadi	TBS	West (San Francisco)

Friday, March 28

Time (ET)	Game	TV	Region
7:09 p.m.	(6) Ole Miss vs. (2) Michigan State Ian Eagle / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson	CBS	South (Atlanta)
7:39 p.m.	(3) Kentucky vs. (2) Tennessee Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Evan Washburn	TBS	Midwest (Indianapolis)
9:39 p.m.	(5) Michigan vs. (1) Auburn Ian Eagle / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson	CBS	South (Atlanta)
10:09 p.m.	(4) Purdue vs. (1) Houston Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Evan Washburn	TBS	Midwest (Indianapolis)

If you really want to plan ahead, here are the TV windows for the Elite Eight and Final Four. The order of the Elite Eight games has not been finalized.

Elite Eight

Saturday, March 29 — 6:09 p.m. start (TBS) – Order TBD
East Region — Prudential Center (Newark), West Region — Chase Center (San Francisco)

Sunday, March 30 — 2:20 p.m. start (CBS) – Order TBD
South Region — State Farm Arena (Atlanta), Midwest Region — Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)