The 2026 NCAA Tournament wrapped up its first weekend, and we are now down to the Sweet Sixteen. There were many incredible moments, with multiple last-second shots by teams.
Every year, fans get excited and hope the NCAA Tournament can live up to the hype that it is does, and every single year it delivers. The ratings for the first weekend are out, and to nobody’s surprise, the tournament delivered some record-breaking numbers.
Thursday’s games averaged 9.8 million viewers, which is the best opening day on record. That was up 6 % from the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The primetime record was even better, as it averaged 12.5 million viewers, which was also a record.
CBS Sports and TNT Sports Deliver the Most-Watched NCAA Tournament First Round Opening Day EverThursday’s games averaged 9.8 million viewers, the best opening day on recordPrimetime window averaged 12.5 million viewers, the most-watched First Round window ever pic.twitter.com/loEB0p4btd
— March Madness Men’s Basketball TV (@MM_MBB_TV) March 23, 2026College basketball fans have a few days off before the Sweet Sixteen games get started on Thursday. There will be a new national champion as the Iowa Hawkeyes knocked off the Florida Gators on a last-second shot on Sunday.
The first game on Thursday will be Texas against Purdue. The Longhorns had to start their run in the NCAA Tournament in the First Four, but they were able to rattle off three wins in five days to make it to the Sweet Sixteen.
If the ratings were that good during the first weekend, then there could be more records broken next weekend as well.
Which team will win it all? Kalshi is taking action on predictions!
Prediction Markets 2026 College Basketball Champion? Learn more about Prediction Markets Kalshi Arizona 22% Michigan 21% Duke 18% Houston 11% Purdue 7% Illinois 6% Iowa St. 5% UConn 4% Predict2026 NCAA Tournament opening round delivers record ratings for CBS Sports, TNT Sports Saturday Down South.
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