Historical NCAA Men’s Final Four ratings and viewership, with figures for the national championship dating back to 1975 and the national semifinals dating back to 1997.
The 2015 Duke-Wisconsin national championship ranks as the highest rated college basketball game since 1999 and the most-watched since 1997 (16.0, 28.3M). The all-time record highs are a 24.1 rating and 35.1 million viewers for Michigan State-Indiana State on NBC in 1979.
Men’s Final Four Ratings History
All Turner games are TBS/TNT/TruTV simulcasts
Parentheses indicate that numbers include additional streaming viewing not tracked by Nielsen
2024
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
UConn – Purdue |
7.6 |
14.823M |
Turner |
| Late semi. |
UConn – Alabama |
6.7 |
14.117M |
Turner |
| Early semi. |
Purdue – NC State |
5.3 |
11.446M |
Turner |
2023
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
UConn – San Diego State |
7.8 |
14.694M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
UConn – Miami |
6.4 |
12.855M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
San Diego State – Florida Atlantic |
6.0 |
11.898M |
CBS |
2022
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Late semi. |
UNC – Duke |
8.6 |
17.663M
(18.5M) |
Turner |
| Champ. |
Kansas – UNC |
9.1 |
17.052M
(18.1M) |
Turner |
| Early semi. |
Kansas – Villanova |
5.75 |
11.701M |
Turner |
2021
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Baylor – Gonzaga |
9.4 |
17.081M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
Gonzaga – UCLA |
7.6 |
15.390M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Baylor – Houston |
4.4 |
8.357M |
CBS |
2019
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Virginia – Texas Tech |
11.6 |
19.630M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
Texas Tech – Michigan State |
9.1 |
15.840M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Virginia – Auburn |
7.6 |
12.967M |
CBS |
2018
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Villanova – Michigan |
9.2 |
15.967M
(16.5M) |
Turner |
| Early semi. |
Michigan – Loyola (IL) |
7.2 |
13.150M
(13.4M) |
Turner |
| Late semi. |
Villanova – Kansas |
6.8 |
13.092M
(13.3M) |
Turner |
2017
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
UNC – Gonzaga |
13.2 |
22.998M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
UNC – Oregon |
10.4 |
18.825M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Gonzaga – South Carolina |
8.5 |
14.683M |
CBS |
2016
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Villanova – UNC |
10.6 |
17.752M |
Turner |
| Late semi. |
UNC – Syracuse |
7.3 |
12.939M |
Turner |
| Early semi. |
Villanova – Oklahoma |
6.1 |
10.451M |
Turner |
2015
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Duke – Wisconsin |
16.0 |
28.263M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
Wisconsin – Kentucky |
12.4 |
22.626M |
Turner |
| Early semi. |
Duke – Michigan State |
8.7 |
15.307M |
Turner |
2014
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
UConn – Kentucky |
12.4 |
21.196M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
Kentucky – Wisconsin |
9.2 |
16.250M |
Turner |
| Early semi. |
UConn – Florida |
6.9 |
11.654M |
Turner |
2013
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Louisville – Michigan |
14.0 |
23.426M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
Syracuse – Michigan |
10.2 |
17.104M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Louisville – Wichita State |
8.7 |
14.469M |
CBS |
2012
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Kentucky – Kansas |
12.3 |
20.869M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
Kansas – Ohio State |
9.6 |
16.603M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Kentucky – Louisville |
8.4 |
13.908M |
CBS |
2011
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
UConn – Butler |
11.7 |
20.055M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
UConn – Kentucky |
9.5 |
16.715M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Butler – VCU |
8.3 |
14.189M |
CBS |
2010
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Duke – Butler |
14.2 |
23.944M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
Duke – West Virginia |
9.2 |
15.823M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Butler – Michigan State |
8.6 |
14.460M |
CBS |
2009
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
UNC – Michigan State |
10.8 |
17.649M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
UNC – Villanova |
8.5 |
14.454M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Michigan State – UConn |
7.8 |
12.583M |
CBS |
2008
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Kansas – Memphis |
12.1 |
19.501M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
Kansas – UNC |
8.8 |
14.435M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Memphis – UCLA |
7.2 |
11.770M |
CBS |
2007
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Florida – Ohio State |
12.2 |
19.563M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
Florida – UCLA |
8.9 |
14.371M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Ohio State – Georgetown |
8.4 |
13.229M |
CBS |
2006
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Florida – UCLA |
11.2 |
17.543M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Florida – George Mason |
9.1 |
14.492M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
UCLA – LSU |
8.2 |
13.145M |
CBS |
2005
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
UNC – Illinois |
15.0 |
23.895M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
UNC – Michigan State |
10.9 |
17.548M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Illnois – Louisville |
10.0 |
15.657M |
CBS |
2004
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
UConn – Georgia Tech |
11.0 |
17.088M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
UConn – Duke |
10.5 |
16.736M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Georgia Tech – Oklahoma State |
8.3 |
12.944M |
CBS |
2003
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Syracuse – Kansas |
12.6 |
18.573M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
Syracuse – Texas |
7.9 |
12.571M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Kansas – Marquette |
6.3 |
9.897M |
CBS |
2002
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Maryland – Indiana |
15.0 |
23.686M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
Maryland – Kansas |
11.3 |
18.466M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Indiana – Oklahoma |
9.4 |
14.422M |
CBS |
2001
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Duke – Arizona |
15.6 |
23.970M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
Duke – Maryland |
11.6 |
18.323M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Arizona – Michigan State |
9.1 |
13.202M |
CBS |
2000
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Michigan State – Florida |
14.1 |
20.587M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
Florida – UNC |
10.2 |
15.245M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Michigan State – Wisconsin |
8.8 |
12.643M |
CBS |
1999
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
UConn – Duke |
17.2 |
26.304M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
Duke – Michigan State |
10.9 |
16.990M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
UConn – Ohio State |
9.2 |
13.646M |
CBS |
1998
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Kentucky – Utah |
17.8 |
26.601M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
Utah – UNC |
12.7 |
19.403M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Kentucky – Stanford |
10.8 |
15.000M |
CBS |
1997
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Arizona – Kentucky |
18.9 |
28.364M |
CBS |
| Late semi. |
Kentucky – Minnesota |
12.5 |
19.324M |
CBS |
| Early semi. |
Arizona – UNC |
9.9 |
14.090M |
CBS |
1996
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Kentucky – Syracuse |
18.3 |
26.670M |
CBS |
1995
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
UCLA – Arkansas |
19.3 |
27.405M |
CBS |
1994
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Arkansas – Duke |
21.6 |
32.733M |
CBS |
1993
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
UNC – Michigan |
22.2 |
32.941M |
CBS |
1992
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Duke – Michigan |
22.7 |
34.310M |
CBS |
1991
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Duke – Kansas |
19.4 |
29.020M |
CBS |
1990
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
UNLV – Duke |
20.0 |
29.260M |
CBS |
1989
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Michigan – Seton Hall |
21.3 |
31.120M |
CBS |
1988
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Kansas – Oklahoma |
18.8 |
26.690M |
CBS |
1987
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Indiana – Syracuse |
23.1 |
32.060M |
CBS |
1986
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Louisville – Duke |
20.7 |
28.710M |
CBS |
1985
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Villanova – Georgetown |
23.3 |
31.230M |
CBS |
1984
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Georgetown – Houston |
19.7 |
25.140M |
CBS |
1983
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
N.C. State – Houston |
22.3 |
32.140M |
CBS |
1982
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
UNC – Georgetown |
21.6 |
30.589M |
CBS |
1981
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Indiana – UNC |
20.7 |
29.060M |
NBC |
1980
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Louisville – UCLA |
19.8 |
n.a. |
NBC |
1979
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Michigan State – Indiana State |
24.1 |
35.110M |
NBC |
1978
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Kentucky – Duke |
19.9 |
25.378M |
NBC |
1977
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Marquette – UNC |
19.3 |
26.400M |
NBC |
1976
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
Indiana – Michigan |
20.4 |
26.710M |
NBC |
1975
| Window |
Game |
Rtg. |
Vwrs |
Net(s) |
| Champ. |
UCLA – Kentucky |
21.3 |
30.085M |
NBC |
Is the number in parentheses ttl viewers across all devices?
Yes — includes additional streaming data not tracked by Nielsen.
Do you have the final numbers for the 2019 championship game yet?
Just added. Had forgotten to update this page.
The 2014 late semifinal game(Kentucky-Wisconsin) had a bit more viewership(16.3 million) than the 2018 National Championship Game(Villanova-Michigan) which had 16 million viewers. Both games were on cable only and not on CBS. Not a good stat in terms of viewership for the 2018 National Championship Game.
I just think Michigan was way overmatched by Villanova maybe not to the level that Duke was way over-matched by UNLV in the 1990 National Championship Game. I would say Michigan was overmatched the way Georgia Tech was overmatched by Connecticut in the 2004 National Championship Game. That 2004 Connecticut team was a great team.
Michigan was ‘way overmatched?” Really, Did you WATCH the game? Michigan never was ‘way overmatched’ in any game during the tournament. That is how they got to the title game in the first place.
I just noticed some interesting facts on this chart: The 2015 National Championship Game between Duke and Wisconsin had the highest viewership(28.3 million) since the 1997 National Championship between Arizona and Kentucky(28.4 million.)
Also I was wondering if that was a typo that the 2015 Late National Semifinal Game between Kentucky and Wisconsin only aired on TNT, TruTV, and TBS and not CBS? If in fact the game only aired on cable the 12.4 TV rating is high and is comparable to the 1997 Late National Semifinal game between Kentucky and Minnesota which had a 12.5 and the 1998 Late National Semifinal Game between North Carolina and Utah which had a 12.7.
Not a typo — remember Kentucky was going for an undefeated season that year. Was big enough story to overcome airing on cable.