As 2026 creeps closer, college basketball fans are buzzing with anticipation for conference play. The early part of the men’s season already delivered some big TV moments—no surprise, really, with a few headline matchups in the mix.
Nielsen just put out its Top 10 most-watched teams of the year. The usual suspects are up there, with Michigan State and Arkansas leading the charge. These rankings pull from major networks like CBS, ESPN, and FOX. Let’s dig into which teams grabbed the spotlight through December 22, 2025.
Michigan State Leads the Pack
Michigan State tops the list for TV viewership so far, according to Nielsen. The Spartans played in several high-profile games to kick off the season, including a Thanksgiving showdown that drew big numbers.
MSU’s win over North Carolina pulled in 6.499 million viewers on FOX, making it the network’s most-watched college basketball game ever after an NFL lead-in. Even with a non-conference loss to Duke, the Spartans are heading into Big Ten play with a solid 9-3 record. Not bad at all.
Arkansas Razorbacks: A Rising Force
Arkansas, also sitting at 9-3 before their non-conference finale, is making some noise in the SEC. The Razorbacks were part of that wild Thanksgiving slate, falling to Duke in what turned out to be the most-watched game of the season so far—6.8 million viewers tuned in.
They’ve got two big wins under their belt, including a nail-biter against Louisville. Freshman Darius Acuff has been a revelation, leading Arkansas in both scoring and assists. He’s really giving fans something to talk about.
Duke Continues to Shine
Duke, led by freshman Cameron Boozer, is still very much in the national conversation. The Blue Devils are the third-most watched team this year, per Nielsen.
They’ve played in four games with at least 1.7 million viewers, including that Thanksgiving classic against Arkansas seen by 6.8 million viewers. Boozer is everywhere—points, rebounds, assists, steals. Duke did drop their first game to Texas Tech on December 20, but now it’s all eyes on conference play.
North Carolina’s Strong Start
This season is huge for head coach Hubert Davis, and North Carolina hasn’t disappointed. They’ve started 12-1, with their only loss coming against Michigan State on Thanksgiving—the second-most watched game so far.
The Tar Heels are fourth in viewership, including a win over Ohio State that drew 1.5 million viewers on CBS. Freshman Caleb Wilson has stepped up, leading UNC in several key categories.
Kentucky Wildcats: A Top Draw
It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster for Kentucky, but they’re still a huge TV draw. The Wildcats come in fifth on Nielsen’s list as of December 22, heading into SEC play with some momentum.
Mark Pope’s squad closed out non-conference play with four straight wins, including victories over Indiana and St. John’s. Those games averaged 1.96 million and 1.05 million viewers, respectively. Kentucky fans always show up, don’t they?
Kansas Jayhawks: A Strong Start
Kansas kicked off the 2025-26 season with a 10-3 record, even while star freshman Darryn Peterson battled injuries. The Jayhawks have won four straight heading into January.
Their matchup with Duke pulled in 1.87 million viewers on ESPN. Kansas is the sixth-most watched team through December 22 and looks set to draw even more eyes as Big 12 play heats up.
Louisville Cardinals: Red-Hot Start
Louisville came out swinging under Pat Kelsey, winning eight straight to open the season—including a rivalry win over Kentucky. The Cardinals are 10-2 heading into conference play.
They’re the seventh-most watched team so far, per Nielsen. Guard Ryan Conwell is leading with 19.2 points per game, and freshman Mikel Brown Jr. is making waves with 16.6 points and a team-best 5.1 assists per game.
Indiana Hoosiers: A New Era
Indiana’s new head coach, Darian DeVries, has sparked some energy. The Hoosiers rattled off seven wins to start the year and are eighth in viewership.
They notched non-conference wins over Marquette and Kansas State before splitting their first two Big Ten games. Next up: a conference showdown with Washington on January 4. Could be interesting.
UConn Huskies: Fast Start
After last year’s early NCAA Tournament exit, UConn wasted no time getting back on track. The Huskies are 12-1, with two Big East wins already in the bag.
That puts them ninth in viewership through December 22. Wins over BYU, Illinois, Kansas, and reigning champ Florida stand out. Their only loss? A thriller against Arizona. Solo Ball and company are off to an impressive start.
Purdue Boilermakers: Dominant Performance
Purdue’s been rolling through December. They round out the Top 10 most-watched teams so far.
The Boilermakers have racked up wins against Alabama, Texas Tech, and Auburn, starting 11-1. Only Iowa State tripped them up, but Purdue’s balanced attack looks ready for Big Ten play. Let’s see if they keep this up.
The Road Ahead
Conference play is almost here, and college basketball is finally shifting into high gear. The road to the Final Four? It’s about to get interesting as teams fight for position in their conferences.
Curious about which squads are drawing the most eyeballs? For deeper TV ratings and nerdy details, you can check out On3’s tracking page.
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