Florida-Houston national title nailbiter tops 18 million mark

Apr 7, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Houston Cougars guard Emanuel Sharp (21) loses the ball as he attempts to shoot against Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) in the second half in the national championship game of the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

The college basketball season ended on a strong note on the court — and in the ratings — as a compelling national championship delivered for CBS.

Monday’s Florida-Houston NCAA men’s basketball national championship averaged a 9.2 rating and 18.1 million viewers on CBS, marking the highest rated men’s college basketball game since the 2021 national title game (Baylor-Gonzaga: 9.4) and the most-watched since the 2019 edition (Virginia-Texas Tech: 19.4M).

The previous highs were set in the 2022 Final Four, a 9.1 rating for the Kansas-North Carolina title game and 17.7 million viewers for the Duke-North Carolina semifinal. (As Nielsen out-of-home viewing covered fewer markets in 2022, it is possible that Duke-UNC would still hold the top spot all things being equal.)

The Gators’ narrow win, which peaked with 21.1 million, delivered the third-largest basketball audience of any kind in the past five years — behind only last year’s South Carolina-Iowa women’s national title game (18.9M) and last year’s United States-France men’s Olympic gold medal game (20.3M across Nielsen and Adobe Analytics).

Ratings increased 21% and viewership 22% from UConn-Purdue on the TNT networks last season (7.6, 14.8M). Compared to the previous title game on CBS, UConn-San Diego State two years ago, this year’s game increased 18 and 23% respectively from a 7.8 and 14.7 million.

The full, three-game NCAA Men’s Final Four averaged 16.4 million viewers, up 21% from last year and the highest since 2017. The full NCAA men’s basketball tournament averaged a combined 10.2 million viewers per window across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV (+3%).

There was concern throughout the NCAA men’s tournament that a lack of upsets and Cinderella teams would sap interest in the event, and the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight did nothing to quell those notions — as a run of blowouts resulted in viewership that was mixed at best. But the Final Four, consisting solely of #1 seeds for just the second time, produced three compelling, tightly contested games, and viewers apparently responded.

It should be noted that while both Florida and Houston are major conference #1 seeds with long histories of contention, neither is a traditional ‘blueblood’ along the lines of a Duke or Kentucky. It may be the case that the biggest factor driving tournament viewership is neither the Cinderellas nor the bluebloods, but high-quality games played by the best teams throughout the season.

Tags: Big 12 TV Ratings Florida TV Ratings Houston Cougars ratings March Madness Ratings NCAA Tournament on CBS/Turner SEC TV Ratings

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Jon Lewis

Jon Lewis has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis since 2006 as the founder and main writer of Sports Media Watch. You can contact him here or on the social media websites X (Twitter) or Bluesky.

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Comments 8

Jeff Roberts says:

1 year ago

Enjoyed the entire tournament very much; I found it very entertaining
KB says:

1 year ago

Now that’s surprising. There was no indication from either team to expect 18 million from a fairly average and disappointing matchup(Duke losing). The out of home and being on CBS instead of cable has to be inflating by 2-3 million.
JEAN H PIERRE says:

1 year ago

While the game was a hard watch in terms of the style of basketball they were playing it was still entertaining and a great number. When you have games on broadcast television versus cable there’s a big difference. Would the game have gotten the same number on TBS maybe but again as you say Dr Lewis got to factor in out of home viewing.
Rando says:

1 year ago

The last 3 games were good. I guess from now on I’ll just watch the last weekend. The magic of the tournament is dead, and I don’t see it coming back.
Nate Johnson says:

1 year ago

This did wrap up the last year of the March Madness media deal where TNT Sports have NBA rights. That leaves a lot of question for next season and who from TNT Sport will representative them in the Madness. Brian Anderson and Grant Hill both staying with TNT Sports is very significant. Then that’s where it gets very uncertain. Here’s how I think it should go.

Stan Van Gundy: Tremendous in-game analyst. I believe it’s Amazon or bust at this point.* I think it would be challenging for him to get part of March off. I would be surprised if NBA on Amazon goes dark on Thursdays during the Madness. Sure he could work it in his deal to have those Thursdays off and see if he can get leased from the Madness. I hope he returns, not sure how likely that is.

Jim Jackson: Another terrific in-game analyst. I do have my questions on him calling National NBA games next season. I do believe for sure he wants to maintain calling College Hoops on FOX. He’s does in game analysis for the LA Clippers which would keep in attached to the NBA assuming he doesn’t get a National assignment. Maybe it’s possible he could call Big East/Big 12 games on TNT Sports to replace his NBA on TNT assignments. I’m unsure of that, who knows. He may have to be leased to do the Madness.

Brendan Haywood and Steve Smith can be replaced sweat-less. I don’t mean that in a negative way or them under-performing. I mean this in terms of where they are in the depth chart and not having a strong belief they have leverage and backing to upgrade from where they are. I do believe Haywood has developed really well of late. I honestly hope he returns, but it’s tough to imagine it in these circumstances.

Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith- I noticed that those 3 enjoys the Madness, especially in the 2nd weekend to One shining moment. First weekend is challenging. 64 teams in first 2 days. Full Saturday and Sunday action. I know they worked through lowering the work load for those 3 in recent times (pre-recorded sessions; more Adam Zucker and Wally Szczerbiak). It seems like in the 2nd weekend, they’re refreshed and Barkley is more sharper. Kellogg will always be the captain. Jay Wright helps them out a lot from the Elite 8 to the end. I credit Smith for giving his best while not following the College game like he does with the NBA. Johnson replacing Greg Gumbel as the alpha studio host has gone well. It’s hard to think that a multi-Emmy award winning studio host in Ernie Johnson pales to Greg Gumbel which shows how strong and valuable Gumbel was to the Madness. I do believe though that Johnson gives that studio team credibility and I believe if he wants to continue to do the Madness, he should and I believe he will. I do believe that Smith and Barkley will continue to do the Madness however long Johnson wants to continue doing so. I won’t be surprised though if in their contract they have a year to year opt-out clause on covering March Madness. Those two have it where they can make decisions on what’s best for them personally and their career. I can’t see the trio branching off though. I don’t see how their value can quickly be replaced as well. I expect them to return next March.

Final point, if SVG and Jackson does not return, I believe they should promote Robbie Hummel to either Brian Anderson or Kevin Harlan (with Dan Bonner) team. If Hummel goes to Anderson then I don’t see a need to add in another analyst to the 2nd weekend (Keep Harlan and Bonner as a duo). If Hummel goes to Harlan and Bonner, I believe they would have to look at Jay Wright from the studio to team with Anderson. I wish they could look to bring Jay Bilas in from ESPN, but I don’t see that process being simple at all.

*NBC has shown who they want as their top in-game analyst. After that would have to be an up and coming in-game analyst and that’s not SVG. ESPN/ABC? After how things went with his younger brother and that network, I don’t see it being possible. Amazon seems to make the most sense for him to have a weekly in-game analyst assignment.
Nate Johnson says:

1 year ago

Great ending sentence about how its about high quality game from the best teams throughout the year. Going back to 2008 when it was the last time four 1-seeds were in the Final Four, there were 3 bluebloods (Kansas, Carolina, and UCLA). The other 1-seed was the most appealing team of College Hoops all throughout that season in the Memphis Tigers. From those 4 teams, UCLA, Memphis, and Carolina all carried strong storylines. Could the third be the charm for UCLA? Will Calipari finally win a National Championship, this time led by a freshman phenom? Is this the year Tyler Hansbrough and the Tar Heels finish it through?

Jayhawks of Kansas of course finished the deal and in one of the most memorable moments in College Hoops history. The 2 Final Four games were not something to carry home, but the point I’m making is that in 2008 it was carried strong storylines. There were familiar names of players from all of the participants. Coaches from all 4 teams brought in storylines with 3 of them coming in having no championship on their resume at that point. The combination of such carried genuine strong storylines all prior to the Social Media.

This past weekend, strong storylines was not there. It’ll be very tough for that to ever comeback in Men’s College Hoops. First it was one and dones taking strong names away from the sport for multiple seasons. Then in came the Transfer Portal that created instability of teams on a season to season base. What was necessary, in this year’s Final Four, was wanting strong competition from 4 of the best teams all season long. It delivered. It was important that it happened on CBS which maxes out the audience more than TBS, bringing the elephant in the room on even years. On top of that, Ian Eagle stood out really well. Either he or Kevin Harlan are the two best basketball voices right now. I understand Jim Nantz is favorite to a lot of people, but Eagle does not make me miss Nantz in the Madness or Final Four at all. That’s how you know when you have a terrific replacement.

Glad all ended on a strong note of this year’s Madness. For this to occur in 2025, which is far different than 2008, is very impressive.
Jtk1 says:

1 year ago

I thoroughly enjoyed this year’s tournament. That said, I am glad that CBS got fantastic ratings for both the final 4 and championship game. Well like I said, it does help when you have all four number 1 seeds make it, so hats off to the committee back on Selection Sunday. That said, all three games this weekend were competitive. Also I haven’t heard much comment about the other tournaments. But to me, the crown, was exciting, I hope it stays, an overtime in their final 4, plus a close final. The NIT had great games, including their final 4 and final game, and even the CBI was close, it was nice seeing Joe Lunardi doing color in those games. So all told, it was a great college basketball season and tournament.
ESL says:

1 year ago

Terrific numbers. Never expected viewership for the championship game could reach 18 million without Duke. The Final Four and championship games made up for a very lackluster tournament overall.