Given the 23-21 halftime score, it should be no surprise that Texas Tech-Michigan State neared a ratings low.
Saturday’s Texas Tech-Michigan State NCAA Tournament national semifinal earned a 9.1 rating and 15.84 million viewers on CBS, up 32% in ratings and 21% in viewership from last year on TBS, TNT and TruTV (Villanova-Kansas: 6.8, 13.09M), but down 13% and 16% respectively from 2017 on CBS (North Carolina-Oregon: 10.4, 18.83M).
Ratings and viewership were the third-lowest for the late semifinal since 2009 (UNC-Villanova: 8.5) and 2010 (Duke-West Virginia: 15.82M), respectively. Villanova-Kansas last year and UNC-Syracuse in 2016 (7.3, 12.94M), both of which aired on cable, hold the bottom two spots.
For the tournament, the game is certain to finish third behind the Michigan State-Duke regional final (9.4, 16.20M) and the Virginia-Texas Tech national championship. Final nationals for the title game were not yet available, but it had a 12.4 overnight rating.
Compared to other sports, the Red Raiders’ upset win was no match for either game of the College Football Playoff semifinal. The Clemson-Notre Dame Orange Bowl was closest with a 9.4 and 16.8 million.
In adults 18-49, the game had a 4.0 rating — up a tick from last year (3.9) but down 27% from 2017 (5.5). Ratings in adults 18-34 were unchanged from last year (3.1) and down 31% from 2017 (4.5).
[Numbers from Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 4.9]
