March Madness 2026 is Most-Viewed Since 1993, How Many Fans Watched Duke-UConn Thriller?

The 2026 NCAA tournament has continued to draw a large audience.

This year's March Madness is averaging 10.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched tournament since 1993.

UConn's thrilling comeback victory over Duke in the Elite Eight peaked with 18.9 million viewers and averaged 13.4 million viewers, representing a 15 percent increase compared to 2025.

The Blue Devils led by as many as 19 points in the game and held a 17-point advantage during the second half, but the Huskies stormed back to cut the deficit to two points with just under 10 seconds remaining in the contest.

After Duke inbounded the ball, Huskies guard Silas Demary Jr. forced a turnover by Blue Devils guard Cayden Boozer before UConn freshman Braylon Mullins hit a deep three-pointer to give his team the win.

The Huskies will now face Illinois in the Final Four, as the Fighting Illini advanced beyond the Elite Eight with a 71-59 win over Iowa.

Illinois is making its first Final Four appearance since 2005.

On the other side of the bracket, Arizona will play against Michigan with a trip to the national championship game on the line.

The two schools enter the matchup with plenty of momentum, as they both won each of their previous four March Madness games by double digits.

The pair of Final Four matchups are set to take place on Saturday.