No. 2 Arizona basketball’s win over Michigan State in the Acrisure Classic on Thanksgiving drew an audience not seen in 15 years.
The Wildcats closed out the Spartans 74-68 in front of 5,183,000 viewers, the most-watched regular season game since North Carolina versus Duke in 2008. The game boasted the highest ratings for a college basketball contest ever played on FOX.
Arizona earned its second win over a ranked opponent (MSU was No. 21 before the loss) after it defeated Duke on the road in its second game.
FOX also aired the most-watched women’s CBB game of the season on Thursday with Tennessee versus Indiana, a 71-57 Hoosiers win.
🏀 @CBBonFOX served up a huge Thanksgiving Day
– Most-watched men’s & women’s CBB games ever on FOX@MSU_Basketball vs. @ArizonaMBB
– Most-watched regular season CBB game on any net since 2008@LadyVol_Hoops vs. @IndianaWBB
– Most-watched WCBB game on any net this season pic.twitter.com/CSAN9Os4TA— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) November 28, 2023
Thursday was a bigger day for sports ratings than usual, as evidenced by NFL viewership, as well.
The Green Bay Packers took down the Detroit Lions 29-22 on FOX before Arizona’s game tipped off, and the NFL’s Thanksgiving opener drew 33.7 million viewers. It was the most-watched early window football game on Turkey Day and a 6% increase from 2022.
The Dallas Cowboys’ win against the Washington Commanders on CBS, a 45-10 blowout, saw an audience of 41.4 million, the most-watched program since Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium.
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