While North Carolina’s inclusion in the NCAA Tournament sparked controversy, it was clear that the Tar Heels would draw significant viewership. Recent reports confirm this, with Front Office Sports sharing the viewership data from North Carolina’s First Four victory over San Diego State on Tuesday night. “UNC-San Diego State averaged 2.2 million viewers—up 26% from last year’s late Tuesday night slot,” the Front Office Sports post on X (formerly Twitter) noted. Additionally, “TruTV’s 3.6 million combined viewers Tuesday total is up 21% from 2024.”
UNC-San Diego State averaged 2.2 million viewers—up 26% from last year’s late Tuesday night slot.
TruTV’s 3.6 million combined viewers Tuesday total is up 21% from 2024. pic.twitter.com/iefr25LpHF
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) March 20, 2025
For context, the 2024 matchup in this slot also featured an MWC vs. ACC contest that ended in a blowout, with Colorado State defeating Virginia 67-42. In contrast, North Carolina dominated San Diego State this year, winning 95-68. One of the concerns raised regarding the Tar Heels’ tournament inclusion was that it stemmed more from brand recognition than true merit. Despite being one of the most renowned college basketball teams in the nation, North Carolina’s resume—especially its 1-12 record in Quad 1—was, to put it lightly, questionable. Nevertheless, their decisive victory over the Aztecs silenced critics for at least a day.
The Tar Heels are set to return to the court on Friday afternoon for a South Region first-round matchup against Ole Miss.
