While NFL games anchor the Thanksgiving sports slate, FOX and CBS looked to capitalize on college basketball after these matchups. It paid off.
duke earn Arkansas averaged 6.8 million viewers on CBS, becoming the most-watched college basketball game on any network in more than 30 years, the network announced. The previous record dates back to 1993, when Purdue against. Indiana averaged 7.23 million viewers on CBS.
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Additionally, FOX benefited from the Thanksgiving program. Michigan State victory over North Carolina averaged 6.499 million viewers to become the channel’s most-watched college basketball game ever. It also peaked at 14.4 million viewers, FOX announced.
The NFL was once again king on Thanksgiving, drawing historic audiences throughout the day. It all started with the Green Bay Packers’ victory against the Detroit Lions, which attracted an average of 47.7 million viewers to become the most watched match start during the holidays.
Then CBS was the biggest winner. The Dallas Cowboys’ victory over the Kansas City Chiefs broke the record for most-watched NFL regular season game, averaging a monster 57.2 million viewers. This is more than 15 million more than the previous record, set in 2022.
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College basketball has hosted more marquee college basketball games on Thanksgiving, and the introduction of the NFL is one way to increase the number of viewers tuning in to those games. Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel also helped boost these numbers, but 100% out-of-home measurement was another factor, according to Sports Reception Ryan Glasspiegel.
Duke vs. Arkansas and North Carolina vs. Michigan State are now the two most-watched college basketball games of the season so far. Duke’s victory Kansas previously held the top spot, averaging 1.87 million viewers during the Champions Classic last month.
How Duke, Michigan State Scored Victories on Thanksgiving
In total, five Thanksgiving games featured at least one Top 25 team. Michigan State vs. North Carolina was the first of the Fort Myers Tip-Off, and all Spartans won 74-58. Four players averaged double figures for Michigan State in this game, led by 19 points Jeremy Fears Jr.
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MSU did most of its damage from inside the three-point line in the game, shooting 52 percent from the field while making 10 shots from outside. Additionally, the Spartans played solid defense, limiting North Carolina to 38 percent from the field and just 4 of 23 from three-point territory.
In prime time, Duke and Arkansas went back and forth before the Blue Devils earned the 80-71 victory to remain undefeated. Cameron Boozer led the charge with a huge day, dropping 35 points and grabbing nine rebounds on the big stage.
Duke took the lead into halftime before Arkansas took the lead shortly after the break. But a late run helped the Blue Devils regain the lead with 5:20 to play and they never looked back en route to their ninth win of the year.
