By R.L. Bynum
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The No. 16 Tar Heels were part of history in defeat on Thanksgiving Day.
North Carolina’s matchup with Michigan State in the Fort Myers Tip-Off was the most-watched college basketball game in Fox Network history, according to Nielsen fast national data.
The Spartans’ 74–58 victory averaged 5.49 million viewers and peaked at 13.41 million from 4:30 to 4:45 p.m., setting a network record. Michigan State also had a game on Thanksgiving Day game air on Fox in 2023, its contest with Arizona, but Thursday’s ratings marked a 6% increase over the ratings of that broadcast.
That ratings win came despite the game competing with the Dallas Cowboys’ 31–28 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on CBS.
Fox began televising college basketball in 1996, and is airing 35 games this season on the network with the spotlight on Fox College Basketball Friday and Fox Primetime Hoops on Saturday.
UNC (6–1) split its two games in Fort Myers, beating St. Bonaventure 85–70 on Tuesday night.
Although the Tar Heels’ next game isn’t on network television, it will no doubt draw good ratings. Carolina visits Kentucky in a marquee matchup as part of the ACC/SEC Men’s Challenge at 9:30 Tuesday night on ESPN.
Photo courtesy of Intersport
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