College basketball delivered a spectacle for the ages as Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball and North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball renewed their legendary rivalry in a game that instantly etched itself into history.
On February 7, North Carolina edged Duke 71–68 in a heart-stopping finish that sent the home crowd into a frenzy. The decisive moment came when Seth Trimble buried a clutch shot in the final seconds, igniting a full-scale court storm and electrifying fans inside the arena. The intensity was palpable, the atmosphere unforgettable — and viewers across the nation tuned in to witness every second.
According to ESPN, the broadcast averaged 3.5 million viewers and peaked at 4.8 million. Those numbers marked a staggering 53% increase from the teams’ first meeting earlier in the season and made it the most-watched men’s college basketball game on the network in four years.
The rivalry between Duke and North Carolina has always commanded national attention, but this matchup elevated the tradition to new heights. From highlight-reel plays to dramatic momentum swings, the game embodied everything that makes college basketball special — passion, unpredictability and pride.
This was not an isolated surge in viewership for North Carolina. It marked the fifth time this season the Tar Heels drew more than one million viewers. Matchups against Kansas (1.37 million), Michigan State (6.5 million), Kentucky (1.45 million) and Ohio State (1.5 million) all crossed that milestone.
Notably, North Carolina’s Thanksgiving Day showdown with Michigan State Spartans men’s basketball in the Fort Myers Classic became the most-watched game ever broadcast on Fox Sports 1. Even in defeat that day, the Tar Heels proved they are appointment television.
And the story is far from over.
Duke and North Carolina will meet again in the regular-season finale on March 7 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. If the first clash was any indication, the rematch could draw even bigger numbers and further cement this rivalry as the gold standard in college hoops.
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