FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ 75-73 win over Kentucky last Saturday was the most-watched sporting event of the day.
CBS drew an average audience of 2.36 million for the game, which was played at Bud Walton Arena. The audience peaked at 2.97 million viewers as the Razorbacks took the lead and held on in the final two minutes.
It was the third-most watched college basketball game on any network this season. ESPN drew an audience of 2.86 million for a Nov. 26 game between Duke and Gonzaga in Las Vegas, and CBS averaged an audience of 2.48 million for Kentucky’s game at Auburn on Jan. 22.
The Arkansas-Kentucky game was the second of a tripleheader on CBS last week. It was preceded by a game between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, and followed by Oregon State's game against UCLA.
The Oklahoma-Oklahoma State game, which went to overtime, cut into the Arkansas-Kentucky broadcast in some markets.
CBS televised the Arkansas-Kentucky game for the first time since 2015. The matchup was once a staple on the network in the 1990s and early 2000s, and has been televised by CBS 16 times.
Last Saturday’s game was the Razorbacks’ only scheduled game on the network this season. The Wildcats are scheduled to play their fifth game on the network Saturday at Florida.
CBS games are among the most popular in the sport. The network the primary home of the NCAA Tournament.