ESPN’s 2025-26 college sports campaign celebrated another record year, showcasing the breadth of its industry-leading portfolio by combining record championship coverage, growing viewership engagement and continued innovation across networks. Together, these milestones reflect an impressive year of evolution and impact for ESPN’s college sports coverage — one defined by growth, innovation and an enduring commitment to serving sports fans anytime, anywhere.
Across the academic year, ESPN networks presented 42 NCAA Championships — the most in company history — underscoring its position as The Home for NCAA Championships.
Across the academic year, ESPN networks presented 42 NCAA Championships — the most in company history — underscoring its position as The Home for NCAA Championships.
College football again anchored ESPN’s fall lineup, delivering industry-leading viewership across marquee matchups, conference championships and the complete postseason. Highlights include the most-watched season ever in College GameDay Built by The Home Depot history and the best viewership for the College Football Playoff National Championship since the inaugural CFP.
Innovation and immersive viewing experiences remained a priority throughout the season across ESPN’s college sports presentation. Throughout the 2025-26 college football campaign, ESPN teamed up with POVORA to create the Wireless Tilt Control Stabilized CapCam, nominated for the 2026 Sports Emmy for the George Wensel Technical Achievement Award, to provide a new angle to the action. The camera was also utilized for the 2026 Women’s College World Series and Men’s College World Series. 2025 also marked the real-time replay audio from the ACC GameDay Operations Center on select ACC college football clashes.
Closing out the 2025-26 season, the WCWS and MCWS utilized enhanced drone capabilities, a two-point aerial SupraCam, POVORA cap and mask cams for umpires and more.
Alternative viewing options were deployed for the College Football Playoff, Women’s Final Four, Women’s Gymnastics Championship, Men’s Wrestling Championship, Women’s College World Series and Men’s College World Series. The WCWS and MCWS each delivered multi-year viewership highs as part of their championship coverage.
Women’s college basketball continued its sustained momentum with its most-watched regular season on ESPN networks since 2008-09, finishing up 19 percent year-over-year. The NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament averaged 1.3 million viewers (up 5 percent year-over-year), marking the second most-watched tournament on record, while consuming more than 9 billion minutes of live game action.
Men’s college basketball delivered its most-watched season on ESPN networks since 2014-15, with overall viewership up 25 percent year-over-year. Games across ESPN averaged 1.1 million viewers (up 12 percent year-over-year), while the network aired five of the top 10 games nationally and the top 33 games on cable.
ESPN Events further expanded its impact, launching four new events, including three focused on women’s sports. The inaugural editions of the Dick Vitale Invitational (MCBB), espnW Invitational (WCBB), Broadway Block Party (WVB) and Showdown at the Net (WVB) all took flight in 2025. With more than 160 live, in-person events and participation from more than 4,000 student-athletes annually, ESPN Events continues to create high-quality competitive opportunities, athlete experiences and impactful community events across the collegiate landscape.
ESPN’s college networks notched viewership wins as well. SEC Network ranked as the most-watched college sports network for the ninth consecutive fall and third straight winter.
ACC Network experienced double-digit streaming gains in 2025-26, while ACC Huddle saw success in audience growth throughout the fall and winter as Miami reached the College Football Playoff National Championship.
