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Auburn vs. Alabama showdown draws huge TV ratings for ESPN, sets viewership high

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•02/19/25•

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Auburn center Johni Broome and Alabama center Clifford Omoruyi
© Will McLelland-Imagn Images

Saturday’s Auburn vs. Alabama game was billed as the biggest of the college basketball season to date as No. 1 and No. 2 squared off. It lived up to the billing – and ESPN scored a TV ratings victory.

The matchup drew 2.8 million viewers to become ESPN’s most-watched men’s college basketball game of the season to date, the network announced. It also peaked at 3.5 million viewers as Auburn came away with the 94-85 victory at Coleman Coliseum.

For comparison, ESPN’s previous most-watched game was Clemson’s upset victory over Duke at 2.1 million viewers, which also marked the return of beloved analyst Dick Vitale after two years away from the microphone. The most-watched college basketball game of the season came on Thanksgiving when Illinois vs. Arkansas brought in 5.1 million. That game immediately followed an NFL game, though.

The anticipation was building throughout the week after Auburn and Alabama sat in the top two spots, respectively, in the AP poll. They were also the top two teams in the NCAA Tournament selection committee’s Top 16 seeds reveal Saturday afternoon, just before tip-off.

Auburn took control in the first half of the Iron Bowl of Basketball matchup, heading into halftime with a 42-33 lead. That lead grew to 59-45 in the second half, but Alabama mounted a comeback to eventually tie things up at 68-68. Auburn, however, was able to fight back and eventually pull away for the rivalry victory.

Johni Broome had a monster game, totaling 19 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and two blocks to lead the charge. Denver Jones also had a big day, finishing with 16 points and a team-best 3-for-5 showing from three-point territory. All the while, Auburn held Alabama to 85 points – less than the Crimson Tide’s season average of 90.5.

“The love was spread all around,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said after the game. “Denver Jones was kind of amazing. Johni, obviously, is a handful on the inside. But it was a great team effort. To hold them down to 85 and to hold them down with all those three-balls, my coaching staff did a great job with the preparation. Look, we’re going to see those guys again and maybe again.

“Good for Alabama. Coach has done an amazing job with that club, and this was a great environment. The best environment I’ve been in [in] Coleman since I’ve been, even the coach at Tennessee.”

Auburn and Alabama will square off one more time to close out the regular season in what’s sure to be another highly anticipated game. That matchup will take place in The Jungle on March 8.