College Basketball Crown final receives more than 800,000 viewers

The Nebraska Cornhuskers took home the title in the College Basketball Crown on Sunday night and FOX Sports said Tuesday the tournament scored big with viewers.

The Crown’s final between Nebraska and UCF garnered 822,000 viewers and was the most-watched non-NCAA Tournament college basketball final of the year, according to FOX Sports. Viewership was up 62% versus the NIT championship.

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College Basketball Crown MVP Juwan Gary of the Nebraska Cornhuskers laughs after his team’s 77-66 victory against the UCF Knights in the College Basketball Crown tournament at T-Mobile Arena on April 6, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Ian Maule/Getty Images)

Nebraska defeated UCF, 77-66. The Cornhuskers claimed $300,000 in name, image and likeness money for its program as well. It was Nebraska’s first postseason championship since the team won the NIT in 1996.

“We didn’t get the goal that we wanted for playing in the NCAA Tournament,” Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said after the game. “But we made the most of it and came out here focused and stayed together as a group and played some pretty darn good basketball this week.

‘SOMETHING THAT WILL BE IN MY HEART’: HUSKERS CHERISH INAUGURAL CROWN TITLE

Nebraska’s Juwan Gary drives against in the College Basketball Crown tournament on April 6, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Louis Grasse/Getty Images)

“Hopefully it will give us some momentum heading into next season, and I think the experience of playing in a postseason event will help everybody that will be back on our roster next year.”

Nebraska defeated Boise State and UCF topped Villanova in the Crown’s semifinals.

FOX Sports said the semifinals drew in an average of 706,000 viewers, which was up 145% over the NIT’s semifinals this year. It was the most-watched non-NCAA Tournament postseason semifinals of the year.

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Nebraska received the first wearable trophy of its kind.

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