Brief • 3 min Read
Who’s Watching? The NCAA tournaments are particularly popular among younger adults and people of color. More than two-thirds of adults aged 18-34 (68%) plan to follow at least one tournament, while 64% of people of color expressed the same intent, compared to 48% of White U.S. adults. Meanwhile, 18% of viewers will follow both the men’s and women’s tournaments, signaling broad interest across the board.
The Teams Fans Want to See Win and Lose
Men’s Tournament:
When it comes to the men’s tournament, fans have strong opinions about who they’re rooting for — and against. A majority (84%) of those following the men’s tournament are excited to see at least one of the top 16 teams succeed.
Notably, fans are particularly invested in teams like Duke (26%), Florida (21%), and Michigan State (16%). However, the sentiment shifts when it comes to teams they’d like to see lose. Roughly 72% of fans have a team in mind that they’d like to see exit early. Duke, Kentucky, and Alabama were the most mentioned teams for a potential upset.
Among those who plan to follow the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball March Madness tournaments…
- Eight in 10 (84%) noted that they would be happy to see at least one of the top 16 teams win.
- Duke: 26%
- Florida: 21%
- Michigan State: 16%
- Arizona: 16%
- UConn: 15%
- Seven in 10 (72%) noted that they would be happy to see at least one of the top 16 teams lose.
- Duke: 21%
- Kentucky: 17%
- Alabama: 17%
- Michigan State: 14%
- UConn: 13%
Women’s Tournament:
The women’s tournament is also generating considerable enthusiasm. An impressive 91% of fans are excited to see at least one of the top 16 teams win, with Texas (24%), South Carolina (23%), and UCLA (22%) topping the list.
But similar to the men’s side, there’s no shortage of fans hoping for surprises. About 72% of viewers have teams they’d be pleased to see eliminated, with UConn, South Carolina, and LSU being the most commonly cited teams.
Among those who plan to follow the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball March Madness tournaments…
- Nine in 10 (91%) noted that they would be happy to see at least one of the top 16 teams win.
- Texas: 24%
- South Carolina: 23%
- UCLA: 22%
- Notre Dame: 21%
- USC: 20%
- Seven in 10 (72%) noted that they would be happy to see at least one of the top 16 teams lose.
- UConn: 13%
- South Carolina: 13%
- LSU: 13%
- Duke: 13%
- UCLA: 11%
Interestingly, the rankings slightly shift among March Madness “superfans,” or those planning to watch both tournaments — but not by much. For the men’s tournament, Michigan State moves down the list of fan-favorites, replaced by Tennessee. For the women’s tournament, UConn becomes a top 5 team, unseating USC.
As the 2025 NCAA March Madness tournaments unfold, the drama is sure to captivate fans, with teams like Duke and UConn sparking strong reactions. While 29% of fans are cheering for Duke to win, 20% are hoping for an early exit, and UConn is equally polarizing. With such passionate and diverse opinions, this year promises plenty of surprises—whether it’s a blue-blood school or a Cinderella team making a run for the title.
This survey was conducted online in the United States by The Harris Poll from March 18, 2025 to March 21, 2025 among 2,064 US adults, aged 18+. Figures were weighted where necessary to align with actual proportions within the population. For additional information, please contact The Harris Poll.