Ranking every men’s Sweet 16 game by watchability in 2025 March Madness

If you can only watch one men’s Sweet 16 game this year, which should it be?

The 2025 NCAA Tournament was missing upsets and a lot of drama during opening weekend.

But the lack of Cinderella stories and double-digit seeds advancing means a Sweet 16 filled with gigantic matchups between power conference opponents. With only the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC represented to this point in the NCAA Tournament, every matchup features interesting stakes.

Here’s a look at the watchability rankings of this week’s matchups with some storylines to watch for.

8. No. 1 Houston vs. No. 4 Purdue, Friday, 9:09 p.m.

As a top seed the last two seasons, Houston lost in the Sweet 16 to a No. 4 or No. 5 seed. Experienced Purdue makes its sixth Sweet 16 trip in the last eight tournaments — returning some pieces from last season’s national runner-up.

Even with those storylines, the second matchup in the Midwest Regional on Friday night is going to be the slowest tempo of the Sweet 16. Houston plays one of the slowest paces in the country and also possesses the No. 1 adjusted defensive efficiency. Purdue is the third-slowest team left in the field and struggles defensively (No. 55 on KenPom).

There’s intrigue surrounding two recently-successful programs meeting in March. Purdue getting a lot of fans to nearby Lucas Oil Stadium should also make for a fun atmosphere.

But this game also has the chance to be a low-scoring blowout if Houston seizes control early. A slow team with a dominant defense playing in a football stadium is a potential recipe for disaster.

7. No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 6 Ole Miss, Friday, 6:09 p.m.

The South Region gives us the closest game by spread among Sweet 16 contests. It’s also an NCAA Tournament rematch between Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Ole Miss coach Chris Beard after Texas Tech and Beard beat the Spartans during the 2019 Final Four.

Michigan State is deep, versatile and features some entertaining offensive weapons like Jace Richardson and Coen Carr. Shockingly, the Spartans haven’t made the Elite Eight this decade, putting some pressure on this group to perform up to seed.

Ole Miss has never reached the Elite Eight and is achieving new levels of success under Beard. They’re not the most familiar program in this setting but sport a top-25 offense (No. 24) and defense (No. 21).

Leading scorer Sean Pedulla has developed a cult following this March after a buzzer-beater against Arkansas in the SEC Tournament and back-to-back 20-point games against Iowa State and North Carolina.

But the Rebels finished tied for sixth in the SEC and lost in the conference tournament quarterfinals. That doesn’t make for the flashiest matchup against Michigan State.

6. No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 5 Michigan, Friday, 8:39 p.m.

Top-seed Auburn gets tested by red-hot Michigan in the South Region.

Although the Tigers are the No. 1 overall seed, they haven’t been particularly sharp over the last several weeks. When rolling, however, the Tigers are a deep and balanced force led by Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome.

Broome gets the fun matchup against two 7-footers in the Michigan frontcourt. Center Vladislav Goldin has Final Four experience as a former starter at Florida Atlantic while forward Danny Wolf is an intelligent and creative big man. Under Dusty May, the Wolverines play a faster tempo (No. 58) and won’t be afraid to match points if needed.

There’s also unique pressure on Auburn to perform with the Tigers only reaching one Elite Eight over Pearl’s tenure (2019). Can Michigan’s hot March continue after winning the Big Ten conference tournament and rolling to the Sweet 16?

5. No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 10 Arkansas, Thursday, 9:09 p.m.

Plenty of talent on the floor in this matchup in the West Region.

Texas Tech finished second in the deep Big 12 behind conference Player of the Year JT Toppin. The Red Raiders are No. 5 in offensive efficiency per KenPom and present plenty of capable scoring options.

Arkansas counters with tons of talent brought in by head coach John Calipari during his first season. In Calipari’s debut year in Fayetteville, the Razorbacks experienced plenty of roadblocks before coming together to reach the Sweet 16.

Plenty of weapons get it done for Arkansas, including the backcourt of Johnell Davis and D.J. Wagner. The return of guard Boogie Fland from injury is yet another talented player to keep track of.

Arkansas as a program reached the Elite Eight twice since the last time Calipari reached one in 2019 at Kentucky. So even though Arkansas is the only remaining double-digit seed, there’s unique weight on Calipari to make an impact in March at his new program — particularly since Kentucky is still in the tournament as well.

4. No. 1 Duke vs. No. 4 Arizona, Thursday, 8:39 p.m.

Duke faces Arizona and star guard Caleb Love. Even though the Blue Devils have Cooper Flagg and two other potential lottery picks, the history between Love and the Blue Devils takes center stage here.

Love and the Blue Devils comes with plenty of history. The former North Carolina guard’s dagger three helped the Tar Heels beat the Blue Devils during the 2022 Final Four to end Coach K’s Hall of Fame career.

Last season, Arizona and Love beat Duke on the road. Between Love’s two schools, the senior finished 3-1 at Cameron Indoor Stadium — waving goodbye to Duke fans on his way out.

So there’s history between Duke and Arizona mostly thanks to a one-player rivalry that somehow continues to live on.

3. No. 1 Florida vs. No. 4 Maryland, Thursday, 6:39 p.m.

Florida gets another test from No. 4 seed Maryland and the Crab Five.

The Gators needed everything to get past two-time defending champion UConn in the Round of 32. But Walter Clayton Jr. delivered heroic shots down the stretch to deliver the Florida win.

The backcourt of Clayton, Alijah Martin and Will Richard is fun to watch. Florida’s offense runs creative sets that utilize the extensive passing talents of its deep frontcourt.

Speaking of heroics, Maryland freshman big man Derik Queen hit the shot of the NCAA Tournament so far with his buzzer-beating runner to beat Colorado State in the second round. A resurgent year for the Terps is led by Queen, a potential one-and-done lottery pick, and four other Maryland scorers putting up at least 12 points per game.

This game offers talent, versatility, potential pros and it could be the best chance a No. 1 seed is truly tested.

2. No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 6 BYU, Thursday, 6:09 p.m.

This East Region battle puts a lot of offensive talent together playing at an uptempo pace. Alabama is trying to make its second consecutive Final Four appearance. Under first-year head coach Kevin Young, BYU is attempting to reach its first Elite Eight since 1981.

Alabama will get up-and-down the floor with its No. 1 tempo. While BYU prefers to play a mid-tempo contest, the Cougars’ No. 9 overall offense is more than capable of matching points with any team in the country when rolling.

The Crimson Tide regularly reach 90 points in wins this season with five players averaging double-figures. All-American-caliber guard Mark Sears is electric with the ball in his hands with plenty of talent around him.

BYU’s offense is run through a potential lottery pick in guard Egor Demin. Richie Saunders has put up big scoring games in recent Cougars wins over Wisconsin and Iowa State.

With a game that could easily play into the 90s, a close, uptempo game would be great to see in this one.

1. No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 3 Kentucky, Friday, 6:39 p.m.

A classic SEC rivalry gets a third meeting between these two teams and a first in the NCAA Tournament after 241 previous meetings. Kentucky swept Tennessee during the regular season. Now these teams meet in front of a large crowd in the Midwest Region in Lucas Oil Stadium.

Tennessee is playing well during March, including a win over Auburn in the SEC Tournament semifinals. Making a third straight Sweet 16 appearance, the Vols are experienced and filled with veteran scorers, led by transfer Chaz Lanier. Head coach Rick Barnes has a history of early NCAA Tournament exits as Tennessee looks to make the Final Four.

Kentucky shot the ball well in two wins over Tennessee and averaged 76.5 points per game. The Wildcats are coming in very confident. Guard Lamont Butler said Kentucky would win against Tennessee after the Round of 32 win over Illinois. Head coach Mark Pope allows a free-flowing offense that is No. 11 in offensive efficiency and No. 26 in tempo.

Taking this kind of rivalry to the postseason should make for a memorable matchup.