NEW YORK (AP) — The first round Thursday of the NFL draft averaged 13.6 million viewers across television and digital platforms, according to the league and Nielsen. It was the second-most watched first round on record.
The draft was televised on ESPN, NFL Network, ABC and ESPN Deportes as well as being available online. It is an 11% increase over last year, which averaged 12.3 million.
The first-round record remains 15.5 million in 2020.
The NFL also announced that 205,000 fans attended the first round in Green Bay.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
A Green Bay Packers fan celebrates during the third round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 25, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Former NFL player Lynn Swann announces a pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 25, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Isaiah Evans scored 21 points and had a critical 3-pointer with 1:15 left to help No. 6 Duke beat No. 24 SMU 82-75 on Saturday.
Evans slipped to the left side for the 3-pointer off a feed from freshman star Cam Boozer to make it 76-70, a repeat of the play that sent Duke past Florida when he hit a late 3 here in December.
Patrick Ngongba II tied his career high in scoring with 17 points for Duke (15-1, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), while Boozer had 18 points — including muscling up his own interior basket to give Duke a 73-68 lead shortly before Evans' big shot.
Duke shot 49% and won its 25th straight home game.
Jaden Toombs had 23 points on 10-for-12 shooting to lead the Mustangs (12-4, 1-2), who started the week by entering the AP Top 25 poll for the first time since the end of the 2016-17 season before losing at Clemson on Wednesday.
The Mustangs had to play this one without leading scorer Boopie Moller, a 20.6-point scorer who was a game-time decision because of illness.
But SMU scored the game's first 11 points and gave Duke fits all day, shooting 56.6% and thrice getting within one possession in the final 4 1/2 minutes. The Mustangs' biggest problem was turnovers; they had 21 that led to 21 points for the Blue Devils.
At halftime, Duke marked the 25th anniversary of the program's 2001 NCAA championship, with former NBA players Shane Battier, Carlos Boozer, Mike Dunleavy and Jay Williams joining retired Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski at midcourt during the presentation. Boozer's twin sons, Cam and Cayden, both play for Duke.
SMU: The Mustangs host Virginia Tech on Wednesday.
Duke: The Blue Devils make their first cross-country ACC trip when they visit California on Wednesday.
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Duke's Dame Sarr (7) is fouled by SMU's Jaden Toombs, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
