Big upsets helped juice the ratings for college football on ESPN last week.
Oregon State’s upset victory over then #1 ranked USC drew a 4.2 national rating and 6.5 million viewers on ESPN last Thursday night, making it the third-highest rated and seventh most-viewed program on cable for the week. The 4.2 rating marks a 250% increase over a 1.2 national rating for the Southern Miss/Boise State game on the comparable night last year.
Meanwhile, Alabama’s blowout victory over then #3 ranked Georgia drew a 3.9 national rating and 6.7 million viewers on Saturday night, making it sixth-highest rated and fifth-most watched cable program of the week. The 3.9 rating is up 26% from a 3.1 for Auburn/Florida last year.
For the second straight week, a college football match-up on ESPN outdrew Saturday Night Football on ABC head-to-head. The 3.9 with 6.7 million viewers for Alabama/Georgia edged the 3.6 and 5.8 million viewers regional action drew on ABC.
Through September, four of the five highest rated college football games this season have aired on ESPN.
Highest rated college football games (2008 season).
7.0: Ohio State/USC (Sat., 9/13, 8 PM ABC)
4.3: Miami/Florida (Sat., 9/6, 8 PM ESPN)
4.2: USC/Oregon State (Thu., 9/25, 9 PM ESPN)
4.1: Tennessee/UCLA (Mon., 9/1, 8 PM ESPN)
3.9: Alabama/Georgia (Sat., 9/27, 8 PM ESPN)
