Two big name schools and a fantastic finish led to strong BCS ratings on FOX.
Texas’ win over Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl drew an 11.6 overnight rating on FOX Monday night, up 38% from an 8.4 for last year’s Fiesta Bowl between West Virginia and Oklahoma. There was no BCS bowl game on the comparable date in ’08.
The 11.6 overnight is the third-highest for a BCS game since FOX took over the rights in 2007, behind only the 2007 and 2008 National Championship games. No other BCS game on FOX has drawn higher than a 9.8 overnight.
Additionally, the 11.6 is the best for the Fiesta Bowl since the ’06 game, which drew a 13.6 rating in the Rose Bowl’s traditional 5 PM timeslot, and marks only the second time since the ’03 National Championship game that the Fiesta Bowl has drawn a double-digit rating.
Overnight ratings for the Fiesta Bowl.
since 2003
*: National Championship Game
11.6: Texas/Ohio State (Mon., 1/5/09, 8 PM FOX)
8.4: West Virginia/Oklahoma (Wed., 1/2/08, 8 PM FOX)
8.9: Boise State/Oklahoma (Mon., 1/1/07, 8 PM FOX)
13.6: Ohio State/Notre Dame (Mon., 1/2/06, 5 PM ABC)
8.5: Utah/Pittsburgh (Sat., 1/1/05, 8 PM ABC)
8.7: Ohio State/Kansas State (Fri., 1/2/04, 8 PM ABC)
18.6: Ohio State/Miami (Fri., 1/3/03, 8 PM ABC)*
