Ratings for the Sugar Bowl were up from last year, but still hovered near record low territory.
Utah’s win over Alabama drew a 7.8/13 final rating and 13.4 million viewers on FOX Friday night, up 1% ratings and 10% in viewership from the West Virginia/Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl last year, which also aired on January 2.
Compared to last year’s Sugar Bowl, Utah/Alabama was up 11% and 14% respectively from a 7.0 with 11.7 million for Hawaii/Georgia a year ago.
Ratings peaked at an 8.9/15 from 9:30-9:45 PM.
The 7.8 rating is the seventh-lowest ever for a BCS bowl game, and is the second-lowest rating for the Sugar Bowl during the BCS era.
Sugar Bowl ratings since 1998-99.
*: national championship game
7.8: Utah/Alabama (Fri., 1/2/09, 8 PM FOX)
7.0: Georgia/Hawaii (Tue., 1/1/08, 8:30 PM FOX)
9.3: LSU/Notre Dame (Wed., 1/3/07, 8 PM FOX)
9.0: West Virginia/Georgia (Mon., 1/2/06, 8 PM ABC)
9.5: Auburn/Virginia Tech (Mon. 1/3/05, 8 PM ABC)
14.8: LSU/Oklahoma (Sun., 1/4/04, 8:30 PM ABC)*
9.2: Georgia/Florida St. (Wed., 1/1/03, 8 PM ABC)
8.6: LSU/Illinois (Tue., 1/1/02 ABC)
13.0: Miami/Florida (Tue., 1/2/01 ABC)
17.5: Florida St./Virginia Tech (Tue., 1/4/00 ABC)*
11.5: Ohio State/Texas A&M (Fri., 1/1/99 ABC)
