College football coverage set several ratings records on the ESPN family of networks.
ESPN averaged a 1.9 U.S. rating and 2.9 million viewers for college football coverage during the 2009 season, up 12% in ratings and viewership from last year (1.7, 2.6 mil), and the most-viewed college football season on ESPN since 1994 (3.1 mil).
The top game of the season on ESPN was USC/Ohio State on September 12, which drew a 6.3 U.S. rating and 10.6 million viewers. USC/Ohio State ranks as the most-viewed college football game ever on ESPN, regular season or postseason.
Meanwhile, ESPN2 averaged a 1.0 U.S. rating and 1.5 million viewers for its college football coverage, up 11% in ratings and viewership from last year (0.9, 1.4 mil), and the most-viewed college football season ever on the network.
ESPN2’s top game was Pittsburgh/West Virginia on the day after Thanksgiving, which drew a 2.5 U.S. rating and 4.1 million viewers. The game stands as the most-viewed college football game ever on ESPN2.
In addition to the records set by USC/Ohio St. and Pittsburgh/West Virginia, ESPN and ESPN2 set other milestones during the 2009 season — including the third-most viewed game ever on ESPN (Miami/Florida St., 8.4 mil), the most-viewed Thursday night game ever on ESPN (Texas/Texas A&M, 6.7 mil) and the most-viewed Saturday game ever on ESPN2 (Florida/Kentucky, 3.6 mil).
Top 5 college football games of the season on ESPN
ranked by viewers
|
#
|
Date | Game | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Sat., 9/12/09 | USC/Ohio St. | ESPN |
6.3
|
10,586
|
|
2
|
Mon., 9/7/09 | Miami/Florida St. | ESPN |
5.1
|
8,406
|
|
3
|
Thu., 11/26/09 | Texas/Texas A&M | ESPN |
3.7
|
6,692
|
|
4
|
Thu., 12/3/09 | Oregon St./Oregon | ESPN |
3.6
|
5,727
|
|
5
|
Sat., 10/24/09 | Florida/Mississippi St. | ESPN |
3.4
|
5,668
|
(ESPN)
