As the 2000s comes to a close, here is a look at the 20 highest rated games in the four major sports, as well as college football and college basketball.
NFL
|
#
|
Date | Game | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Sun., 1/30/00 | Rams/Titans | ABC |
43.3
|
88,465
|
|
2
|
Sun., 2/3/08 | Giants/Patriots | FOX |
43.1
|
97,448
|
|
3
|
Sun., 2/4/07 | Colts/Bears | CBS |
42.6
|
93,184
|
|
4
|
Sun., 2/1/09 | Steelers/Cardinals | NBC |
42.0
|
98,732
|
|
5
|
Sun., 2/5/06 | Steelers/Seahawks | ABC |
41.6
|
90,745
|
|
6
|
Sun., 2/1/04 | Patriots/Panthers | CBS |
41.4
|
89,795
|
|
7
|
Sun., 2/6/05 | Patriots/Eagles | FOX |
41.1
|
86,072
|
|
8
|
Sun., 1/26/03 | Buccaneers/Raiders | ABC |
40.7
|
88,637
|
|
T9
|
Sun., 2/3/02 | Patriots/Rams | FOX |
40.4
|
86,801
|
|
T9
|
Sun., 1/28/01 | Ravens/Giants | CBS |
40.4
|
84,335
|
|
11
|
Sun., 1/20/08 | Giants/Packers | FOX |
29.0
|
53,937
|
|
12
|
Sun., 1/23/00 | Buccaneers/Rams | FOX |
26.9
|
n/a
|
|
13
|
Sun., 1/21/07 | Patriots/Colts | CBS |
26.4
|
46,695
|
|
T14
|
Sun., 1/23/05 | Patriots/Steelers | CBS |
25.8
|
44,334
|
|
T14
|
Sun., 1/23/05 | Falcons/Eagles | FOX |
25.8
|
42,937
|
|
16
|
Sun., 1/20/08 | Chargers/Patriots | CBS |
25.7
|
44,840
|
|
17
|
Sun., 1/21/07 | Saints/Bears | FOX |
25.1
|
43,247
|
|
18
|
Sun., 1/18/04 | Colts/Patriots | CBS |
24.7
|
40,115
|
|
19
|
Sun., 1/19/03 | Titans/Raiders | CBS |
24.6
|
41,456
|
|
20
|
Sun., 1/19/03 | Buccaneers/Eagles | FOX |
23.8
|
38,741
|
MLB
|
#
|
Date | Game | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Sun., 11/4/01 | Yankees/D’Backs G7 | FOX |
23.5
|
39,084
|
|
2
|
Wed., 10/20/04 | Red Sox/Yankees G7 | FOX |
19.4
|
31,460
|
|
3
|
Wed., 10/27/04 | Red Sox/Cardinals G4 | FOX |
18.2
|
28,844
|
|
4
|
Sun., 10/27/02 | Giants/Angels G7 | FOX |
17.9
|
30,814
|
|
5
|
Thu., 10/16/03 | Red Sox/Yankees G7 | FOX |
17.1
|
27,485
|
|
6
|
Wed., 10/15/03 | Marlins/Cubs G7 | FOX |
16.9
|
26,505
|
|
7
|
Sun., 10/24/04 | Red Sox/Cardinals G2 | FOX |
15.9
|
25,463
|
|
8
|
Wed., 10/31/01 | D’Backs/Yankees G4 | FOX |
15.8
|
23,692
|
|
9
|
Tue., 10/26/04 | Red Sox/Cardinals G3 | FOX |
15.7
|
24,422
|
|
10
|
Tue., 10/19/04 | Red Sox/Yankees G6 | FOX |
15.6
|
25,088
|
|
11
|
Tue., 10/30/01 | D’Backs/Yankees G3 | FOX |
15.4
|
23,407
|
|
12
|
Sun., 10/28/01 | Yankees/D’Backs G2 | FOX |
15.0
|
23,550
|
|
13
|
Thu., 11/1/01 | D’Backs/Yankees G5 | FOX |
14.4
|
21,323
|
|
14
|
Sat., 10/25/03 | Marlins/Yankees G6 | FOX |
13.9
|
23,240
|
|
15
|
Sat., 11/3/01 | Yankees/D’Backs G6 | FOX |
13.8
|
22,672
|
|
16
|
Sat., 10/23/04 | Cardinals/Red Sox G1 | FOX |
13.7
|
23,168
|
|
17
|
Sat., 10/22/03 | Yankees/Marlins G4 | FOX |
13.6
|
20,885
|
|
18
|
Sun., 11/1/09 | Yankees/Phillies G4 | FOX |
13.5
|
22,761
|
|
19
|
Wed., 11/4/09 | Phillies/Yankees G6 | FOX |
13.4
|
22,339
|
|
20
|
Thu., 10/23/03 | Yankees/Marlins G5 | FOX |
13.2
|
19,919
|
NBA
|
#
|
Date | Game | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Mon., 6/19/00 | Pacers/Lakers G6 | NBC |
14.7
|
22,396
|
|
2
|
Sun., 6/2/02 | Lakers/Kings G7 | NBC |
14.4
|
23,796
|
|
3
|
Tue., 6/15/04 | Lakers/Pistons G5 | ABC |
13.8
|
21,843
|
|
4
|
Wed., 6/14/00 | Lakers/Pacers G4 | NBC |
13.1
|
n/a
|
|
T5
|
Sun., 6/13/04 | Lakers/Pistons G4 | ABC |
12.7
|
20,295
|
|
T5
|
Sun., 6/10/01 | Lakers/76ers G3 | NBC |
12.7
|
20,280
|
|
7
|
Wed., 6/13/01 | Lakers/76ers G4 | NBC |
12.6
|
19,972
|
|
T8
|
Wed., 6/6/01 | 76ers/Lakers G1 | NBC |
12.4
|
18,577
|
|
T8
|
Sun., 6/4/00 | Blazers/Lakers G7 | NBC |
12.4
|
n/a
|
|
10
|
Thu., 6/23/05 | Spurs/Pistons G7 | ABC |
11.9
|
18,997
|
|
11
|
Fri., 6/8/01 | 76ers/Lakers G2 | NBC |
11.6
|
18,719
|
|
12
|
Fri., 6/15/01 | Lakers/76ers G5 | NBC |
11.2
|
17,356
|
|
13
|
Fri., 5/31/02 | Kings/Lakers G6 | NBC |
11.1
|
16,644
|
|
14
|
Wed., 6/12/02 | Lakers/Nets G4 | NBC |
10.8
|
16,560
|
|
T15
|
Tue., 6/17/08 | Lakers/Celtics G6 | ABC |
10.7
|
16,879
|
|
T15
|
Tue., 6/8/04 | Pistons/Lakers G2 | ABC |
10.7
|
16,129
|
|
T15
|
Sun., 6/11/00 | Lakers/Pacers G3 | NBC |
10.7
|
n/a
|
|
18
|
Wed., 6/5/02 | Nets/Lakers G1 | NBC |
10.6
|
15,850
|
|
T19
|
Thu., 6/10/04 | Lakers/Pistons G3 | ABC |
10.5
|
16,213
|
|
T19
|
Wed., 6/7/00 | Pacers/Lakers G1 | NBC |
10.5
|
n/a
|
NHL
|
#
|
Date | Game | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Mon., 6/9/03 | Mighty Ducks/Devils G7 | ABC |
4.6
|
7,169
|
|
2
|
Fri., 6/12/09 | Penguins/Red Wings G7 | NBC |
4.3
|
7,992
|
|
T3
|
Thu., 6/13/02 | Hurricanes/Red Wings G5 | ABC |
4.2
|
6,848
|
|
T3
|
Mon., 6/7/04 | Flames/Lightning G7 | ABC |
4.2
|
6,290
|
|
T3
|
Sat., 6/9/01 | Devils/Avalanche G7 | ABC |
4.2
|
n/a
|
|
T3
|
Sat., 6/10/00 | Devils/Stars G6 | ABC |
4.2
|
n/a
|
|
T3
|
Thu., 6/8/00 | Stars/Devils G5 | ABC |
4.2
|
n/a
|
|
8
|
Wed., 6/4/08 | Red Wings/Penguins G6 | NBC |
4.0
|
6,779
|
|
9
|
Mon., 6/2/08 | Penguins/Red Wings G5 | NBC |
3.8
|
6,247
|
|
T10
|
Mon., 6/10/02 | Red Wings/Hurricanes G4 | ABC |
3.5
|
5,106
|
|
T10
|
Thu., 6/7/01 | Avalanche/Devils G6 | ABC |
3.5
|
n/a
|
|
12
|
Tue., 6/9/09 | Red Wings/Penguins G6 | NBC |
3.4
|
5,814
|
|
T13
|
Mon., 6/19/06 | Oilers/Hurricanes G7 | NBC |
3.3
|
n/a
|
|
T13
|
Mon., 6/5/00 | Devils/Stars G4 | ABC |
3.3
|
n/a
|
|
15
|
Thu., 5/31/01 | Avalanche/Devils G3 | NBC |
3.2
|
n/a
|
|
T16
|
Sun., 5/30/09 | Penguins/Red Wings G2 | NBC |
3.1
|
n/a
|
|
T16
|
Mon., 6/4/01 | Devils/Avalanche G5 | ABC |
3.1
|
n/a
|
|
T18
|
Sat., 6/5/04 | Lightning/Flames G5 | ABC |
2.7
|
4,272
|
|
T18
|
Mon., 6/2/03 | Devils/Mighty Ducks G4 | ABC |
2.7
|
4,037
|
|
T18
|
Thu., 6/5/03 | Mighty Ducks/Devils G5 | ABC |
2.7
|
3,947
|
College basketball
|
#
|
Date | Game | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Mon., 4/2/01 | Duke/Arizona | CBS |
15.6
|
23,970
|
|
T2
|
Mon., 4/4/05 | North Carolina/Illinois | CBS |
15.0
|
23,895
|
|
T2
|
Mon., 4/1/02 | Maryland/Indiana | CBS |
15.0
|
23,686
|
|
4
|
Mon., 4/3/00 | Michigan St./Florida | CBS |
14.1
|
20,587
|
|
5
|
Mon., 4/7/03 | Syracuse/Kansas | CBS |
12.6
|
18,573
|
|
6
|
Mon., 4/2/07 | Florida/Ohio St. | CBS |
12.2
|
19,563
|
|
7
|
Mon., 4/7/08 | Kansas/Memphis | CBS |
12.1
|
19,501
|
|
8
|
Sat., 3/31/01 | Maryland/Duke | CBS |
11.6
|
18,323
|
|
9
|
Sat., 3/30/02 | Maryland/Kansas | CBS |
11.3
|
18,466
|
|
10
|
Mon., 4/3/06 | Florida/UCLA | CBS |
11.2
|
17,543
|
|
11
|
Mon., 4/5/04 | Connecticut/Georgia Tech | CBS |
11.0
|
17,088
|
|
12
|
Sat., 4/2/05 | North Carolina/Michigan St. | CBS |
10.9
|
17,548
|
|
13
|
Mon, 4/6/09 | North Carolina/Michigan St. | CBS |
10.8
|
17,649
|
|
14
|
Sat., 4/3/04 | Duke/Connecticut | CBS |
10.5
|
16,736
|
|
15
|
Sun., 3/27/05 | Kentucky/Michigan St. | CBS |
10.4
|
17,911
|
|
16
|
Sat., 4/2/00 | North Caro lina/Florida |
CBS |
10.2
|
n/a
|
|
17
|
Sat., 4/2/05 | Illinois/Louisville | CBS |
10.0
|
15,657
|
|
18
|
Sat., 3/30/02 | Indiana/Oklahoma | CBS |
9.4
|
14,422
|
|
T19
|
Sat., 4/1/06 | Florida/George Mason | CBS |
9.1
|
14,492
|
|
T19
|
Sat., 3/31/01 | Arizona/Michigan St. | CBS |
9.1
|
n/a
|
College football
|
#
|
Date | Game | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Wed., 1/4/06 | Texas/USC | ABC |
21.7
|
35,630
|
|
2
|
Wed., 1/3/01 | Oklahoma/Florida St. | ABC |
17.8
|
27,240
|
|
3
|
Tue., 1/4/00 | Florida St./Va. Tech | ABC |
17.5
|
26,962
|
|
4
|
Mon., 1/8/07 | Florida/Ohio St. | FOX |
17.4
|
28,795
|
|
5
|
Fri., 1/3/03 | Ohio St./Miami | ABC |
17.2
|
29,104
|
|
6
|
Thu., 1/8/09 | Florida/Oklahoma | FOX |
15.8
|
26,767
|
|
7
|
Sun., 1/4/04 | LSU/Oklahoma | ABC |
14.8
|
23,937
|
|
8
|
Tue., 1/7/08 | LSU/Ohio St. | FOX |
14.4
|
23,069
|
|
9
|
Thu., 1/1/04 | Michigan/USC | ABC |
14.3
|
23,871
|
|
10
|
Sat., 1/1/00 | Wisconsin/Stanford | ABC |
14.1
|
n/a
|
|
11
|
Mon., 1/1/01 | Purdue/Washington | ABC |
14.0
|
n/a
|
|
12
|
Mon., 1/1/07 | Michigan/USC | ABC |
13.9
|
24,025
|
|
13
|
Thu., 1/3/02 | Miami/Nebraska | ABC |
13.8
|
21,559
|
|
14
|
Tue., 1/4/05 | USC/Oklahoma | ABC |
13.7
|
21,419
|
|
T15
|
Sat., 11/18/06 | Michigan/Ohio St. | ABC |
13.0
|
21,037
|
|
T15
|
Tue., 1/2/01 | Miami/Florida | ABC |
13.0
|
19,783
|
|
17
|
Mon., 1/2/06 | Ohio St./Notre Dame | ABC |
12.9
|
20,601
|
|
18
|
Sat., 1/1/05 | Michigan/Texas | ABC |
12.4
|
20,458
|
|
19
|
Tue., 1/3/06 | Penn St./Florida St. | ABC |
12.3
|
18,557
|
|
20
|
Thu., 1/1/09 | Penn St./USC | ABC |
11.7
|
20,603
|
UPDATED 1/1/10: 2002 Lakers/Kings Game 6 (11.1 rating, 16.4 million viewers) added to list.
UPDATED 1/11/10: 2009 Yankees/Phillies Game 6 (13.5 rating, 22.8 mil) and Phillies/Yankees Game 6 (13.4 rating, 22.3 mil) added to list.
