The latest chapter of the Texas/Oklahoma rivalry performed well for ABC last week, although not as well as last year or 2008.
ABC drew a 4.4 final rating and 6.996 million viewers for regional college football action featuring Texas/Oklahoma last Saturday afternoon, up 69% in ratings and 82% in viewership from last year (FSU/BC*: 2.6, 3.853 mil) and up 42% and 48%, respectively, from 2008 (WISC/MICH*: 3.1, 4.721 mil).
The telecast ranks as easily the highest rated, most-viewed afternoon college football game of the season on ABC. No other afternoon game had even drawn a 3.0 rating.
Additionally, this marks just the second college football telecast of the season on ABC (nine telecasts) to have an increase in ratings and viewership.
Despite the good numbers, Saturday’s telecast was not as big of a draw as previous Texas/Oklahoma games. Last year’s matchup between the rivals drew a 5.7 rating and 8.713 million viewers, and the 2008 game drew a 5.2 and 7.726 million. Both games aired nationally — as opposed to regionally — at 12 PM ET.
Later Saturday, regional action featuring Stanford/Oregon drew a 3.0 final rating and 4.866 million viewers on ABC — down 38% in ratings and viewership from last year (OK/MIA*: 4.8, 7.834 mil) and down 17% and 16%, respectively, from 2008 (ILL/PSU*: 3.6, 5.817 mil).
The telecast was trounced head-to-head by Florida/Alabama on CBS (5.0, 8.595 mil).
Asterisk (*) indicates featured game of window.
