The latest matchup between Steve Spurrier and his former team gave ESPN a double-digit boost in ratings last Saturday night.
South Carolina’s win over Florida earned a 2.5 U.S. rating and 4.351 million viewers on ESPN last Saturday night, up 14% in ratings and 26% in viewership from last year (ALA/MISS ST: 2.2, 3.459 mil), and up 79% and 103%, respectively, from 2008 (ND/BC: 1.4, 2.144 mil).
The game marked the third return of Spurrier to Gainesville, where he coached the Gators from 1990-2001. In 2008, Spurrier’s second return drew a 3.3 and 5.134 million viewers on CBS; his first return in ’06 drew a 3.9 and 5.771 million, also on CBS.
South Carolina/Florida drew the largest audience of the day for a college football game on ESPN or ESPN2.
Elsewhere Saturday night, Nevada/Fresno State drew a 1.1 and 1.599 million viewers on ESPN. Over on ESPN2, Alabama’s win over Mississippi State drew a 1.2 and 2.343 million viewers.
All three primetime college football games on ESPN and ESPN2 topped Saturday’s Oregon/California game on Versus, the most-viewed college football telecast in the history of the network.
