A record audience tuned in for Saturday’s game between Nebraska and scandal-tainted Penn State.
ESPN earned a 3.6 U.S. rating and 5.426 million viewers for #19 Nebraska/#12 Penn State Saturday afternoon, up 125% in ratings and 119% in viewership from Week 11 last year (IOWA/NWU: 1.6, 2.483M), and up 24% and 25%, respectively, from Week 11 in 2009 (UM/ILL: 2.9, 4.326M).
The game stands as easily the most-viewed Noon ET college football game in the history of ESPN. The previous record was 4.777 million for #11 Michigan/#23 Michigan State earlier this season.
Nebraska’s win ranked as the #2 program of the week on cable in ratings and viewership, even topping the season debut of Thursday Night Football on NFL Network.
Saturday’s game was the first to involve Penn State since the university was tainted by a child abuse scandal involving former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. University president Graham Spanier, athletic director Tim Curley, head football coach Joe Paterno, and senior vice president of business and finance Gary Schultz each departed the university for failing to notify proper authorities of Sandusky’s alleged abuse.
(Saturday’s numbers from Nielsen.com)
