It was not the top game of the week, but Clemson’s close matchup with rival Florida State delivered big numbers for ABC.
The FSU/Clemson college football game had a 5.5 overnight rating on ABC Saturday afternoon, up 112% from regional action featuring TCU/West Virginia last year (2.6), up 67% from Michigan State/Michigan in 2013 (3.3), and ABC’s highest overnight in the 3:30 PM ET window since Florida/FSU in November 2012 (5.6). Keep in mind ABC has had higher overnights for Noon games over that span.
The Tigers’ win scored the third-highest college football overnight of the season on any network, trailing only LSU/Alabama on CBS later in the night (6.3) and Ohio State/Virginia Tech on ESPN Labor Day (6.6). Eight of the top nine games this season have aired on ESPN or ABC.
The previous two meetings between FSU and Clemson had overnights of 4.9 (week four last year) and 3.7 (week eight in 2013), both in primetime.
In other action Saturday, the Minnesota/Ohio State Saturday Night Football game drew a 3.0 overnight — up 43% from coverage featuring Illinois/Ohio State last year (2.1) but down 54% from Miami/FSU in 2013 (5.4). Notre Dame/Pittsburgh had a 2.8 overnight in the Noon window, up 22% from regional action in 2013 (2.3). There was no comparable window last year.
(Wknd. numbers from ESPN)
