Television viewers did not RSVP to the “the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.”
Florida/Georgia earned a 2.7 overnight rating on the latest edition of the SEC on CBS, down 21% from the same matchup last year (3.4) and down 18% from Mississippi State/Kentucky in 2014 (3.3).
The 2.7 is the lowest for the Florida/Georgia rivalry since at least 2002, the last time it did not air on CBS. Overnights for that telecast, which aired on ESPN, were not available. One would have to go back to at least 1999, and likely even further back, to find the last time the game earned a lower overnight on CBS.
The 2.7 also ranks fourth out of the nine SEC telecasts on CBS this season, ahead of Georgia/Tennessee in week four (2.6), UCLA/Texas A&M in week one (2.0) and Kentucky/Florida in week two (1.6).
The Gators’ win was still the top game in its timeslot, at least in the metered markets, eking out a slim advantage over Northwestern/Ohio State on ESPN (2.5) and Baylor/Texas on ABC (2.4). It also finished comfortably ahead of Miami/Notre Dame on NBC (1.6).
It ranked third overall for the weekend behind Clemson/Florida State on ABC (3.6) and Michigan/Michigan State on ESPN (3.1).
(Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily 10/31)
