The acquisition of Big Ten rights has been a boon for FOX college football ratings.
Last Saturday’s Penn State-Ohio State college football game scored 9.9 million viewers on FOX, the second-largest college football audience ever on the network, excluding bowls. The 2013 Big Ten Championship holds the top spot (Ohio State-Michigan State: 13.0M).
It had a 5.75 rating, the network’s second-highest non-bowl rating ever behind the aforementioned 2013 game (7.9). The previous mark was a 5.72 for the 2015 Big Ten Championship (Michigan State-Iowa).
The Buckeyes’ comeback win, which peaked with 14.4 million viewers from 7-7:15 PM ET, delivered the second-largest college football audience of the season. Alabama-Florida State drew 12.3 million on ABC in week one.
As should be no surprise, given that FOX college football ratings have traditionally lagged behind the competition, last week marked the first time the network has delivered the top audience on any college football weekend.
Saturday’s game had an additional 104,000 viewers on Fox Sports GO, the platform’s top college football audience yet.
Compared to the teams’ meeting last season on ABC, viewership increased 52% from 6.5 million. That game aired opposite the Cubs’ clinching their first N.L. pennant since 1945.
Later in the evening on FS1, Minnesota-Iowa drew a 0.42 rating (+2%) and 769,000 viewers (+20%).
[Wknd. numbers from Fox Sports, with additional numbers from ShowBuzz Daily 10.31]
