Ohio State-Michigan ratings dip, but still big

It was not quite as strong a draw as last year, but the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry continues to deliver in the ratings.

Ohio State-Michigan averaged a 7.1 rating and 12.42 million viewers on FOX Big Noon Saturday last weekend, trailing only LSU-Alabama on CBS in week eleven (9.7, 16.64M) as the highest rated and most-watched game of the college football season. FOX has aired two of the top four.

The Buckeyes’ easy win declined 5% in ratings and 6% in viewership from the rivals’ meeting last year (7.5, 13.20M), but increased 16% and 18% respectively from their 2017 matchup (6.1, 10.51M).

It ranks third among Ohio State-Michigan games since their #1 vs. #2 matchup in 2006, behind only last year and 2016 on ABC (9.4, 16.84M).

Since Jim Harbaugh became coach of Michigan in the 2015 season, each Ohio State-Michigan game has had at least a 6.1 rating and 10.51 million viewers. By comparison, the game averaged a 4.9 and 8.23 million in the season before Harbaugh’s hiring, and a mere 4.0 and 6.89 million at the beginning of the decade in 2010.

Later in the day, FOX averaged a 3.25 and 5.82 million for Oklahoma-Oklahoma State — marking the highest rated and most-watched edition of the “Bedlam” rivalry since 2013 on ABC (4.7, 7.28M).

Ratings increased 35% and viewership 49% from the teams’ meeting last season, an afternoon game on ABC (2.4, 3.92M). Versus the comparable window on FOX last year, Oklahoma State-TCU, ratings increased 216% (from 1.0) and viewership 260% (from 1.62M).

Rounding out the FOX tripleheader, Notre Dame-Stanford averaged a 2.0 and 3.21 million — the rivals’ lowest rated and least-watched matchup since 2016 on NBC (1.8, 2.87M). Ratings fell a tick and viewership 7% from their meeting on NBC last season, which took place in October (2.1, 3.44M).

Shifting to Black Friday, FOX scored a 1.8 (-14%) and 2.89 million (-21%) for Texas Tech-Texas, the top game of the day. It also drew a 1.7 and 2.85 million for Washington State-Washington, down 26% and 30% respectively from their primetime meeting last year (2.3, 4.08M).

Over on FS1, Iowa State-Kansas State topped the week fourteen charts with a 0.34 (-31%) and 642,000 (-22%). Last year’s comparable matchup featured the same two teams.

FS1 also drew a 0.22 (-46%) and 422,000 (-47%) for Maryland-Michigan State. Northwestern-Illinois brought up the rear with just 219,000 viewers (-34%).

Fox Sports is now averaging 2.05 million viewers for college football this season (+10%), its highest average yet.