An anti-climactic SEC Championship sank in the ratings, but the numbers were still quite strong.
Saturday’s SEC Championship (LSU-Georgia) averaged a 7.9 rating and 13.70 million viewers on CBS, per Nielsen fast-nationals — trailing only LSU-Alabama last month (9.7, 16.64M) as the highest rated and most-watched game of the college football season. That is pending final results for the Big Ten Championship on FOX, which drew a 7.8 overnight rating.
CBS has aired four of the top six games, again pending final results for the rest of championship weekend.
The Tigers’ easy win, which peaked with 15.77 million from 6:45-7 PM ET, sank 22% in ratings and viewership from #1 Alabama vs. #2 Georgia last year (10.1, 17.50M). Compared to Georgia-Auburn two years ago, ratings fell a tick but viewership increased 2% from 13.47 million.
Despite the decline, the game ranks as the second-most watched SEC Championship since 2013.
This year marked the first time since 2011 that the SEC title game did not include Alabama or Auburn. The 2011 game, also between Georgia and LSU, averaged a 7.3 and 12.02 million.
For the season, the SEC on CBS averaged a 4.2 rating and 7.10 million viewers — ranking as the network’s most-watched college football package since 1990. The 4.2 rating (+24%) is the highest for any network this year.
Ratings/viewership for SEC Championship, past decade
[Nielsen estimates from CBS Sports]
