Airing directly opposite the NFL, the Potato Bowl hit a seven-year low in viewership.
The Air Force/Western Michigan Potato Bowl earned a 0.9 final rating and 1.5 million viewers on ESPN last Saturday, down 36% in ratings and 30% in viewership from San Diego State/Buffalo last year (1.4, 2.1M) and down 53% and 48%, respectively, from Utah State/Toledo in 2012 (1.9, 2.8M).
Viewership was the lowest for the Potato Bowl (formerly the Humanitarian Bowl) since Fresno State/Georgia Tech in 2007 (745K). Until this year, the game had topped the two million mark in six straight seasons.
The Falcons’ win aired directly opposite the Eagles/Washington NFL game, which earned 7.2 million viewers on NFL Network (not including local affiliates). It was the first Potato Bowl to face direct NFL competition.
(Sat. numbers via Awful Announcing)
