Ratings and viewership for the Cactus Bowl were the lowest since the game’s first year back on ESPN.
The Oklahoma State/Washington Cactus Bowl drew a 2.4 final rating and 4.0 million viewers on ESPN Friday evening, down 14% in ratings and 8% in viewership from Kansas State/Michigan last year (2.8, 4.4M) and down 11% and 9%, respectively, from Michigan State/TCU in 2012 (2.7, 4.4M).
The Cowboys’ win ranks as the lowest rated and least-watched Cactus Bowl since Iowa/Missouri in the 2010-11 season (2.2, 3.6M) — the game’s first year back on ESPN after a four-year stint on NFL Network. Viewership has now declined for the Cactus Bowl in three consecutive seasons.
The Cactus Bowl was the second straight bowl game to hit a four-year low in ratings and viewership, joining its Alamo Bowl lead-in. Three of the four bowl games on Friday had declines compared to last year, the Armed Forces Bowl the lone exception.
(Fri. numbers via Bloomberg, ShowBuzz Daily)
