Far from the powerhouses they once were, Miami and Florida State still command an audience.
Monday night’s battle between Miami and Florida State drew a stellar 5.1 U.S. rating and 8.4 million viewers on ESPN, up 25% in ratings and 35% in viewers from a 4.1 and 6.2 million for Tennessee/UCLA last year.
This marks the highest rated, most-viewed college football game on cable since Miami/Florida State on Labor Day ’06 (5.7 U.S. rating, 9.1 million), and the second-most viewed college football game in ESPN’s 30-year history.
Final ratings for college football games on broadcast are not yet available, but Miami/Florida State will likely rank as the highest rated, most-viewed college football game of the opening weekend.
Additionally, Monday’s game ranks as the fourth-most viewed program of the year on ESPN, and the seventh-most viewed sporting event of the year on any cable network.
ESPN’s most-viewed programs of ’09.
| Date | Event | Net | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon., 5/25/09 | Lakers/Nuggets Game 4 | ESPN |
9.7 mil
|
| Wed., 5/27/09 | Nuggets/Lakers Game 5 | ESPN |
9.2 mil
|
| Fri., 5/29/09 | Lakers/Nuggets Game 6 | ESPN |
8.5 mil
|
| Mon., 9/7/09 | Miami/Florida State | ESPN |
8.4 mil
|
| Mon., 7/13/09 | MLB Home Run Derby | ESPN |
8.3 mil
|
