It was not on the level of LSU/Alabama later in the night, but Clemson’s win over Florida State dominated Saturday afternoon.
Saturday’s FSU/Clemson college football game had a 4.7 final rating and 7.6 million viewers on ABC, up 74% in ratings and 71% in viewership from regional action featuring TCU/West Virginia last year (2.7, 4.4M) and up 68% and 72%, respectively, from additional regional action in 2013 (2.8, 4.4M).
The Tigers’ win ranks as the highest rated and most-watched afternoon college football game of the season, topping Michigan State/Michigan on ESPN three weeks earlier (4.5, 7.4M), and the top 3:30 PM ET game on ABC since Florida/Florida State in November 2012 (5.1, 8.5M). Keep in mind several afternoon games have earned a larger audience over that span, either on another channel or in another timeslot.
Regardless of timeslot, it was the fourth-highest rated and seventh-most watched college football game on any network this season. Eight of the top ten have aired on ESPN or ABC, though the top spot belongs to the aforementioned LSU/Alabama game on CBS (6.4, 11.1M).
In other action, Minnesota/Ohio State drew a 2.7 and 4.7 million on ABC’s Saturday Night Football — up 29% in ratings and 31% in viewership from regional action featuring Illinois/Ohio State last year (2.1, 3.6M) but down 47% and 43%, respectively, from Miami/FSU in 2013 (5.1, 8.4M).
Notre Dame/Pittsburgh drew a 2.5 and 3.8 million in the Noon ET window, up 9% in both measures from regional action in 2013 (2.3, 3.5M). There was no comparable window last year.
(Sat. numbers from ESPN)
