Airing opposite LSU/Alabama on CBS and Ohio State on ABC, college football on FOX fell under the 1.0 mark Saturday night.
Last Saturday’s Utah/Washington college football game had a 0.9 final rating and 1.5 million viewers on FOX, down 40% in ratings and 39% in viewership from Stanford/Oregon last year (1.5, 2.5M) and down 36% and 37%, respectively, from Oklahoma State/Texas Tech in 2013 (1.4, 2.4M).
The 0.9 rating is tied as the second-lowest ever for primetime college football on FOX, and presumably any broadcast network. It matched Fresno State/USC in August of last year and topped only Baylor/Iowa State the following month (0.8).
Keep in mind the Utes’ win had strong competition from LSU/Alabama on CBS (6.4, 11.1M) and even Minnesota/Ohio State on ABC (2.7, 4.7M).
Earlier in the day, FOX earned a much healthier 1.6 and 2.4 million for TCU/Oklahoma State. There were no comparable afternoon games last year or in 2013. The Cowboys’ win ranks as the second-most watched afternoon game on FOX this season (six telecasts), trailing only TCU/Texas Tech in week four (2.8M).
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily)
