During the six-day layoff between the Sugar Bowl and the National Championship Game, ESPN put up some mixed numbers for non-BCS bowl games.
The Miami (OH)/Middle Tennessee State GoDaddy.com Bowl earned a 1.7 U.S. rating and 2.617 million viewers on ESPN January 6, down 29% in ratings and 26% in viewership from last year (CMU/TROY: 2.4, 3.518 mil), and down 11% and 8%, respectively, from 2009 (TULSA/BALL STATE: 1.9, 2.831 mil).
This marks the least viewed GoDaddy.com Bowl (previously the GMAC Bowl) since 2008 (TULSA/BGSU: 1.329 mil)
Two days later, the Pittsburgh/Kentucky BBVA Compass Bowl drew a 2.2 and 3.296 million viewers, up 38% in ratings and 35% in viewership from last year (CONN/SC: 1.6, 2.448 mil).
This marks the highest rated BBVA Compass Bowl (previously the Papajohns.com Bowl) ever.
Finally, as reported earlier, Sunday’s Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl was down by over 50% in ratings and viewership compared to last year.
(Ratings/viewership from Sports Business Daily; kentucky.com)
