Ratings: Minnesota-Iowa, Notre Dame, NHL

FOX averaged a 2.6 rating and 4.14 million viewers for last Saturday’s Minnesota-Iowa college football game, marking the network’s highest rated and most-watched game this season outside of the Noon ET window.

Ratings increased 100% and viewership 123% from USC-UCLA last year (1.3, 1.98M) and 100% and 117% respectively from 2017 (Maryland-Michigan State: 1.3, 2.04M).

Earlier in the day, Michigan State-Michigan averaged a 2.5 (+56%) and 3.94 million (+57%) on FOX Big Noon Saturday. Versus last year’s meeting between the rivals, which aired on FOX in the same Noon window, ratings fell 26% (from 3.4) and viewership 27% (from 5.42M).

In other action, FOX drew a 1.0 (-44%) and 1.52 million (-45%) for UCLA-Utah; FS1 drew a 0.6 (-57%) and 1.07 million (-53%) for Texas-Iowa State, a 0.34 and 551,000 for USC-Cal, a 0.29 and 488,000 for Arizona State-Oregon State and a 0.22 (-4%) and 334,000 (-18%) for Kansas-Oklahoma State.

NBC averaged a 1.0 rating and 1.56 million viewers for last Saturday’s Navy-Notre Dame college football game, marking the lowest rated and least-watched game between the rivals since at least 2012.

Versus previous Navy-Notre Dame games, ratings fell a third and viewership 36% from last year’s primetime game on CBS (1.5, 2.45M) and 50% and 51% respectively from the 2017 matchup on NBC (2.0, 3.20M).

The latest edition of NHL Wednesday Night Hockey (Capitals-Rangers) averaged a 0.29 rating and 432,000 viewers on NBCSN, marking the fourth-largest audience of the season. The Capitals have played in three of the top four.

Viewership increased 49% from last year (Flyers-Sabres: 290K) and 59% from 2017 (272K).

In other action, Lightning-Blues averaged 201,000 and Oilers-Sharks 132,000 on NBCSN Tuesday night. Figures were not available for last year’s comparable coverage.