Coming off of a record low, ABC’s Saturday Night Football bounced back with strong numbers last week.
Last week’s edition of Saturday Night Football, pitting #7 Oregon against #4 Stanford, earned a 5.4 final rating and 8.726 million viewers on ABC — up a whopping 86% in ratings and 88% in viewership from last year (OKST/TEX*: 2.9, 4.651M), and up 46% in both measures compared to 2009 (ND/PITT: 3.7, 5.972M).
The telecast ranks as the second-highest rated and second-most viewed of the season on ABC, behind only #1 Oklahoma/#5 Florida State in September (5.8, 9.307M).
Three times this season, ABC has earned at least a 5.0 rating for college football coverage. By comparison, the network hit that mark just once last season.
Earlier in the day, regional action featuring #24 Michigan/Illinois in 60% of markets drew a 3.5 and 5.525 million viewers, down 13% in ratings and viewership from last year (PSU/OSU*: 4.0, 6.364M), and down 19% and 18%, respectively, from 2009 (IOWA/OSU*: 4.3, 6.738M).
The first game of the tripleheader, featuring #2 Oklahoma State/Texas Tech in 87% of markets, earned a season-low 1.5 and 2.397 million viewers. There was no comparable Noon ET game last year.
The Noon ET game aired opposite #19 Nebraska/#12 Penn State on ESPN (3.6, 5.426M).
(Nielsen)
