College Football TV Ratings: Top 10 most-watched games of Week 12
The penultimate week of the college football season didn’t see some of the high TV ratings seen throughout the year. With Rivalry Week upon us, it’s safe to say a bounce-back is looming.
For the second time in four weeks — and since Week 0 — no game topped 6 million viewers, according to Sports Media Watch. CBS and FOX had the two most-watched games of Week 12, but ABC had the next three, including Oregon State vs. Washington.
It was also a notable week for Big Ten Network, which had its highest viewership yet as Ohio State and Minnesota squared off. Although it didn’t make the top 10, The CW also had its biggest week of the year as Florida State vs. North Alabama brought in 1.33 million viewers. While ratings weren’t necessarily what they have been, the table is now set for a massive Week 13 filled with historic rivalries.
Tennessee vs. Georgia
Channel: CBS
Date: Nov. 18, 3:30 p.m. ET
Viewers: 5.73 million
Georgia jumped back to No. 1 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings entering Week 12, and the Bulldogs looked every part of a top-ranked team in their 38-10 victory over Tennessee. That matchup was one of two games to draw 5 million viewers, and they saw Carson Beck turn in one of his biggest performances of the year.
Maryland vs. Michigan
Channel: FOX
Date: Nov. 18, noon ET
Viewers: 5.43 million
The noise around Michigan sees to have quieted down — at least, a little bit — after last week, and the Wolverines were a big draw once again against Maryland. It looked similar to last year’s Week 12, which saw UM get a close win over Illinois before heading to Columbus to take on Ohio State. Now, all eyes will turn to Ann Arbor for “The Game” this year.
Oregon State vs. Washington
Channel: ABC
Date: Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m. ET
Viewers: 4.73 milion
Washington had the ability to make a statement against Oregon State, particularly on defense, and the Huskies added yet another ranked victory to their resume with the 22-20 win over the No. 11-ranked Beavers. Michael Penix Jr. might’ve locked up his trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, and the Apple Cup awaits this week to close out the regular season.
Miami vs. Louisville
Channel: ABC
Date: Nov. Nov. 18, noon ET
Viewers: 2.89 million
Louisville’s game didn’t draw the TV ratings of some other high-stakes college football games, but nearly 3 million people tuned in to watch the Cardinals lock up a spot in the ACC Championship with a 38-31 victory over Miami. UL, after facing Kentucky this week, will get ready to go up against a Jordan Travis-less Florida State in the conference title game.
UCLA vs. USC
Channel: ABC
Date: Nov. 18, 3:30 p.m. ET
Viewers: 2.65 million
There were plenty of rumors swirling around UCLA and USC heading into their rivalry matchup in Week 12, and it was Chip Kelly who got the better of Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams in the 38-20 Bruins victory. The Trojans’ season is now over, and all eyes are now on what’s next for Riley and the program after a 7-5 record this year.
Iowa State vs. Texas
Channel: FOX
Date: Nov. 18, 8 p.m. ET
Viewers: 2.47 million
The race to the Big 12 Championship continues, and Texas’ road to Arlington ran through Ames against Iowa State. The Longhorns pulled off the 26-16 victory to stay on track for a conference title game appearance, and although the Week 12 matchup was an intriguing one, it wasn’t necessarily good for ratings.
Wisconsin vs. Nebraska
Channel: NBC
Date: Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m. ET
Viewers: 2.45 million
Wisconsin and Nebraska gave fans free football at Camp Randall Stadium, and Braelon Allen punched in the game-winning touchdown for the Badgers in overtime to seal bowl eligibility. Considering both teams were 5-5 heading in, the matchup didn’t necessarily jump off the page in terms of TV ratings, but NBC continues to draw eyes as part of its new primetime Big Ten package.
Missouri vs. Florida
Channel: ESPN
Date: Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m. ET
Viewers: 2.27 million
The ending to Missouri vs. Florida got interesting for multiple reasons, but the Tigers managed to fight off the upset with the 33-31 win. Brady Cook engineered the game-winning drive as time ticked away, and Eli Drinkwitz’s group is now in the conversation for a New Year’s Six bowl.
BYU vs. Oklahoma
Channel: ESPN
Date: Nov. 18, noon ET
Viewers: 2.17 million
ESPN didn’t get necessarily get big TV ratings for Oklahoma vs. BYU, but fans who tuned in saw one of college football’s most notable young names as Jackson Arnold replaced Dillon Gabriel due to injury. Billy Bowman’s pick-six was the biggest highlight from the 31-24 victory to keep the Sooners in the mix for the Big 12 Championship — and there’s no shortage of tiebreaker scenarios in play for Week 12.
Ohio State vs. Minnesota
Channel: Big Ten Network
Date: Nov. 18, 4 p.m. ET
Viewers: 2.02 million
For the first time this year, Big Ten Network topped 2 million viewers for a college football game. It marked a nice TV ratings victory as Ohio State took down Minnesota in one final tuneup ahead of “The Game” next week.
With Week 12 in the books, Rivalry Week is setting up to once again be the biggest slate of college football games this year — and the TV ratings are sure to reflect that. Last year, Ohio State vs. Michigan drew more than 17 million viewers. With more storylines swirling this season, that will undoubtedly be one of the biggest draws of Week 13.