College Football TV Ratings: Top 10 most-watched games of Week 8

With an F1 race in Austin and Texas facing its biggest test of the season, the TV ratings delivered. Georgia handed the Longhorns a 30-15 loss as 13.2 million tuned into ABC on Saturday night, surpassing Georgia-Alabama and Ohio State–Oregon in ratings.

The new SEC battle was the most-watched, regular-season primetime game on any network since 2014. The game peaked at 14.4 million viewers.

On3 is looking at the most-watched games in Week 8. On3 compiled data from network press releases, Programming Insider and Sports Business Journal to piece together the top 10 most-watched games from Week 8 of the college football season. Data from SEC Network, ACC Network and Longhorn Network are not included because the networks do not pay for Nielsen to measure viewership. All Nielsen figures include streaming viewership and includes out-of-home viewing.

Here is the full breakdown of Week 8’s college football TV ratings:

1. Georgia at Texas
Channel: ABC
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Viewers: 13.2 million

Former Florida transfer Trevor Etienne showed why he was one of the top running backs available in the portal last offseason. The Georgia running back rushed for three touchdowns against Texas. He finished with 87 rushing yards on 19 carries. Etienne also had three catches for 23 yards in the 30-15 win over the Longhorns. Texas fans threw bottles on the field after officials called a pass-interference penalty that wiped out an interception and long return before the flag was picked up.

“I don’t find it productive to publicly demean or embarrass officials or the conference office via social media,” Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks said in a statement. “That would be no better than the physical action of throwing objects on the field. However, I will challenge the conference office on what happened and how it happened in the manner it did.”

2. Alabama at Tennessee
Channel: ABC
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 19 at 12:30 p.m. ET
Viewers: 10.2 million

For the second time in three years, Tennessee exited the Third Saturday of October victorious. The Volunteers knocked off Alabama 24-17, leaving questions for the Crimson Tide. Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell made a diving touchdown catch from quarterback Nico Iamaleava midway through the fourth quarter to put the Vols up 21-17. Dylan Sampson rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns, keeping Tennessee alive for a berth in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

3. Miami at Louisville
Channel: ABC
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 19 at Noon ET
Viewers: 4.1 million

Coming off the bye week, Washington State transfer Cam Ward reminded the country why he’s a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and one of the top quarterbacks in college football. The Miami star was 21 of 32 for 319 passing yards and four touchdowns in a 52-45 win at Louisville. The Hurricanes are No. 6 in the latest AP Top 25 Poll, positioned for an ACC title run and College Football Playoff berth.

4. Indiana at Nebraska
Channel: FOX
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 19 at Noon ET
Viewers: 3.2 million

Indiana breezed to a 56-7 win over Nebraska in Bloomington. The Hoosiers have yet to trail this season and each victory has been by double digits. The 49-point margin of victory was the biggest in conference play since a 49-0 win at Minnesota in 1945. The last time Indiana started with seven consecutive wins was 1967 when it opened 8-0. Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke injured his right thumb and underwent surgery earlier this week.

5. Michigan at Illinois
Channel: CBS
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 19 at 3:30 p.m. ET
Viewers: 3 million

With Illinois wearing 1924 throwback uniforms to honor the 100-year anniversary of Red Grange’s six-touchdown performance against Michigan, the Fighting Illini routed the Wolverines 21-7. The win marked Illinois’ first over Michigan since 2009 after six consecutive losses in the series. The seven points were the lowest for Michigan since 2014, dropping back-to-back games for the first time since 2020.

6. Auburn at Missouri
Channel: ESPN
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 19 at Noon ET
Viewers: 2.4 million

Missouri quarterback Brady Cook left midgame for the hospital to get an MRI on his ankle but returned as it escaped Auburn 21-17 on Saturday. Cook led Missouri to two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Auburn’s only wins this season have come against Alabama A&M and New Mexico.

7. Oregon at Purdue
Channel: FOX
Date/Time: Friday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. ET
Viewers: 2.1 million

Oregon hit the road six days after its 32-21 win over Ohio State, blowing out Purdue 35-0. The win marked the Ducks’ first road shutout since 1992. Jordan James posted two touchdown runs and Dillon Gabriel threw for two scores and was 21 of 25 for 290 yards.

8. Colorado at Arizona
Channel: FOX
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 19 at 4 p.m. ET
Viewers: 2 million

Shedeur Sanders threw for 250 yards with three total touchdowns as Colorado posted a 34-7 win at Arizona. The Buffaloes converted 8 of 11 third downs while building a 21-point halftime lead while holding the Wildcats to 245 total yards. Colorado hosts Cincinnati this weekend and remains in contention in the Big 12 title race.

9. Notre Dame at Georgia Tech
Channel: ESPN
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 19 at 3:30 p.m. ET
Viewers: 1.59 million

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard rushed for two touchdowns as the Fighting Irish defense limited Georgia Tech to 64 rushing yards in a 31-13 win. Played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Leonard rushed for 51 yards as Notre Dame won its fifth consecutive game. With the win, Leonard and the Fighting Irish remain in the CFP picture.

10. Iowa at Michigan State
Channel: NBC
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Viewers: 1.57 million

Michigan State put together its best performance of the season in a 32-20 win at Iowa. Aidan Chiles threw for 256 yards and a touchdown as kicker Jonathan Kim kicked a program-record six field goals. The win ended a three-game losing streak as the Hawkeyes threw for just 150 yards.