or


[10/31/25 - 06:31 AM]
ESPN Networks Deliver Record College Football Viewership at the Midway Point of the Season, "College GameDay" Continues on Historic Run
Through nine weeks, ESPN networks are averaging 2.3 million viewers per game, their largest audience since 2009 and an increase of 20 percent year-over-year.

[via press release from ESPN]

ESPN Networks Deliver Record College Football Viewership at the Midway Point of the Season, "College GameDay" Continues on Historic Run

· ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU post double-digit year-over-year growth

· ABC on record pace through nine weeks, with or without Big Data included

· ESPN networks have aired the most-watched game in 23 of 27 key Saturday windows

· SEC, ACC and Big 12 all experiencing year-over-year growth on ESPN networks

ESPN is delivering its strongest college football season in more than 15 years, scoring record audiences across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Through nine weeks, ESPN networks are averaging 2.3 million viewers per game, their largest audience since 2009 and an increase of 20 percent year-over-year.

Even excluding Nielsen Big Data measurement, ESPN networks are up 13 percent year-over-year and on pace for their most-watched season since 2011. ABC remains on record pace with or without Big Data included.

ABC on Pace for Historic Season

ABC is registering 7.1 million avg. viewers across 28 regular-season games, up 23 percent year-over-year - the network's highest average audience through nine weeks on record (dating back to 1996). ABC also remains the most-watched network in college football, delivering 3.5 million more viewers on average than any other network, with fans watching more minutes on ABC than all other broadcast networks combined.

College GameDay En Route to Best Season Ever

College GameDay Built by The Home Depot is averaging 2.8 million viewers, up 28 percent year-over-year and on pace for its most-watched season ever. The 2025 season has featured the seven most-watched regular-season episodes in show history, led by Lee Corso's farewell in Week 1 (4.0 million viewers). The show has grown most among women (41 percent) and viewers under 25 (41 percent) and continues to outpace all competitors by 140 percent.

ESPN Networks Lead the Sport Across Every Metric

ESPN (15 percent), ESPN2 (10 percent) and ESPNU (20 percent) are all up double digits year-over-year. Collectively, ESPN networks have accounted for 62 percent of all live game minutes viewed across nationally rated linear networks, up three percentage points from last season. Across the sport, nationally rated college football games have generated 113 billion minutes watched to date, a record pace and an increase of 14 percent year-over-year.

ESPN Networks Lead Key Windows and Top Games

ESPN networks have aired the most-watched game in 23 of 27 key Saturday windows: five of eight at noon, all nine in late afternoon and all nine in primetime.

· ABC's late afternoon window averages 8.2 million viewers (up 44 percent) and primetime averages 8.0 million (up 14 percent)

· ABC's noon window averages 4.5 million viewers, up nine percent

· ESPN's Friday Night games are averaging 2.4 million viewers, up 39 percent, marking three of ESPN's five most-watched Friday games in the past decade

· ESPN networks have televised nine of the top 10 and 22 of the top 24 games this season, including all top 21 games on cable. Of the 10 games this season to surpass eight million viewers, nine have aired on ESPN networks

Conferences Capturing Year-Over-Year Growth

· SEC: SEC-controlled games are scoring a record 4.7 million avg. viewers, up 13 percent year-over-year and 46 percent over two years ago. SEC games account for a conference-high 35 percent of all minutes viewed across rated networks

· ACC: ACC-controlled games on ESPN networks are delivering 3.1 million avg. viewers, up 105 percent year-over-year and on pace for the conference's most-watched season ever

· Big 12: Big 12-controlled games on ESPN networks are up six percent year-over-year, driven by 23 percent growth in weekday games

All of ESPN. All in One Place.

ESPN offers its full suite of networks and services directly to fans within the ESPN App. Designed to give fans more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, the ESPN App provides a unique viewing experience that includes integrated game stats, multiview options, a synchronized two-screen feature, a vertical video feature called Verts and a personalized SportsCenter For You, as well as ESPN BET information, ESPN Fantasy sports, commerce, and more. These new features are available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a traditional pay TV package. Bundling options available for fans include a limited time offer for the ESPN DTC Unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu for $29.99/month for the first 12 months. For more visit stream.espn.com.

-30-





  [october 2025]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· SATURDAY NIGHT COLLEGE FOOTBALL (ABC)
· THURSDAY NIGHT COLLEGE FOOTBALL (ESPN)





most recent ratings | view all posts
[09/16/26 - 02:41 PM]
"Monday Night Football" Opens Super Bowl LXI Season with Record-Setting Audience; Broncos-Chiefs Becomes Most-Watched Week 1 Game of ESPN's "MNF" Era
The season opener between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs delivered an audience of 23.2 million viewers across ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and NFL+.

[09/16/26 - 02:30 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Leaps Back Into the Ballroom as Tuesday's No. 1 Show, Delivering Nearly 7 Million Total Viewers - Scores Show's Biggest Season Premiere in 6 Years
Among Adults 18-49, the "Dancing with the Stars" season opener jumped +40% over last year's premiere, with the show's best premiere performance in the key Adult demographic in nine years.

[09/16/26 - 12:20 PM]
Top 10 Most-Watched Prime Original Films & Series for the Week of September 7
"Reacher," "The Grand Tour," "Sterling Point," "Off Campus," and "LOL Next" led all original series worldwide.

[09/15/26 - 04:06 PM]
US Open Men's Championship Averages 3.2M Viewers, ESPN's Largest Audience Ever
Viewership peaked at 4.0M from 5:30-5:45 p.m. ET.

[09/15/26 - 03:21 PM]
Michigan's Win Over Oklahoma Scores 8,221,000 Viewers on FOX
Plus: 3,094,000 viewers tuned in to Friday's Missouri-Kansas matchup on FOX.

[09/15/26 - 03:05 PM]
Ohio State/Texas Delivers ABC/ESPN's Top Regular Season Game in 10 Years; "College GameDay" Scores Most-Watched Week 2 Episode Ever
ABC scores two of week 2's top three games, with Alabama at Kentucky winning the afternoon by more than double the competition.

[09/15/26 - 02:58 PM]
FOX's "America's Game of the Week" Comes Out on Top in a Rare Week 1 Head-to-Head Matchup in the National 4:25 PM ET Window
20,346,000 viewers tuned-in to the Philadelphia Eagles win over the Washington Commanders in a window with head-to-head national competition.

[09/15/26 - 01:52 PM]
NBC Sports Delivers 25+ Million Viewers for Both NFL Kickoff Game and "Sunday Night Football" Opener for First Time Since 2015
Sunday's Dallas Cowboys-New York Giants matchup averaged 25.7 million on NBC and Peacock, marking the most watched NBC "Sunday Night Football" season opener since 2015 (Giants at Cowboys), based on Nielsen Big Data inclusive of first party data.

[09/15/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of September 7 - "The Gentlemen" Brings Sophistication to the No. 1 Spot in This Week's Top 10
"Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Again?" debuted at the top of the English film list, gathering 19.3 million views for its lakeside destination wedding.

[09/14/26 - 03:51 PM]
ESPN Aces Its Most-Viewed US Open Women's Semifinals Action Ever, Averaging 2.2M Viewers
Viewership peaked with 2.6M avg. viewers (9:45-10 p.m. ET) during Coco Gauff's three-set showdown against Elena Rybakina.

[09/14/26 - 11:57 AM]
NFL Gameday in Melbourne on Netflix Scores With an Average 18.5 Million US Viewers for First-Ever NFL Regular Season Game in Australia
Globally, the historic matchup averaged 21.7 million viewers, with fans from over 200 countries and territories tuning in to the first-ever NFL regular season game played in Australia.

[09/14/26 - 09:50 AM]
NFL Kickoff Game on NBC and Peacock Featuring Patriots-Seahawks Tops 25 Million Viewers for Fourth Consecutive Year
In addition, NBC Sports delivered the largest NFL Kickoff Game audience among Adults 18-49 since 2021, averaging 10.0 million viewers in the key demographic across NBC, Peacock, NBC Sports Digital and NFL Digital properties.

[09/10/26 - 11:02 AM]
Wisconsin-Notre Dame on NBC & Peacock Is NBC Sports' Third-Most Watched Notre Dame Football Game Since 2005, Averaging 8.1 Million Viewers
The audience for the No. 4 Fighting Irish's 41-13 victory peaked at 9.7 million viewers in the second quarter (9:15-9:30 p.m. ET) as Notre Dame led 13-10.

[09/09/26 - 03:52 PM]
"College GameDay" Wins Week 1 With Top-Three Regular Season Show on Record
Coverage of Clemson/LSU was the top Saturday game of Week 1.

[09/09/26 - 03:30 PM]
ESPN's US Open Coverage Is Most-Viewed Since 2022 Through Third Round
The full-tournament average so far is up 5% over 2025 and the most viewed since 2022, the year of Serena Williams' final match before her return this year.