ESPN Platforms Deliver Most-Watched Game of Week 1

Week 1 of college football across ESPN platforms produced multi-year highs and several Kickoff Week superlatives, led by LSU vs. Florida State on Sunday night’s Camping World Kickoff Game on ABC. With final data available, the Tigers/Seminoles showdown scored 9.5 million viewers across ABC and streaming. The Sunday night showcase was the top game of the week across all networks and is ABC’s second-best regular season game in the past five years, excluding conference championships. FSU’s victory on Labor Day Sunday is ABC’s most-watched Sunday opener since 2016.

LSU will return to the Week 1 Sunday ABC primetime window in 2024, as the Bayou Bengals battle USC in the Vegas Kickoff Classic. The showcase, presented by ESPN Events, is set for Sunday, Sept. 1 from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Duke’s Labor Day Monday upset victory over then-No. 9 Clemson averaged 4.4 million viewers on ESPN, cementing its spot as cable’s top game and the fourth most-watched game of the week across all networks and platforms. The Tigers/Blue Devils dustup was also the top telecast of the day among P18-49 viewers. Other top 10 matchups across ESPN platforms include the Battle of the Carolinas in the Duke’s Mayo Classic, with the North Carolina/South Carolina clash registering 3.5 million viewers on ABC. Florida at Utah, ESPN’s opening Thursday night game, averaged 3.2 million viewers to become ESPN’s most-watched Thursday opener since 2017.

Week 1 across all ESPN platforms averaged 2.1 million viewers, and college football games on ESPN platforms were the top telecast of the day for P18-49 viewers on Thursday, Sunday and Monday, with Sunday’s LSU/FSU matchup also registering as the top telecast of the day among all P2+ viewers.